MT 5:3-12: The Beatitudes
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https://zioncallingyou.blogspot.com/2019/12/on-writing-of-sermon-draft-3-include.html
Footnotes are not necessarily in sequential order but this should be no problem if you use the Control f function, or equivalent. Note that an asterisk follows a footnote designation to assure that you can rapidly reach the correct footnote. For example, typing or pasting 3a* will assure that you reach that footnote quickly.
MT 5:3-10
3 How wonderful for the poor in spirit. Theirs is heaven's kingdom!
4 How wonderful for those who mourn. Comfort is on the way!
5 How wonderful for the meek. They will inherit the earth!
6 How wonderful for those who hunger and thirst for righteousness.They will be filled!7 How wonderful for the merciful. They will receive mercy!
8 How wonderful for the pure-hearted. They will see God!
9 How wonderful for the peacemakers! They will be called God's children!
10 How wonderful for those who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness.Theirs is heaven's kingdom!11 How wonderful for you when, on account of me, people revile you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil about you.
12 Rejoice and be extremely happy! Your heavenly reward is great. This is how the prophets were treated.
I see these as promises to the meek, especially those who suffer for doing God's will. What is coming is well worth the trouble and the wait! Jesus is assuring us that those who turn away from old ways and begin acting in a manner fit for a true worshiper of God will be very satisfied. But let us not hold the conceit that we can work our way into God's favor. Jesus is talking about the "be-attitude" 2* we should have. He has come to obtain followers who will become good servants after a mind/spirit makeover.
Consider Paul. He did not fit the mold for any of those promises. In fact, after his conversion he looked back on his old self as having been the worst of sinners. Yet after Jesus' stunning intervention, Paul became a worshiper of God in spirit and in truth. We can tell from the humble spirit and content of Paul's letters that, after his conversion, he personally dovetailed very well with all the beatitudes. Or take the case of Peter. He may not have been as sin-sick as was Paul (though, who knows?). But at one point he urged Jesus to part from him because he felt his sin so deeply in the Lord's presence (LK 5:8).
While it is true that in general God, as a father to the fatherless (PS 68:5-6), cares for the poor, yet we can see from LK's use of "you" that Jesus seems to be primarily addressing his students, as MT indicates in 5:1. Poverty, and the associated humility, permits disciples to start their journey with God, who opens to them the kingdom of heaven. MT's amplification tends to underscore this point: simply being impoverished is surely not the only condition for entry into God's kingdom. But even so a disciple's poverty bespeaks an attitude of humble reliance on God.
In this connection, we can see LK's "good news to the poor" as embracing the anawim, the mass of the people who had nothing and were bent over under the weight of life. They had never had anyone to lean on but God. Now Jesus was saying, "Come to me and you will be in excellent shape!"
In fact, don't even worry about material poverty. If you wish to follow me, Jesus is saying, forget about chasing money.
The Lord is seeking people who are willing to get radical, to defy all social and family expectations, as is brought out elsewhere in the Sermon and throughout the NT.
The main purpose of the sayings in the Sermon1* is not, as many have assumed, to create a legal code to which one must adhere or face hellfire. They already face hellfire -- though God is the final judge -- and there is no human means of escape. Whatever MTp or some MTx may have been thinking, I strongly suggest that a main purpose of the sayings is to prod people to realize that they have sinned, no matter how "good" they think they are, so that they may become eager to receive God's salvation.
In that case, also holding true is that those who acknowledge how poor they are spiritually, that their "righteousness" is nothing but filthy rags in God's sight (ISA 64:6), are in a position (contrite and self-abasing) to receive God's salvation, to receive God's kingdom.
Salvation comes to reverse the agony that entered the human world with the Fall. We mourn, or feel depressed, because we are very locked in to this old world -- in fact, trapped. But the eternal life made possible by Jesus' sacrifice makes our current misery of little account -- if we avail ourselves of him.
