Finding Joy in Persecution — Mt. 5.10-12
- by Aaron Purvis
- 4 days ago
- 11 min read
Updated: 2 days ago
This is a series on the Lord's "Beatitudes" (Mt. 5.3-12). Click on the following links to explore the various installments (part one, "Spiritual Beggars," contains an introduction to the Beatitudes):
Followers of Christ should expect to be persecuted at some point in our lives (2 Tim. 3.12; Jn. 15.20). After all, we are the conscience of the world, the nation, the community, and our own family. And the voice of conscience that stands for what is right and against what is wrong will often be seen as a troublesome menace that must be punished.
But Jesus does not want his disciples to fret over such maltreatment. In his final “beatitude,” he asserts:
“Congratulations to those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of the heavens! Blessed are each of you whenever they denounce and persecute you and, lying, say all kinds of hurtful [words] against you because of me. Start rejoicing and celebrating, for your reward in the heavens is great; for this is how they persecuted the prophets before you” (Matthew 5.10-12).
The Condition: Persecution
“Persecuted” translates the Greek term dioko, which means to be put to flight or pursued with hostility. Jesus does not sugarcoat what being his disciple entails. It is a challenging life, fraught with great personal sacrifice.
Let’s explore this passage bit by bit.
Grammatical Tidbits
In the first place, there are two grammatical aspects to the term “persecuted” that are worth observing.
First, “persecuted” is a perfect tense form. This verbal tense suggests an action that has occurred, with the effects of that action still lingering. It hints at the fact that persecution often leaves an enduring scar long after the persecution itself occurs (viz., post-traumatic stress). Even amid lingering pain, Jesus encourages his disciples to feel honored by this adversity.
Second, the term is in the passive voice. Jesus congratulates those who have let themselves be persecuted.
To be clear, there is nothing wrong with attempting to evade persecution (cf. Mt. 10.23; Lk. 4.28-30; Jn. 8.59; 10.39; Acts 8.1ff). Jesus isn’t encouraging mere victimhood. However, when there is no means of escape from persecution, Christians are called upon to “endure” it bravely (1 Cor. 4.12), with neither resistance nor requital (cf. Mt. 5.39; Rm. 12.17; 1 Pt. 3.9). Peter says it is “commendable” to allow yourself to “endure grief” and to “suffer wrongfully” when there is no peaceable way of avoiding it (1 Pt. 2.19).
Types of Persecutors
Christians have two main types of persecutors.
First, there are moral or secular persecutors. Jesus highlights this point when he congratulates “those who are persecuted because of righteousness” (Mt. 5.10).
Moral persecutors may know nothing of our faith in Christ. But since they despise our righteous behavior — e.g., abstaining from things like recreational alcohol, drugs, fornication, etc. — they will look down on us, think we’re strange, and treat us poorly because of it.
Joseph endured moral persecution when he refused to commit adultery with Potifer’s wife (Gen. 39.7ff).
Saul persecuted David, not for religious reasons but out of envy, for God had blessed David with success due to his righteous ways (cf. 1 Sam. 18-24).
Even so, a Christian accountant who refuses to deceive the IRS for his boss may get fired, not because the boss despises the Christian’s religion but simply because the Christian refused to do wrong for his boss. Sadly, a recent survey revealed that 67% of Americans feel pressured to compromise their ethical principles in the workplace (see LRN Ethics Study, p. 4).
But when a Christian stands for what is right and refuses to do what is wrong and receives blowback for that moral stance, Christ encourages us not to take the “shame” of our peers to heart. On the contrary, we should feel honor (cf. 1 Pt. 4.16).
Second, there are religious persecutors. Jesus spoke of those who “denounce and persecute” his followers “because of [him]” (Mt. 5.11).
Certainly, Christians receive moral persecution because our behavior is molded by the teachings of Christ — and thus, moral persecution against Christians ultimately occurs “because of” Christ too.
However, religious persecutors specifically despise Christians simply because we are Christians. They hate — not just the moral behavior of Christians — but the religion of Jesus Christ and anyone who follows it. Jesus warned his disciples:
“If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you” (Jn. 15.18; cf. Jn. 7.7).
The Jewish Sanhedrin did precisely this when they “commanded” the apostles “not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus” (Acts 4.12). They attempted to stamp out Christianity by persecuting its adherents.
While religious persecution against Christians was common in the first century, most Christians in the Roman empire suffered persecution on moral grounds — because they refused to engage in immoral behavior with their neighbors (cf. 1 Pt. 4.3-4; 3.16-17). Early Christians were looked upon as anti-social and not full Romans. Historian Stephen Benko observes that the fact that the early Christians withdrew
“from many daily activities of pagan life (such as the festivals, the theater, and the circus), as well as their refusal to assume certain political offices were held against them as it alienated them from society” (Benko, p. 47).
Being different from the world naturally creates resentment from the world (Jn. 15.19).
Methods of Persecution
Persecution can take various forms.
First, Jesus warned of “denunciation” or “reviling” (Mt. 5.11a). The term (oneidizo) has
“an especially wide range of meaning…from simple reproach to cursing and blasphemy, with invective, mockery, affront, insult, and abuse included in between” (Spicq, p. 585).
