A Look at the Beatitudes: The Persecuted

Beatitude definition: a statement of blessing.

The eight beatitudes JESUS spoke to His disciples in Matthew 5 is, “Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:10

Bible definition of persecution - Baker's Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology

The primary Old Testament Hebrew translation for persecution is radaph, while the New Testament Greek translates this word as dioko/diogmos. Both emphasize the concept of pursuit but can be extended to include pursuing, to oppress, harass and also to bring to judgment or punishment.

In both the Old Testament and New Testament, the nature of persecution are physical, social, mental, and spiritual. Physical to include taking another's life (Genesis 4, Cain murdering Abel) or maiming the body (Exodus 22, 23). Social persecution (or discrimination) consists of making individuals or a group outcasts. An example of extreme mental and spiritual persecution is seen when the Apostles Peter and John were threatened not to preach the gospel (Acts 5:28; Acts 5:40).

Christian persecution today

Christian persecution is on the rise and happening daily in countries around the world.

According to *Open Doors USA and the **Pew Research Center, more than 75% of the world’s population live in areas with severe religious restrictions, and 215 million believers suffer “high, very high or extreme persecution” in the 50 countries where it is most difficult to be a Christian. The Middle East accounts for a majority of countries ranked in the top 10 for extreme persecution of Christians.

As recently as this year’s Palm Sunday suicide bombings at two Coptic Christian churches in Egypt left forty-five people dead and many more wounded.

Who are the persecuted?

The persecuted are not law-breakers or criminals but those who choose to follow GOD’s law, For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do—living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry. They are surprised that you do not join them in their reckless, wild living, and they heap abuse on you. 1 Peter 4:3-4

More importantly, the persecuted are those who profess belief in JESUS CHRIST as the SON of GOD, Messiah and Savior of the world.

JESUS goes a little further to define this eighth beatitude and thereby emphasize believer persecution as a certainty. He also tells us that we are in good company and what our response ought to be: “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” Matthew 5:11-12

We are persecuted not for wrong-doing but for doing right according to GOD’s law, and for believing in CHRIST.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible comments on this beatitude in part, “We are not to seek persecution. We are not to provoke it by strange sentiments or conduct; by violating the laws of civil society, or by modes of speech that are unnecessarily offensive to others. But if, in the honest effort to be Christians, and to live the life of Christians, others persecute and revile us, we are to consider this as a blessing. It is an evidence that we are the children of God, and that he will defend us.”

The WORD of GOD agrees with and confirms this view:

• If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name. 1 Peter 4:12-16
• "All that live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution," 2 Timothy 3:12.
• ‘A slave is not greater than the master.’ Since they persecuted me, naturally they will persecute you. John 15:20

 Blessedness of the persecuted

GOD’s WORD instructs us to rejoice in suffering. This seems unfeeling given the fact that hundreds of Christians die * each month for their faith. The Christian life was never meant to be an easy one and for too many the dangers are real, fierce and imminent.

However, there are just as many of us whose suffering are but a mild discomfort by comparison. We then ought to rejoice since our trials serve to test our Christian faith, increase our endurance and bring us to a greater maturity in our faith.

• Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. James 1:2-4

It is easy to be hateful, but Christ-likeness in the face of evil opposition produces a kindness within us by which we are able to obey JESUS command to pray for and forgive our oppressors – “But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,” and by doing so we are even recognized even more as children of your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:44-45

At whatever level our persecution JESUS assures us the blessedness of the Kingdom of Heaven. And as with all the preceding beatitudes, only the children of GOD inherit the promises of GOD.

It has been noted by all commentaries and essays on this eighth beatitude, that the blessedness promised to the persecuted is the same as that to be bestowed upon the poor in spirit of the first beatitude.

As this was the reward promised to the poor in spirit—the leading one of these seven beatitudes—of course it is the proper portion of such as are persecuted for exemplifying them. Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

Having fully recognized the extent of our spiritual wretchedness and poverty that separates us from GOD, we understand that our need for a SAVIOR is greater and more necessary than our safety from human evil.

Once we fully accept JESUS is that bridge, we can conduct our lives in the enduring peace of His salvation, which is our strength.

The Lord is for me, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me? PSALM 118:6

*A nonprofit organization focused on serving persecuted Christians

**A nonpartisan fact tank that informs the public about the issues, attitudes and trends shaping America and the world.

Prayer and Thanksgiving: Holy Father, our LORD and our GOD whose love for us never ends, may we always recognize the utter worthlessness of our own spiritual currency and the inability of works to save us. May we cease to strive to attain in our own strength what we never can because of our inherent wickedness and instead yield and accept the gift of mercy and grace by which we can be saved, though our LORD and SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST.  We thank you for our HIGH KINGLY PRIEST, TEACHER and FRIEND; we are honored to be His ambassador in YOUR earthly Kingdom and we look forward to our complete reconciliation with the TRIUNE GOD in glory, the New Heaven and the New Earth. Father, help us to persevere, to never grow weary, to keep our eyes fixed on THE PRIZE as we learn to be more like YOU every day. We love YOU, and give YOU all praise, all honor and all glory as YOU equip us with everything we need to do what is pleasing in YOUR sight, through JESUS CHRIST. To HIM be glory forever and ever. We ask all things in HIS Holy NAME. Amen.

Always by God’s Word and prayer,

Cecile