One commentator says the Greek word translated "meek" implies "gentle but strong." Such a description well suits the true follower of Jesus, who is to be "meek and lowly" (MT 11:29) but who is nevertheless "more than a conqueror" (ROM 8:37), who can do "all things through Christ who strengthens" him (PHILIP 4:13).
We may infer from this assurance that a Messianic Millennium (=heaven on earth) is in store. But even before that great event, once a person has meekly asked Jesus to save him, or has asked the Father for salvation in the name of Jesus, he receives the Holy Spirit and becomes a son of God, not in theory but in truth. As a son, he is given the keys to the kingdom -- though, as a beginner, he has much to learn about use of the keys. Wherever he sets his foot, he owns that ground (GEN 13:4; JOSH 1:3) -- because God owns it. Further, wherever he goes, God's mercy and grace go with him -- so that all his spiritual and material needs will be met (as we will hear in other Sermon teachings).
In other words, those who are meek enough to receive Christ become sons of God and thus share in all God's possessions, including "the land," meaning the Promised Land of God's kingdom, wherever that might be. (There is little if any distinction between the words "land" and "earth" in the gospels.)
No one can be righteous on his own account. The burden of sin is too great. (ROM 3:23, PS 53:3). Yet those who place their trust in Jesus are accepted by the Father on Jesus' account. Jesus wraps them in his robe of righteousness so that they may commune with God as friends. "Any friend of Jesus is a friend of mine," says God. That robe is like the "wedding garment" spoken of in MT 22:1-14.
Once a person has thrown in his lot with Jesus, he receives the Holy Spirit. The goodness of God indwells him, and he will be on his way to acting in spirit and in truth to do the works of righteousness (actions that God sees as worthy).
And those who thirst for revenge are, at root, being driven by "the flesh" (the corrupt natural mind), which asserts its need to be boss and which fears and loathes humiliation (LK 10:25-37). Such attitudes may make some sense out in a Darwinist jungle somewhere (though I doubt that), but they are the hallmarks of the lost, whose minds cannot operate well because of the rampant sin-sickness that so afflicts the world.
Consider the author of "Amazing Grace," John Newman. He was a cruel 18th Century slave-trader. Those slaves got little mercy from him. Yet, when Jesus got hold of his heart, Newman repented and became a man of mercy, who vigorously fought the slave trade.
I doubt that MT 5:7 should be read to mean that nice people will go to heaven. I believe the verse implies two ideas:
The first step to "seeing" God is to cast aside self, which occurs when one realizes the depth of one's degraded state.
Generally, unregenerate man cannot see God. Recall the Israelites requiring Moses to veil his face because the brilliant shekinah light radiating from his face was unbearable. That much direct connection to God was more than they could tolerate. People who saw God would die, according to Israelite beliefs.7*
Consider the fact that unregenerate, fallen man has an unclean spirit -- which is to say, his own spirit. If that unclean spirit were to look God in the eye, it would die (what happens on Judgment Day). In fact, Adam's disobedience made him unclean and he died immediately, as did his wife Eve. Earthly descendants of Adam, being influenced by this fallen world, grow up askew -- even when parents have very good intentions -- and find that sin has a hold on them.
The spirits of the fallen are dead. They are prohibited from direct contact with God, who does not look upon sin. Thus, the angels with the flaming swords bar the way back to the garden of Eden. There is only one ticket to paradise: to receive Jesus as a personal rescuer. He has paid for your spirit and soul by his enormous sacrifice so that you can be declared "clean" in God's eyes. You become transformed by the renewing of your mind and being, as Jesus, the Father and the Holy Spirit come in to sup with you. You are no longer dead, but alive with a transformed spirit, able to worship God in spirit and in truth. You have been born again, this time of the spirit.
Once a person has been reborn in spirit, he is able to "see God" without perishing. Consider Thomas, who was gently chided by the risen Jesus, for his inability to perceive that "the Father" was standing right there looking at him in the person of Jesus the son (JN 20:24-29).
Once Thomas had received the Spirit (if he hadn't yet, he soon would), he not only could "see God," he could do so forever. There was no need for spiritual death. That would be impossible once Jesus had chosen him. True, the son of perdition -- a strange soul not truly made in the image of God -- was chosen for the role of traitor, but he was not chosen, like the other 11, for eternal life.
