Persecuted for righteousness’ sake

By Mikey Cleland

“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
Matthew 5:10

I was recently on holiday in Malta when I visited St John’s Co-Cathedral. There hangs one of Caravaggio’s most famous paintings (see photo above): The Beheading of Saint John the Baptist. The painting is famous not only because of its artist, its realism and its enormous scale, but because it depicts one of the most significant moments in the New Testament.

It portrays the execution of John the Baptist, carried out on the orders of King Herod. John was Jesus’ cousin and the prophet who prepared the way for the coming Messiah. Yet despite his faithfulness to God, he was persecuted, imprisoned and ultimately executed.

In Matthew 5:10, Jesus tells us, “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

In response, we can ask ourselves:

• How can John’s death be considered a blessing?
• How can Christians be blessed through persecution?
• How can we be blessed when we experience rejection or suffering?
• What does it mean to inherit the Kingdom of Heaven?
• What does this mean for us as we serve at camp or Hello Life this summer?

Although persecution can seem like something that happens only in distant countries, millions of Christians today still face harassment, imprisonment and even death because of their faith.

Paul reminds us in 2 Timothy 3:12: “Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.” Following Christ has always involved opposition – Christ’s life demonstrates that for us. So how can persecution be a blessing?

Persecution is never pleasant. It involves suffering and, at times, severe pain. Yet the key to this blessing is that the persecution is “for righteousness’ sake”. Righteousness means more than simply being a good person. It means living in right relationship with God, seeking His will and obeying Him. That kind of life cannot remain hidden. As Jesus says elsewhere in the Sermon on the Mount:

“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:14-16

To endure persecution for the sake of righteousness requires uncompromising faithfulness to God despite every threat and pressure. Therefore, rather than becoming discouraged, dismayed or angry, believers who suffer for openly following Christ have reason to rejoice, because their reward in heaven is great.

This summer we are unlikely to face the kind of persecution experienced by many of our brothers and sisters around the world. But many of us may arrive at camp or Hello Life carrying our own struggles: disappointment, grief, uncertainty, or battles with our faith. Jesus reminds us that faithfulness to Him is never wasted.

When we continue to serve Him despite difficult circumstances, we honour God with our lives. As God says in 1 Samuel 2:30, “Those who honour me I will honour.” Our hope is not that serving God will remove our suffering now, but that one day we will share fully in His Kingdom.

As we serve this summer, may we remember that following Christ is not always easy. Yet even in suffering, rejection or hardship, we are blessed because we belong to Him, and the Kingdom of Heaven is ours.

For further study:

Read Acts 5:17-41:

1. Why were the apostles persecuted in this chapter?
2. What was Gamaliel’s reasoning? How does the fact that his advice turned out to be correct give us even greater confidence in the value of suffering for our faith?
3. v29 Can you think of circumstances in your life when you have chosen, or would have to choose, to obey God rather than men?

Read Acts 6:8-8:3:

1. Why was Stephen persecuted?
2. What does Stephen’s speech reveal about the persecution of God’s messengers throughout the Old Testament?
3. What is Stephen’s attitude during the persecution? How does God strengthen him?

Read Hebrews 12:1-3:

1. What practical advice does this passage give us for enduring suffering?
2. How can we “look to Jesus” on a daily, weekly basis? How does His example inspire us and encourage us?

Read 2 Corinthians 4:7-18:

1. How does Paul describe his sufferings?
2. What motivates him to persevere, and helps his perspective on suffering?
3. How can we apply this chapter to the difficulties we face?