The Gospel Of Matthew Chapter 5 Part 8 Cheerfully Suffering For The Gospel

Jesus' instructions regarding suffering for the sake of the gospel.

Matthew 5:10-12  Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11)  Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. 12)  Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. 

Jesus turns His focus on instruction for those who are born again, and recipients of the new heart and new spirit promised by God.

Those whom the Holy Spirit regenerates are those who progressed from a state of being poor in spirit and mourning over their sin.

These regenerated believers are filled with humility and meekness and they have a new hunger for the things of God. 

The new birth brings a pure heart as they begin walking in newness of life with Christ, as old patterns pass away.

Thus, Jesus begins teaching what His disciples should expect from the world. 

We are blessed when the wicked persecute us for the sake of the gospel.

Matthew 5:10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

First, Jesus teaches us that we will be blessed even when people reject the gospel and persecute us for the righteousness we preach and live.

The word "persecute" means to pursue someone with the intent to harass then and drive them away. 

This word means that Christ's disciples can expect to be mistreated by the world, and that we will face hostility for our faith in Christ.

Thus, we face persecution on account of pursuing righteousness and living for the glory of God. 

When we put God first in the way that we live, we will experience the hatred of the world. 

A Christian living for the glory of God has a bright, shining light that points to Christ and condemns the world for sin. 

Jesus' disciples must remain steadfast in pursuing righteousness because the kingdom of heaven will belong to us.

Short term pain and affliction gives way to eternal joy and blessing.

We are blessed when we are subjected to slanderous lies for Jesus' sake.

Matthew 5:11  Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.

Second, Jesus teaches us that "Blessed are ye when men shall revile you." 

The word "revile" means to have people say false, slanderous things about us that are meant to attack our integrity and diminish our witness for Christ.

Those who do not know God will speak down to us with contemptuous language filled with scorn, mockery and ridicule. 

We must remember the verbal abuse Jesus endured for our sakes. 

His enemies claimed that Jesus was a Samaritan and had a devil (See John 8:48). 

They blasphemed and said that He was mad. See John 10:20). 

As the Lamb of God and Savior of the world was dying for our sins, His enemies reviled and mocked him when he hung on the cross  (See Matthew 27:39-44).  

We must not deliberately do things to offend others in order that they might be moved to revile us. 

Rather, Jesus is saying that as we live for God's glory and are reviled as Christ was, then we are to take it with patience. 

We are to remember that untold numbers of saints before us have been treated in like manner. 

Therefore, when we are reviled or persecuted, we are to be meek, patient, humble. 

We are not to respond in kind to those who revile us. Instead should endeavor to do good to our persecutors and slanderers, (See 2 Timothy 2:24-26).

We are blessed when we join the company of persecuted saints. 

Matthew 5:12  Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. 

Thirdly, Jesus teaches us that we should rejoice when the world turns against us.

When we suffer for the sake of the gospel and for the name of Jesus Christ, then we can rejoice because we know we are living as God would have us to live.

We must endeavor to have a bright and clear witness for Christ especially when the world's hatred and animosity to the gospel is directed at us.

Rejoice and be exceeding glad because of the honor put upon those who suffer for Christ. 

Christ receives glory when we cheerfully suffer for His name.  

Jesus promises that we will receive a great reward in heaven for our faithfulness to serve Him on earth.

Evildoers cut off by judgment but the meek will enjoy peace on earth.

Psalm 37:9-12  For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth. 10)  For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be. 11)  But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace. 12)  The wicked plotteth against the just, and gnasheth upon him with his teeth. 

There are many promises of God that state this same truth in the Old Testament. 

Those who trust Him may suffer now but they shall inherit all things God has for us while the wicked will be cast into Hell for eternity.

Fiery trials and suffering for the sake of Christ should not surprise us.

1 Peter 4:12-16  Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: 13)  But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. 14)  If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified. 15)  But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters. 16)  Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf. 

Jesus' apostles all suffered for His name and so will we.

Peter encourages us to understand that it is not a matter of "if" we shall suffer, but a matter of "when" we shall suffer for the gospel.

It may be a fiery trial to be sure, but this should not catch us by surprise. 

Jesus warned us about it and so did His apostles.

Believers can rejoice when suffering for Christ because suffering precedes the glory of God that shall be revealed when Christ returns.

Thus, Peter tells us to be glad and rejoice if we suffer because we seek to live for the glory of God.

He also admonishes Christians not to be lawbreakers who suffer punishment from civil authorities because we broke the law.

If we suffer for being a Christian, we must glorify God and not be ashamed to suffer for the sake of the gospel.

Jesus is our model for suffering and we are to follow in His steps.

1 Peter 2:19-25 For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. 20)  For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. 21)  For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: 22)  Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: 23)  Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: 24)  Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. 25)  For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls. 

Peter reminds us again, that there is no glory in a Christian who suffers for wrong that we have done.

However, if we suffer as a Christian who seeks to love God and his neighbor, then we endure it with patience because this is acceptable to God.

Christ suffered for us, not only to endure God's wrath for our sins, but also to give us an example, a pattern to follow when we suffer.

Jesus never sinned and never was deceitful, yet He suffered. 

When His enemies reviled Him with blasphemous words and vile language, Jesus did not respond.

When they physically attacked Him, He did not threaten to call for His Father's angels to wipe them out.

Jesus endured all things for us, suffering as God's perfect Lamb, in order to save us from our sins.

It should be of little consequence to the believer if we suffer for Christ, because Jesus gave us all things necessary for eternal life in heaven with Him.

May the Spirit of God help us understand the importance of Jesus' teaching.

May we learn to thrust ourselves off the throne of our hearts and fully surrender to Jesus Christ our Lord, each morning.

May it fill our heart by reading and studying the Word of God as He commands us to do.

May God see fit to use each one of us to serve Him in the places where we live.

Bob