To recap: as the believer walks with Jesus every day, Jesus washes his feet spiritually. In other words, the false moves, bad habits, puzzlements, impure reactions and routine mistakes that ensnare every believer walking through this world are dealt with by the Lord so that the believer can walk again tomorrow, whether in this world or the next.
The proper attitude is love for one another. Yet, the fire --- the message of salvation -- the Word of God -- was already crackling, and the Holy Spirit was about to fall onto the earth or onto "all flesh" -- all sorts of people. The worldly will recoil at those who join up with Jesus. Families will make life difficult for those who do not play by the old rules. Society will do likewise, because the world, once it takes notice, sees true Christians as aliens who are intolerable to be around.3a*
Jesus is being very serious.
Think about this saying:
If he is like many of us, and finds that too tall an order, he is to keep asking God for help in the extinguishing of self. Never fear; that is one prayer God hears! It means God's will be done, no matter what I would like!
Why is that? Because our trust in Jesus is not all that it should be. We still cling to this life and its attractions. This life is to be lived -- and lived more abundantly. But if we are not willing to die for Jesus, then we cannot be his true disciple. And so many who say they are disciples are not. They are double-minded, pulled between the devil and the deep blue sea, so to speak. When one is single-minded, able or at least willing, to surrender all and go flat-out for Jesus, then one is a disciple (=student).
The Christian is to be "in the world" -- the system of humans dominated by Satan -- but not "of the world" (JN 17:16-27). He is supposed to be different, as coming verses show. Otherwise, he is like unsalty salt: Worthless. (See sidebar: MT 5:13-16.)
The Christian is assured that, despite his troubles, his journey is worthwhile! All's well that ends well! (R0M 8:16-18).5*
So when persecution strikes:
Whoopee! Now you can be sure that God chose you for a wonderful destiny! Plainly, when the unpleasantness hits, we are liable to wince, mutter, groan and complain. But we have nothing to complain about. We "asked for it," by siding with Jesus. And he won't give us -- that is, born-again Christians -- more than we can handle. After all, this persecution is for our own good (whatever our adversaries intend).
We have
In any case, the world turns against you because it cannot stand your light, which is the light of Christ. Let us reflect again on Moses descending Mt. Sinai, his face glowing with divine light. The people recoiled to such an extent that he was forced to wear a veil in order to protect them from too much God.8* Those people were not ready for that much God.
We can learn something from this veiling. A Christian can make an effort not to throw his "holy" around by instead striving for a humble attitude, always considering as better than himself those who are less fortunate in not yet having the light. After all, they are weaker and so are asked to endure more; they are heavy laden by the sufferings due to blindness and their situation as spiritual zombies. Much of the time a Christian who keeps a low profile will avoid trouble. But every now and then -- and this could include the act of going to church or of giving someone a Christian tract -- the Christian's light sets off anger (=fear) in the worldling. Though somewhat paradoxically, a Christian who maintains a lowly profile is letting his light shine -- on those who can receive it.
MT shows right up front that true disciples are expected to face abuse from unbelievers who would be in a position to hurt them.
In fact, if a Christian suffers no persecution, one may wonder just how sincere he is. A problem has to do with the division of Christianity into the "professional clergy and missionaries" and everyone else. It's as if everyone else merely audits a class in Christianity weekly or biweekly but is sufficiently conformist to avoid the wrath of people with power to disrupt their lives.
On the other hand, a common form of persecution, or abuse, is the bypassing of sincere Christians for promotion at their job sites. Executives tend to be more comfortable with people like themselves, avoiding as much as possible, "Jesus freaks." If the Christian is the best qualified for the better-paying job, it is abusive to pass over him because of his religious views.
In any case, Jesus is saying, why grieve over such wrongs? You have a wonderful payoff coming!