Generally, it means to “heap insults upon” to invoke blame or shame (Bauer, p. 573).
Second, Jesus warned of persecution (Mt. 5.11b). While generic, he may be referring to physical assault.
The early Christians suffered immense physical distress for their faith. Some were burned at the stake; others, flung to lions; Nero made human torches out of Christians; some were sewed into the skins of wild animals, after which hunting dogs were set upon them; still others were tortured on the rack, scraped with pincers, poured upon with molten lead; some had their eyes gouged out, while others had their body-parts chopped off and roasted in fire. The violent imagination of evil men seems to have no end.
Third, Jesus warned of slanderous words (Mt. 5.11c). Men spoke lies and gave misleading reports about Jesus (Mt. 26.59ff). And liars will make false accusations against his disciples also to make us social outcasts.
The Blessing: The Kingdom and Good Company
Several blessings accrue from persecution. In his beatitudes, Jesus highlights two in particular.
The Heavenly Kingdom
First, Jesus congratulates those who are persecuted, “for theirs is the kingdom of the heavens” (Mt. 5.10) and “your reward in the heavens is great” (Mt. 5.12).
New Testament writers speak of God’s kingdom in two senses:
(1) The present kingdom — i.e., the reign and providence of God over his people on earth.
(2) The future kingdom — i.e., the reign and providence of God over his people in heaven.
Christians are now living in the 'tween years — that is, between the kingdom that has already come and the kingdom that is not yet fully here.
On one hand, the kingdom of God is a present reality (cf. Col. 1.13, 18; Heb. 12.28; Rev. 1.9; 1 Tim. 6.15; Lk. 19.11ff). Christians can be citizens of this spiritual domain even while still on earth.
On the other hand, there is a sense in which God’s kingdom is a promise for the future — where we shall enjoy the fulness of God’s reign and blessings over us in heaven (cf. Heb. 12.28; Mt. 7.21; 2 Pt. 1.11; Acts 14.22; 2 Tim. 4.18).
Jesus is promising those who are persecuted a place in the future kingdom of heaven, where all pain and sorrow shall vanish from sight. Hence, when we are persecuted, remember the promise of heaven, the place that will make it all worthwhile!
Good Company
Second, Jesus also congratulates the persecuted, because “this is how they persecuted the prophets before you” (Mt. 5.12).
Scores of God’s prophets were ridiculed (2 Ki. 2.23; Jer. 20.7), threatened and ordered to desist speaking (Amos 2.12; 7.12-16; Isa. 30.10; Micah 2.6; Jer. 36.23; Acts 5.40), falsely accused (Jer. 18.19; 20.10; 37.13; Amos 7.10), ostracized (Jer. 36.5), tortured (Jer. 20.2), imprisoned (Jer. 37.15-16; 38.6; 40.1; Lk. 3.19-20), beaten (1 Ki. 22.24; Mt. 26.27; Acts 5.40), and/or killed (1 Ki. 19.1; 2 Chron. 24.21; Jer. 26.20-23; Mt. 14.10; 27.35; Acts 12.1-2).
H. Leo Boles ably expresses the Lord’s gist:
“To suffer persecution for righteousness puts one in the brotherhood of the faithful of God; it assures one that persecution is no mark of God’s disfavor, for God’s best beloved ones had suffered and were suffering. The persecution was no proof that their cause would not succeed. Persecution made them, when the time came, partakers of Christ’s sufferings, and therefore of his glory (Rm. 8.17)” (Boles, p. 126).
Indeed, when Paul was persecuted, he lost many things — social status, financial standing, friends, health, etc. But he counted all these things as “rubbish,” for the loss of these things meant that he had gained “the fellowship of [Christ’s] sufferings, being conformed to his death” (Phil. 3.8, 10). He was in the best company imaginable!
Character-Building
In addition to the blessings of persecution that Jesus mentions in his Beatitudes, Scripture also teaches that persecution can build character.
James notes that “various trials” can "test" our “faith,” and “the testing of our faith produces perseverance” (Jm. 1.2-3). Precious stones are refined by fire, from which they emerge purer than before. Equally so, in persecution, Christians can learn to be more committed to the cause of Christ. It also helps us shed some of the spiritual dross we may be carrying around.
Proof That We Are On The Right Track
When we stand for the things Christ stood for, it follows that we may also suffer in the same way Christ suffered. Persecution, then, should be taken as a reassuring sign that we are acting as we should be.
Fantasy author Ed Greenwood put it like this:
“You have enemies? Good, good — that means you’ve stood up for something, sometime in your life” (Greenwood, p. 118).
In his letter to the church at Philippi, Paul exhorted Christians not to be “terrified” (pturomenoi—startled like a timid horse) by their “adversaries” “in any way.” He notes that their adversaries’ ways are “to them proof of perdition” — that is, a clear sign they are on their way to everlasting ruination. Conversely, when we face persecution with courage, that is a clear sign we are on our way to “salvation, and that from God” (Phil. 1.28). Therefore, we need not fear persecution. Rather, we should heartily embrace it.
