Author: Gary Witcher

Beatitudes (Part Six)

"Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness," Jesus says in the last beatitude,  "for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
"Blessed are you when men revile you, and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely, on account of Me.   Rejoice, and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you."
In the first of these two verses, Jesus mentions being persecuted. In the second verse He elaborates by listing three kinds of mistreatment: being persecuted, being reviled, and having men say all kinds of evil against us.
"Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials;" James 1:2,3 admonishes, "knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.
"In this you greatly rejoice," 1 Peter 1:6,7 states, "even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ."
"Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you," 1 Peter 4:12,13 points out, "which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you; but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing; so that also at the revelation of His glory, you may rejoice with exultation."
We are blessed when we are persecuted.
"If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed," 1 Peter 4:14 continues, "because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you."
We are blessed when we are reviled.
"Now the chief priests and the whole Council kept trying to obtain false testimony against Jesus," Matthew 26:59,60 reports, "in order that they might put Him to death; and they did not find any, even though many false witnesses came forward.  But later on two came forward."
This kind of treatment was not unique to Jesus.   As might be expected, His followers were treated the same way.
"These men who have upset the world have come here also,” is the accusation against Paul and his traveling companions in Acts 17:6.   And these false accusers followed Paul and his friends wherever they went.
"But when the Jews of Thessalonica found out that the word of God had been proclaimed by Paul in Berea also,” verse 13 of the same chapter notes, "they came there likewise, agitating and stirring up the crowds."
We are blessed when men say all kinds of evil against us.
But Jesus adds a word to qualify the kind of persecution, reviling and slander that results in our being blessed.  He adds "falsely."
"Servants, be submissive to your masters with all respect,” 1 Peter 2:18-24 instructs, "not only to those who are good and gentle, but also to those who are unreasonable.
"For this finds favor, if for the sake of conscience toward God a man bears up under sorrows when suffering unjustly.
"For what credit is there if, when you sin and are harshly treated, you endure it with patience?  But if when you do what is right and suffer for it you patiently endure it, this finds favor with God.
"For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps, who committed no sin, nor was any deceit found in His mouth; and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept untrusting Himself to Him who Judges righteously; and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed."
"To sum up," we learn in verses 8,9 of chapter three,  "let all be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kind-hearted, and humble in spirit; not returning evil for evil, or insult for insult, but giving a blessing instead; for you were called for the very purpose that you might inherit a blessing."
This same theme is carried on throughout the chapter.
"And keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame," verses 16,17 note.  "For it is better, if God should will it so, that you suffer for doing what is right rather than for doing what is wrong."
"By no means let any of you suffer as a murderer, or thief, or evil-doer, or a troublesome meddler;" Peter teaches in verses 15,16 of chapter 4, "but if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not feel ashamed, but in that name let him glorify God."
This last statement reminds us that Jesus gives another qualification of the kind of persecution that causes us to be blessed   Not only does He specify that we must suffer falsely, but He also states that it must involve what we are subjected to on account of Him.
"Truly I say to you," Jesus claims in Mark 10:29,30, "there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or farms, for My sake and for the gospel's sake, but that he shall receive a hundred times as much now in the present age, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and fathers and children and farms, along with persecutions; and in the world to come, eternal life."
"If they persecuted Me," Jesus promises in John 15:20,  "they will also persecute you."
What happens when we do all this?  

Stated quite simply, when we learn how to react to unjust treatment, we win the victory over things that would like to destroy our joy and run our lives.
Just as the thoughts for this study were being finalized, the following article arrived:
"When you are forgotten, or neglected, or purposely set at naught, and you smile inwardly, glorying in the oversight-THAT IS VICTORY.
"When your good is evil spoken of, your taste offended, your advice disregarded, your opinion ridiculed, and you take it all in patient and loving silence-THAT IS VICTORY.
"When you are content with any food, any raiment, any climate, any interruption-THAT IS VICTORY.
"When you care never to refer to yourself in conversation, or to record your own good work, or to seek after commendation, when you can truly 'love to be unknown' -THAT IS VICTORY.
	"'If you desire Himself alone to fill you, For Him alone you care to live and be: Then 'tis not you, but Christ who dwelleth in you.  And that, O child of God, is VICTORY.'"
The article ends with this quote from 1 Corinthians 15:57,  "But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."
If we bear up when we are persecuted, reviled and slandered falsely on account of Jesus, several good things happen to demonstrate that ours is the kingdom of heaven.
For one thing, vengeance is taken properly.
"Bless those who persecute you;" Romans 12:14 stresses,  "bless and curse not."
"Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God," we are told in verse 19, "for it is written, 'Vengeance is Mine, I will repay, says the Lord.'"
As far as our role is concerned, the only vengeance is no vengeance. This leaves judgment in the hands of God.  And He will be quite able to carry out proper judgment, as we read in passages such as 2 Thessalonians 1:6-10, Revelation 6:9-11 and 2 Peter 3:8,9.
Another thing that happens is that we treat ourselves properly.
James 1:9-12 describes what will happen to us.
"Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial;” verse 12 concludes, "for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life, which the Lord has promised to those who love Him."
In addition, we treat our brothers and sisters properly.
The sixth chapter of 1 Corinthians talks about Christians who were taking each other to court.
"Actually," verses 7,8 point out, "then, it is already a defeat for you, that you have lawsuits with one another.  Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be defrauded?  On the contrary, you yourselves wrong and defraud, and that your brethren."
Not only do we treat our brethren and ourselves properly, but we also treat everyone properly.
Matthew 25:34-40 paints the picture of those who have a submissive and serving attitude toward others.
There is one more benefit of reacting with patience when we are wronged unjustly for Christ.  We know we are in the right crowd.
As Jesus put it at the conclusion of the beatitude,  "for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you."
Why were the prophets treated so harshly?  Was it not because they spoke the truth and the people didn't want to listen?   But the prophets knew the truth, and they obeyed it.  This gave them the freedom that comes only from God.  The same is true for us.  Jesus promises that those who follow His words here possess the kingdom of heaven.  They know the truth that makes them free.

Unless otherwise noted, "Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE(R), (C) Copyright The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977. Used by permission."