Some who turn to Christ fall away when persecution comes. They have not considered that following Jesus requires the total commitment of one's being.4i*
You must be willing to turn away from those who seek to impede you from following Jesus with all your heart, soul and mind. If not, you will be torn between two masters (see upcoming: MT 6:24).
All this sounds like a very tall order. But, because of the grace of God, it is not really too hard. In fact, "my yoke is easy, and my burden is light" (MT 11:30)4iv*
Let us pause for a moment to think upon the numerous horrendous persecutions of the past, along with many that occur in modern times in places other than America. Right from the gospel's Roman beginnings, Christians endured unspeakable atrocities as the authorities made strenuous efforts to exterminate the new faith. Yet, the gospel was unstoppable, in those years spreading without use of the sword and in the face of severe sanctions.
Eventually, the church prevailed, only to find that the mix of temporal and spiritual power that followed brought great difficulties. In fact, some sincere believers, over the centuries, were martyred for refusing to recant under pressure from ecclesiastical authorities.
Footnotes
Footnotes are not in sequential order, but this should be no problem if one uses the Control f function, or equivalent.. Note that an asterisk follows a footnote designation to assure that you can go immediately to the correct footnote.
1*. When Sermon appears capitalized, this simply indicates we are referring to the Sermon on the Mount and not to some other discourse. Otherwise, no meaning is to be attached to that convention.
2*. Beatitude stems from Latin beatitudinem (=state of blessedness) and is related to Latin beatus (=happy, blessed).
3*. Poor. Scholars say the Greek word is basically the same term used to refer to the destitute as well as having been used by members of groups that held property in common.
3a*.
4i*. The Cost of Following Jesus
4iv*. The Value in Following Jesus
5*.
6*.
7*.
8*. We see here the blending of divinity and humanity in one human being, making Moses a "type" of Christ.
Consider Paul. He did not fit the mold for any of those promises. In fact, after his conversion he looked back on his old self as having been the worst of sinners. Yet after Jesus' stunning intervention, Paul became a worshiper of God in spirit and in truth. We can tell from the humble spirit and content of Paul's letters that, after his conversion, he personally dovetailed very well with all the beatitudes. Or take the case of Peter. He may not have been as sin-sick as was Paul (though, who knows?). But at one point he urged Jesus to part from him because he felt his sin so deeply in the Lord's presence (LK 5:8).
MT 5:3
MT apparently amplifies "poor" with the phrase "in spirit," a phrase that does not occur in LK 6:20, which quotes Jesus thus:How wonderful for the poor3* in spirit, for theirs is heaven's kingdom!
LK 6:20
In both cases, this is the opening concept for Jesus' discourses or "sermons." As we read other parts of the sermons and other sayings, we realize that Jesus puts a high premium on being able to be fully reliant on God's ability and willingness to provide. Poverty is a good thing for his real followers (which should not be taken as justification for being stingy with members of the clergy or missionaries)."Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God."
While it is true that in general God, as a father to the fatherless (PS 68:5-6), cares for the poor, yet we can see from LK's use of "you" that Jesus seems to be primarily addressing his students, as MT indicates in 5:1. Poverty, and the associated humility, permits disciples to start their journey with God, who opens to them the kingdom of heaven. MT's amplification tends to underscore this point: simply being impoverished is surely not the only condition for entry into God's kingdom. But even so a disciple's poverty bespeaks an attitude of humble reliance on God.
In this connection, we can see LK's "good news to the poor" as embracing the anawim, the mass of the people who had nothing and were bent over under the weight of life. They had never had anyone to lean on but God. Now Jesus was saying, "Come to me and you will be in excellent shape!"
In fact, don't even worry about material poverty. If you wish to follow me, Jesus is saying, forget about chasing money.
The Lord is seeking people who are willing to get radical, to defy all social and family expectations, as is brought out elsewhere in the Sermon and throughout the NT.
The main purpose of the sayings in the Sermon1* is not, as many have assumed, to create a legal code to which one must adhere or face hellfire. They already face hellfire -- though God is the final judge -- and there is no human means of escape. Whatever MTp or some MTx may have been thinking, I strongly suggest that a main purpose of the sayings is to prod people to realize that they have sinned, no matter how "good" they think they are, so that they may become eager to receive God's salvation.
