A Kingdom for the Persecuted
For Meditation (richard haney)
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people 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 in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
The last of the eight beatitudes is stated twice by Jesus. The first word about persecution is linked to “righteousness” and the second one “is on Jesus’ account.”
Persecution means “targeted hostility”—the word literally means to follow after; per = through or after, and secute—as in consecutive or sequence, meaning to follow. A persecutor goes after someone or some group. A persecutor pursues or hunts his target with hostility. We usually identify the persecuted as being members of some targeted group: ethnic/racial group, religious community, political faction, sexual minority, etc.
Persecuting Christians did not disappear after the New Testament period ended or the Roman Empire fell. In 1955, Brother Andrew launched his small Dutch mission now working in more than 60 nations to strengthen the Persecuted Church. See their World Watch List of countries that persecute Christian believers (opendoors.org).
Persecution can come our way too. Jesus tells his followers not to be surprised if someone slanders or mistreats them for his sake or for righteousness. Jesus embodies the righteousness of God’s kingdom where everything will be “made right” and this provokes resistance. More surprising, Jesus tells us that we are “blessed” or “happy” when we are persecuted for our reward is great in heaven.
As you prepare for worship this week, ask yourself these questions:
A church historian observed, the Gospel of Jesus Christ provokes resistance. Do you agree? Can you think of any examples?
If I don’t live in a country where Christians are a targeted minority, how might I experience persecution in my context?
How might you express solidarity with those who live in places where Christian believers worship in secret and sometimes fear for their lives?
Is Jesus saying that the blessed reward for experiencing persecution does not come our way until we reach heaven?
Matthew 5:1–12
1 Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, 2 and he began to teach them.
He said:
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
8Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
9Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
10Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.