Anchor My Faith

The Command to Rejoice Under Persecution

Scripture: Matthew 5:10-12; Lk 6:22-23

At the time the New Testament was being written, the context was persecution and thus the beatitude: “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:10). In this context, Christians are being persecuted because of their relationship to Jesus and/or righteous lifestyle. Because they are Christian they are members of the kingdom of heaven and because they are living out their Christianity they are experiencing persecution, but God promises he will bless them.

Before we comment on the blessing of persecution, we should add some additional information: ^{Lk 6:22} “Blessed are you when people hate you and when they exclude you and revile you and spurn your name as evil, ^{Mt 5:11} and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. ^{Lk 6:23} Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven; for so their fathers ^{Mt 5:12} persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

These additional verses, or pieces of verses, give more detail about their persecution. It includes being hated by others because of one’s relationship with Jesus and the change that brings into your life; you may be rejected and excluded from your family as no longer a member because of the shame you have brought them; people may say false things about you to shame you, to destroy your good character so as to make them look better. As false charges were brought against Jesus they will also be brought against you to shame you; to destroy you. Persecution is a component of sin, but there is hope of deliverance for the believer. That deliverance for many will have to wait until after physical death, but the reward is great that is waiting for us. In the meantime, we are to rejoice and leap for joy in our day of persecution.

How is it possible to suffer under persecution and at the same time rejoice? How is it possible to consider it all joy when we encounter various trials (James 1:2)? How are we to rejoice in our sufferings as commanded in Romans 5:3? How is it possible that some pastors weep when they are released from serving time in prison? How is it possible to forgive and love those who are causing us to suffer? Let us extend this topic for one more lesson and try to understand this command to rejoice.

Prayer

Father, here in the west Christians have little experience with being persecuted for our faith and little interest in learning from those who are experiencing this trauma in their lives. As a result, we lack valuable understanding of particular portions of Scripture. When trying to understand verses on suffering or persecution through western eyes, we often come away with a wrong interruption. Father, guide me as I address this in the next lesson.