In that case, also holding true is that those who acknowledge how poor they are spiritually, that their "righteousness" is nothing but filthy rags in God's sight (ISA 64:6), are in a position (contrite and self-abasing) to receive God's salvation, to receive God's kingdom.
MT 5:4
Death, pain and suffering were then, as now, conditions that so often drain life of joy. Jesus overcame death, so that those who trust him gain eternal life. Even in this life, they are to count their troubles as joy (JMS 1:2-3 and MT 5:10-12). Those who are in despair, who see their lives as worthless and hopeless, are about to get a new deal! Throw yourself on the mercy of Jesus and you will be comforted! Once you do this, and mean it, Jesus sends you the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, to refresh you and revitalize you, to make you a new, and fundamentally happy, person -- regardless of afflictions that are very likely to come.4 How wonderful for those who mourn! Comfort is on the way!
Salvation comes to reverse the agony that entered the human world with the Fall. We mourn, or feel depressed, because we are very locked in to this old world -- in fact, trapped. But the eternal life made possible by Jesus' sacrifice makes our current misery of little account -- if we avail ourselves of him.
MT 5:5
One might interpret this to include the prophecy of the Millennium, the reign of Christ on earth, or, that is, when there will be heaven on earth. Those who are meek enough to see their need of Jesus and receive his word will be those chosen to stay on earth until the end of time.5 How wonderful for the meek! They will inherit the earth.
One commentator says the Greek word translated "meek" implies "gentle but strong." Such a description well suits the true follower of Jesus, who is to be "meek and lowly" (MT 11:29) but who is nevertheless "more than a conqueror" (ROM 8:37), who can do "all things through Christ who strengthens" him (PHILIP 4:13).
We may infer from this assurance that a Messianic Millennium (=heaven on earth) is in store. But even before that great event, once a person has meekly asked Jesus to save him, or has asked the Father for salvation in the name of Jesus, he receives the Holy Spirit and becomes a son of God, not in theory but in truth. As a son, he is given the keys to the kingdom -- though, as a beginner, he has much to learn about use of the keys. Wherever he sets his foot, he owns that ground (GEN 13:4; JOSH 1:3) -- because God owns it. Further, wherever he goes, God's mercy and grace go with him -- so that all his spiritual and material needs will be met (as we will hear in other Sermon teachings).
In other words, those who are meek enough to receive Christ become sons of God and thus share in all God's possessions, including "the land," meaning the Promised Land of God's kingdom, wherever that might be. (There is little if any distinction between the words "land" and "earth" in the gospels.)
MT 5:6
People who are yearning for a state of affairs in which right prevails over wrong can have their dream come true! Ask Jesus into your heart and an interior revolution occurs and will keep occurring. You will receive the Holy Spirit into your being along with Jesus and the Father. So, though you have no power from your old self, you now have power from God to imitate the ways of Jesus -- and like it!How wonderful for those who hunger and thirst for righteousness. They will be filled!
No one can be righteous on his own account. The burden of sin is too great. (ROM 3:23, PS 53:3). Yet those who place their trust in Jesus are accepted by the Father on Jesus' account. Jesus wraps them in his robe of righteousness so that they may commune with God as friends. "Any friend of Jesus is a friend of mine," says God. That robe is like the "wedding garment" spoken of in MT 22:1-14.
Once a person has thrown in his lot with Jesus, he receives the Holy Spirit. The goodness of God indwells him, and he will be on his way to acting in spirit and in truth to do the works of righteousness (actions that God sees as worthy).
MT 5:7
Mercy does not come easily to one whose mind is absorbed with self or is racked by a desire for revenge. Recall all the people who strode by the injured robbery victim. Only the heart of the despised Samaritan was filled with mercy for the man. The others were too busy -- driven by needs of self.How wonderful for the merciful. They will receive mercy!
