Persecuted FOR Righteousness' Sake
Matthew 5:10-12
By Rev. Dale Tedder

The Bible says in many different places, that true disciples of Jesus Christ will be persecuted. It's inevitable. It's just an expected consequence of exhibiting true Christian character. And yet, any honest assessment of the Christian church in America points out that although our country isn't exactly a Christian country anymore, nevertheless, there still isn't too much persecution of Christians today, though that seems to be changing. There's racial persecution. There's political persecution. Maybe there's even business persecution. But there just doesn't seem to be a whole lot of persecution for most Christians, at least openly.

So, we ask the question: "Is the Bible wrong about this?" I don't think so. Maybe the question we ought to ask is this:

"Are Christians today showing the kind of righteousness that Jesus said would result in persecution?"

What did Jesus say about this? He said in Matthew 5:10-12 :

"Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, 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. 12Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you."

So what do these verses mean? Well, some will object and say that these verse don't actually teach that persecution is inevitable. And with that I would agree. They do not teach that you as a Christian, as the result of everything you do, will be berated and suffer every single day. But on the other hand, these verses do seem to suggest that one who faithfully lives as Christ taught, by that which describes the real Christian's character, will be persecuted. For the Christian to be persecuted is as true as the words: "the poor in spirit, they that mourn, the meek, the pure in heart and the peacemakers." Christians, in other words, will be persecuted.

This is precisely how the disciples took the words of Jesus. Peter later says in 1 Peter 3:14,

"But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. "Do not fear what they fear; do not be frightened."

In 1 Peter 4:14 he says,

"If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you."

In fact, it's in Peter's first epistle that he says in verses 12-13:

"Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. 13But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed."

Paul said in 2 Timothy 3:12,

"In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,"

And in 1 Thessalonians 3:3-4 Paul said:

"so that no one would be unsettled by these trials. You know quite well that we were destined for them. 4In fact, when we were with you, we kept telling you that we would be persecuted. And it turned out that way, as you well know."

So what we are seeing is that these writers would immediately agree that even in the most tolerant country - the cross of Christ will never stop being an offense. And this should drive a believer to his or her knees, because we will all be persecuted.

Now, at no point in the Beatitudes is it more important to attempt to carefully understand what is meant by Christ's words, than in verse 10. In fact, there is probably no beatitude which has been more often misunderstood and misapplied than this one. What is the Christian being persecuted for? The answer to that strikes at the heart of the teaching.

The answer rests in the phrase: "for righteousness' sake" or "for righteousness." And in verse 11 Jesus says persecution "for my sake." So, the Scripture is not saying: "Blessed are they that are persecuted," as if Jesus was blessing any persecution that might ever occur at any time. The text says: "Blessed are they that are persecuted for righteousness." This means "Blessed are they who are persecuted because, by God's grace, they are determined to live as I live." What this means is that there is not a promise of happiness for those who are persecuted for just being annoying or a general nuisance. We all know Christians who have shown themselves to be very annoying, difficult to get along with, foolish, and even insulting to those who are not Christians. This is not what Christ was talking about.

My preaching instructor in seminary used to listen to students' sermons on audio tape from their student-charges, (if they so desired). He wanted to offer any help he could. He told us of the time that he was talking with a student pastor who was bragging about the loss of members in his church since he arrived as the church's pastor. He told my professor that the reason the people were upset and leaving was because he was a "prophetic" preacher. My professor quickly responded to this student preacher by saying, "no, based on what I heard on your audio tape, it's because you're obnoxious."

Another funny example of this type of thing is told by Joseph Bayly in an imaginary story about Christian witnessing called "The Gospel Blimp." It's written as a satire and is terribly exaggerated. But unfortunately, it hits very close to home in too many Christians' lives. It's about the believers in an imaginary town. What happens is that they come up with an idea to witness for Christ by using a blimp. The blimp is supposed to fly over the town and drop gospel tracts and leaflets called "bombs." Well, even though no one is converted by this strategy, the town is pretty good-natured and tolerant about the whole thing. However, their good nature changes into hostility when the promoters of the "blimp" add sound equipment to it, and begin to bombard their neighbors with evangelistic sermons from the air. At this point Bayly says, "the persecution begins." And in the town newspaper, an editorial is written which says:

"For some weeks now our metropolis has been treated to the spectacle of a blimp with an advertising sign attached at the rear. This sign does not plug cigarettes, or a bottled beverage, but the religious beliefs of a particular group in our midst. The people of our city are notably broad-minded, and they have good-naturedly submitted to this attempt to proselyte. But last night a new refinement (some would say debasement) was introduced. We refer, of course, to the air-borne sound truck, that invader of our privacy, that raucous destroyer of communal peace."

That night, the sound equipment of the blimp is destroyed, and the Christians call it "persecution." Well, it's not persecution. That's Bayly's point. It's a provoked response to an unjustified invasion of privacy. And in a similar way, it's not persecution today when Christians are blown off for pushing tracts onto people who don't want them - at airports, sporting events, amusement parks, or concerts. Christ was speaking of the persecution of those who are abused for his sake, for the sake of righteousness.

Furthermore, the Beatitude does not mean, "Blessed are those who are persecuted for wrong doing." This should go without saying. But unfortunately, even Christians will try to justify a wrong act by crying out that they are victims of persecution or prejudice. Peter wrote in 1 Peter 4:15,  

"If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler."

Peter knew that Jesus was speaking of a persecution for the sake of righteousness.

Well, finally, the persecution that Jesus spoke of isn't persecution brought on by following a cause - even for following Christianity. One of my heroes, Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones has written, I believe correctly, that

"there is a difference between being persecuted for righteousness' sake and being persecuted for a cause. I know that the two things often become one, and many of the great martyrs and confessors were at one and the same time suffering for righteousness' sake and for a cause. But it does not follow that the two are always identical. I think that in the last twenty years there have been men, some of them very well known, who have suffered and have even been put into prisons and concentration camps, for religion. But they have not been suffering for righteousness' sake. This is not the thing about which our Lord is talking."

Well then, if the verse doesn't mean what I just mentioned, what does it mean? What does it mean to be persecuted for Christ's sake?

Simply put, it means to be persecuted for being like Jesus Christ. Jesus said that those who are persecuted for being like him will be blessed. But he also said that those who are like him will also be persecuted. When Jesus came into the world in all of his righteousness, he exposed all of the evil of the world - and he was hated for it. Before he came, people could get away with hypocrisy, lying, dishonesty, selfishness, greed and all the rest. And they could always point to someone else and say, "well, I'm not as bad as that guy over there."

But after Jesus came, all these sins were revealed for what they really were. And Jesus was hated by people because he revealed to them what was really in their inner hearts. Consequently, they killed him for it. So too, you will be hated every time your righteousness exposes the corruption in another person as well. That's why Jesus said in John 15:20-23:

"Remember the words I spoke to you: 'No servant is greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. 21They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the One who sent me. 22If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin. Now, however, they have no excuse for their sin. 23He who hates me hates my Father as well."

So the question is: "Is there anything in your conduct that reveals Christ's righteousness? Is Jesus Christ seen in your character? It's true that we live in a country that has adopted many Christian values. But it is also true that much of our Christianity has sunk to a level where it is hardly even noticed anymore. The world has become tolerant of us, and we have become too tolerant of the world. So unfortunately, there is precious little true Christian character left to see.

So my challenge for you tonight is to ask: "have you ever put the principles of Christ's righteousness into action: in your home, your job, your neighborhood or wherever? How can you do that in your different settings? Why not ask God to search your heart and reveal to you how you might become more obedient in this way.

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