The Persecuted | Matthew

Introduction:
“It is easier said than done.” This is a very common saying in our world. What it means is that someone is presenting a task in a way that underestimates its difficulty.
What is also means, sometimes, is that you are asking me to do something that is far more difficult than you know, THEREFORE, it really isn’t fair. You lack compassion for me. You don’t really care for me. If you did, you wouldn’t be asking me to do what you are asking me to do.
A companion saying that expresses this kind of perceived unfairness is, “That’s easy for you to say.” “That’s easy for you to say because you are not in my situation.”
Well, when you come to our verses this morning, and when you declare them, and apply them, to people who are living in the kinds of circumstances being described, you sometimes meet with “that’s easier said than done.” Or “that’s easy for you to say.”
My prayer for us is that when we finish with these verses today, that kind of response would be mortified in us.
There will come a day in every believer’s life when we need to be reminded of these words. When that day comes, I pray that we would joyfully receive the reminder. That we would always receive this teaching with faith.
WHAT OUR LORD SAYS TO US HERE IS THE TRUTH.
WHAT OUR LORD SAYS TO US HERE SPEAKS OF GOD’S GLORIOUS GRACE TO US. IT ONLY APPLIES TO US BECAUSE OF GOD’S GRACE TO US IN JESUS CHRIST. The truths are ours, and the capacity to live out the instruction is ours, only because of salvation.
WHAT OUR LORD SAYS IS MEANT TO NOT ONLY BE BELIEVED, BUT IT IS ALSO MEANT TO BE PRACTICED.
And to be called to that obedience, or to call other believers to that obedience, is not some act of insensitivity, it is, in fact, the most loving thing we could ever do.
If we exhort each other “all the more” as we see the day approaching, this must certainly belong to the kinds of reminders that we need.
We consider this final beatitude under four headings. (1) The teaching explained (2) The teaching modeled (3) The teaching believed (4) The teaching practiced.
• THE TEACHING EXPLAINED
These words are not hard to understand, but they are sometimes hard for us to believe. They are completely out of step with natural wisdom.
• THE MEANING OF PERSECUTION
What does it mean to be persecuted?
It is a form of the word διώκω
BDAG - “διώκω
② to harass someone, esp. because of beliefs, persecute (OGI 532, 25) τινά someone (1 Macc 5:22; En 99:14; Jos., Ant. 12, 272; apolog.) Mt 5:11f, 44; 10:23; Lk 11:49; 21:12; J 5:16; 15:20; Ac 7:52; 9:4f; 22:4, 7f; 26:11, 14f; Ro 12:14; 1 Cor 4:12; 15:9; Gal 1:13, 23; 4:29; Phil 3:6; Rv 12:13; AcPl Ha 11:17f; D 1:3; 16:4; B 20:2; Dg 7:5; ἐν θανάτῳ δ. persecute to death B 5:11. Pass. (Lucian, D. Mar. 9, 1) Mt 5:10 (=Pol. 2:3); 2 Cor 4:9; Gal 5:11; 6:12; 2 Ti 3:12; IMg 8:2; ITr 9:1; 1 Cl 4:13; 5:2; 6:2; 45:4; Dg 5:11, 17. Of plots against Joseph 1 Cl 4:9.”
It is mistreatment that is purposeful. It is someone AIMING to make someone’s life difficult, HOSTILE TOWARD A PERSON, because of what they represent.
• THE REASON FOR PERSECUTION
The reason is this case is RIGHTEOUSNESS. Because you BELIEVE what is right. Because you REPRESENT what is right in the sight of God. Because you PRACTICE what is right.
But this is not simply suffering for what is right. AS THOUGH THE RIGHT IS SOMETHING STANDS ALONE.
It is suffering for what is right in the sight of God because you are one of God’s people in Jesus Christ.
IT IS FOR CHRIST’S SAKE that you are hungering and thirsting after righteousness, and identified with righteousness, and therefore SUFFER FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS.
People harass you for Christ’s sake (vs.11).
This is because you LOVE CHRIST.
This is because you LIVE FOR CHRIST.
This is because you hold to the STANDARDS OF CHRIST.
This is because you PROCLAIM CHRIST.
This is because you REPRESENT CHRIST.

[@PastorVicenteMinistérioBatista]

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