And those who thirst for revenge are, at root, being driven by "the flesh" (the corrupt natural mind), which asserts its need to be boss and which fears and loathes humiliation (LK 10:25-37). Such attitudes may make some sense out in a Darwinist jungle somewhere (though I doubt that), but they are the hallmarks of the lost, whose minds cannot operate well because of the rampant sin-sickness that so afflicts the world.
Consider the author of "Amazing Grace," John Newman. He was a cruel 18th Century slave-trader. Those slaves got little mercy from him. Yet, when Jesus got hold of his heart, Newman repented and became a man of mercy, who vigorously fought the slave trade.
I doubt that MT 5:7 should be read to mean that nice people will go to heaven. I believe the verse implies two ideas:
¶ All those kindly people of ancient Judea who had despaired of anything much for themselves were in for a surprise! God's kingdom was at hand for them. The Millennium, so to speak, was dawning.
¶ Once a person is born again, his heart becomes merciful. And whenever he misses the mark in that respect, God lets him know. He has already received mercy, and he will receive unlimited mercy as he goes along. Jesus daily "washes his feet" in order to take away the sin that occurs during his walk through this world (JN 13:1–17). When he is in need, he receives mercy as his needs are met.
MT 5:8
As the psalmist said, "a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise" (PS 51.17).8 How wonderful for the pure-hearted. They will see God!
The first step to "seeing" God is to cast aside self, which occurs when one realizes the depth of one's degraded state.
Generally, unregenerate man cannot see God. Recall the Israelites requiring Moses to veil his face because the brilliant shekinah light radiating from his face was unbearable. That much direct connection to God was more than they could tolerate. People who saw God would die, according to Israelite beliefs.7*
Consider the fact that unregenerate, fallen man has an unclean spirit -- which is to say, his own spirit. If that unclean spirit were to look God in the eye, it would die (what happens on Judgment Day). In fact, Adam's disobedience made him unclean and he died immediately, as did his wife Eve. Earthly descendants of Adam, being influenced by this fallen world, grow up askew -- even when parents have very good intentions -- and find that sin has a hold on them.
The spirits of the fallen are dead. They are prohibited from direct contact with God, who does not look upon sin. Thus, the angels with the flaming swords bar the way back to the garden of Eden. There is only one ticket to paradise: to receive Jesus as a personal rescuer. He has paid for your spirit and soul by his enormous sacrifice so that you can be declared "clean" in God's eyes. You become transformed by the renewing of your mind and being, as Jesus, the Father and the Holy Spirit come in to sup with you. You are no longer dead, but alive with a transformed spirit, able to worship God in spirit and in truth. You have been born again, this time of the spirit.
Once a person has been reborn in spirit, he is able to "see God" without perishing. Consider Thomas, who was gently chided by the risen Jesus, for his inability to perceive that "the Father" was standing right there looking at him in the person of Jesus the son (JN 20:24-29).
Once Thomas had received the Spirit (if he hadn't yet, he soon would), he not only could "see God," he could do so forever. There was no need for spiritual death. That would be impossible once Jesus had chosen him. True, the son of perdition -- a strange soul not truly made in the image of God -- was chosen for the role of traitor, but he was not chosen, like the other 11, for eternal life.
To recap: as the believer walks with Jesus every day, Jesus washes his feet spiritually. In other words, the false moves, bad habits, puzzlements, impure reactions and routine mistakes that ensnare every believer walking through this world are dealt with by the Lord so that the believer can walk again tomorrow, whether in this world or the next.
MT 5:9
Compare that with9 How wonderful for the peacemakers! They will be called God's children!
MT 10:34-36
Also:34 Don't think I am here to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.
35 For I come to set a man against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.
36 And a man's foes will be those of his own household.
LK 12:49
So on the one hand Jesus proclaims the excellence of being a peacemaker, which fits right in with the theme of the Sermon, and on the other he tells us he is quite the troublemaker.I came to throw fire onto the earth -- and I strongly wish it already torched!