Cultivating Joy In Persecution
Jesus’ reassurance that persecution should induce joy and celebration appears counterintuitive. Hostility and maltreatment are not pleasurable experiences.
Therefore, if we are to cultivate joy in persecution, we must have a shift in perspective. Consider several actionable strategies to help you find joy amid persecution:
1. Reframe Your Perspective
Numerous renowned figures — both biblical (e.g., Moses, David, Elijah, John, Jesus) and non-biblical (e.g., MLK Jr., Nelson Mandela, Ghandi) — faced immense persecution. Yet they emerged stronger, more committed to their cause, and were beloved by millions in time, despite being hated or dismissed in their own lifetimes.
So instead of viewing persecution as an attack, see it as an opportunity for personal growth. Every challenge can serve to strengthen your faith and deepen your understanding of your beliefs (cf. Jm. 1.2-3; Rm. 5.3-5).
2. Connect With Like-Minded People
Feeling like a pariah is one of the most difficult aspects of persecution. But don’t just embrace the desertion and isolation. Instead, reach out to those who share the faith with you. Supportive friends and family can help to combat the stigma. Create bonds. Engender a sense of solidarity with others. Jesus built the church, in part, to give his people a support group, whether for joy or for grief (cf. Mt. 16.18; Rm. 12.15; 1 Cor. 12.15-26).
Connecting with “those who have obtained like precious faith with us” can be invaluable (2 Pt. 1.1). A 2022 study indicated that those with strong social support are 50% more likely to navigate life's challenges successfully (see Løseth).
3. Respond With Kindness
It is tempting to respond to persecution with anger or retaliation. But meekness (i.e., the ability to control your emotions, absorb the blow, and respond gently; see “Harnessing the Power of Meekness”), mercy (i.e., the willingness to exercise clemency to those in your power to punish; see “Mercy to the Merciful”), and kindness can reinforce your inner strength, ease tensions, and even make peace with those who oppose you (see “How To Make Peace Like Jesus”).
When people lie, speak hurtfully, and even physically abuse you, Jesus teaches us to counteract such negativity with actions and words that promote understanding, reconciliation, and healing (cf. Mt. 5.38-48; Rm. 12.14-21). And taking the high road with gratitude and humility can instill joy and an abiding sense of self-love in the heart.
4. Pursue Spiritual Practices
Finally, when we engage in regular spiritual activity — e.g., prayer, reflecting on Scripture, worship, evangelism, good works — we fortify ourselves with comfort and courage during times of turbulence.
“Joy” is a “fruit of the Spirit” (Gal. 5.22). This means that joy comes from being transformed by the Spirit’s teaching.
Isaiah, the messianic prophet, noted that our soul’s salvation is a source of joy for the believer (Isa. 12.3).
Even Jeremiah, the weeping prophet, found joy when he studied the word of God (Jer. 15.16).
Joy is the organic emotion that accompanies genuine worship (Acts 2.46-47; Lk. 19.37).
In short, spiritual activity is a calming tonic that promotes joy when the pressure of the world — or even of our own brethren — is bearing down on you.
Conclusion
The conditions described in the Beatitudes are usually looked upon as unfortunate. It doesn’t seem like any of them would or should engender joy or provoke celebration. But Jesus wants us to shift our thinking away from the earthly to the heavenly; from the carnal to the spiritual. Consider a summary of these eight beatitudes:
(1) Spiritual poverty is about making ourselves nothing and God everything.
(2) Mourning is especially about those who are serious-minded, who sincerely regret sin, but it also includes those who mourn over suffering in general, which is the offspring of sin.
(3) Meekness involves the taming of the spirit. It remains composed when attacked and responds with gentleness. It absorbs heat and vents cool. However, a meek heart also will allow God to steer it into spiritual battle when necessary.
(4) Starving and thirsting for righteousness describes those who crave to be right and to do right before God.
(5) Being merciful is about getting into the shoes of others, feeling compassion for those who suffer and seeking to alleviate it, as well as for those who have wronged us, giving them forbearance and showing them kindness instead.
(6) Heartfelt purity comes by cleansing ourselves from evil motives and conducting ourselves with integrity and uprightness like God.
(7) Making peace is not about avoiding conflict, nor about destroying contenders. Rather, making peace is about reconciliation.
(8) And "the persecuted" refers to those who, if it is the will of God, allow themselves to suffer verbal, monetary, and/or physical abuse, whether for moral or religious motivations.
There is joy and blessing in following God. Congratulations are in order for those who do so. Even when sorrow crashes over us like waves of the sea, our faith in him and service to him can be like a reliable life vest that keeps us from drowning and an unyielding anchor that keeps us from drifting further out into the deep.
In the Beatitudes, we are summoned to be different from the world — to be like God. And we are to celebrate and feel grateful for making such a commitment, despite the grief we may receive from the world.
So let us strive for spiritual maturity. If we apply each of these characteristics to our lives, they will enrich and bless us in ways more profound and long-lasting than any earthly thing ever can.