The proper attitude is love for one another. Yet, the fire --- the message of salvation -- the Word of God -- was already crackling, and the Holy Spirit was about to fall onto the earth or onto "all flesh" -- all sorts of people. The worldly will recoil at those who join up with Jesus. Families will make life difficult for those who do not play by the old rules. Society will do likewise, because the world, once it takes notice, sees true Christians as aliens who are intolerable to be around.3a*
Jesus is being very serious.
Think about this saying:
LK 14:26
The word "hate" here does not imply ferocious rage against someone. It is like Abraham "hating" his son Isaac when he obeyed God and prepared to offer him as a sacrifice. Abraham loved his son. But he knew that obedience to God had to take precedence over his feelings. Faith in God was paramount. Jesus is saying that the real Christian must be so devoted to him that if his family turns against him, if his wife leaves him and his children are taken away, he is to stick with Jesus, to never let go -- even if that means his own life. In fact, a person who submits fully to Jesus must, one way or another, die to self.If anyone [as an adult] comes to me, and does not hate his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brothers, and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.4i*,ii*,iii*,iv*
If he is like many of us, and finds that too tall an order, he is to keep asking God for help in the extinguishing of self. Never fear; that is one prayer God hears! It means God's will be done, no matter what I would like!
MT 5:10-12
We need not give up when hounded and harassed for doing right, especially not if we are laboring to advance the message of salvation. Heaven is coming our way. Just as Stephen looked up into paradise to see Jesus' smiling face as murderous stones rained down on him, we can expect a similar reception as we persist in spite of cruel opposition, even if martyrdom is not our lot. Yet, many of us do fear persecution5* and are unwilling to receive the idea of one's own martyrdom.10 How wonderful for those who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness. Theirs is heaven's kingdom!
11 How wonderful for you when, on account of me, people revile you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil about you.
12 Rejoice and be extremely happy! Your heavenly reward is great. This is how the prophets were treated.
Why is that? Because our trust in Jesus is not all that it should be. We still cling to this life and its attractions. This life is to be lived -- and lived more abundantly. But if we are not willing to die for Jesus, then we cannot be his true disciple. And so many who say they are disciples are not. They are double-minded, pulled between the devil and the deep blue sea, so to speak. When one is single-minded, able or at least willing, to surrender all and go flat-out for Jesus, then one is a disciple (=student).
LK 14:33
Yet, how many of us cannot even take a lesser level of persecution: shunning -- as happened to the Jews who professed Jesus; they were shunned from synagogues and hence all social life during the first century. Many people worry about what "they" will think, in what the psychologist Thomas Szaz called "the dictatorship of the They." Our acceptance by our social groups is so important that many of us are easily swayed by pressures to conform to group norms. Such group psychology is easily manipulated by clever people, as we know from history's sad record of demagoguery.So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.
The Christian is to be "in the world" -- the system of humans dominated by Satan -- but not "of the world" (JN 17:16-27). He is supposed to be different, as coming verses show. Otherwise, he is like unsalty salt: Worthless. (See sidebar: MT 5:13-16.)
The Christian is assured that, despite his troubles, his journey is worthwhile! All's well that ends well! (R0M 8:16-18).5*
So when persecution strikes:
Whoopee! Now you can be sure that God chose you for a wonderful destiny! Plainly, when the unpleasantness hits, we are liable to wince, mutter, groan and complain. But we have nothing to complain about. We "asked for it," by siding with Jesus. And he won't give us -- that is, born-again Christians -- more than we can handle. After all, this persecution is for our own good (whatever our adversaries intend).
We have
ROM 8:28
Sometimes persecution comes in the form of temptation: a bribe in the form of a promotion or access to a cute "girlfriend" or "boyfriend." But, as Paul observes, such temptations are the human lot.6* In any case, God always provides an escape route so that the improper offer does not overwhelm you.6* Of course, if you "romance" the tempting offer, then you are not availing yourself of the fire exit so as to escape the flames of desire.28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
In any case, the world turns against you because it cannot stand your light, which is the light of Christ. Let us reflect again on Moses descending Mt. Sinai, his face glowing with divine light. The people recoiled to such an extent that he was forced to wear a veil in order to protect them from too much God.8* Those people were not ready for that much God.
We can learn something from this veiling. A Christian can make an effort not to throw his "holy" around by instead striving for a humble attitude, always considering as better than himself those who are less fortunate in not yet having the light. After all, they are weaker and so are asked to endure more; they are heavy laden by the sufferings due to blindness and their situation as spiritual zombies. Much of the time a Christian who keeps a low profile will avoid trouble. But every now and then -- and this could include the act of going to church or of giving someone a Christian tract -- the Christian's light sets off anger (=fear) in the worldling. Though somewhat paradoxically, a Christian who maintains a lowly profile is letting his light shine -- on those who can receive it.
MT shows right up front that true disciples are expected to face abuse from unbelievers who would be in a position to hurt them.
In fact, if a Christian suffers no persecution, one may wonder just how sincere he is. A problem has to do with the division of Christianity into the "professional clergy and missionaries" and everyone else. It's as if everyone else merely audits a class in Christianity weekly or biweekly but is sufficiently conformist to avoid the wrath of people with power to disrupt their lives.
On the other hand, a common form of persecution, or abuse, is the bypassing of sincere Christians for promotion at their job sites. Executives tend to be more comfortable with people like themselves, avoiding as much as possible, "Jesus freaks." If the Christian is the best qualified for the better-paying job, it is abusive to pass over him because of his religious views.
In any case, Jesus is saying, why grieve over such wrongs? You have a wonderful payoff coming!
Some who turn to Christ fall away when persecution comes. They have not considered that following Jesus requires the total commitment of one's being.4i*
You must be willing to turn away from those who seek to impede you from following Jesus with all your heart, soul and mind. If not, you will be torn between two masters (see upcoming: MT 6:24).
All this sounds like a very tall order. But, because of the grace of God, it is not really too hard. In fact, "my yoke is easy, and my burden is light" (MT 11:30)4iv*
Let us pause for a moment to think upon the numerous horrendous persecutions of the past, along with many that occur in modern times in places other than America. Right from the gospel's Roman beginnings, Christians endured unspeakable atrocities as the authorities made strenuous efforts to exterminate the new faith. Yet, the gospel was unstoppable, in those years spreading without use of the sword and in the face of severe sanctions.
Eventually, the church prevailed, only to find that the mix of temporal and spiritual power that followed brought great difficulties. In fact, some sincere believers, over the centuries, were martyred for refusing to recant under pressure from ecclesiastical authorities.
Footnotes
Footnotes are not in sequential order, but this should be no problem if one uses the Control f function, or equivalent.. Note that an asterisk follows a footnote designation to assure that you can go immediately to the correct footnote.
1*. When Sermon appears capitalized, this simply indicates we are referring to the Sermon on the Mount and not to some other discourse. Otherwise, no meaning is to be attached to that convention.
2*. Beatitude stems from Latin beatitudinem (=state of blessedness) and is related to Latin beatus (=happy, blessed).
3*. Poor. Scholars say the Greek word is basically the same term used to refer to the destitute as well as having been used by members of groups that held property in common.
3a*.
JN 17:16-26
16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
18 As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.
4i*. The Cost of Following Jesus
MT 14:25-27
4ii*.25 He turned to the huge crowds accompanying him and told them,
26 If any man comes to me, and hates not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brothers, and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.
27 And whoever does not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.
MT 8:19-22
4iii*.19 A scribe approached and said, "Master, I will follow you wherever you go."
20 "Even foxes have dens and birds have nests," Jesus replied. "But this particular man [lit. the son of man] is homeless."
21 Another man said, "Master, let me come back after I go home and bury my father."
22 "Come with me," Jesus said, "and let the dead bury their dead."
LK 9:61-62
61 And another man said, "Lord, I will follow you; but let me first go back home and bid my family goodbye."
62 Jesus responded, "No man, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God."
4iv*. The Value in Following Jesus
MT 11:28-30
28 Come to me, all you who labor and are heavily weighed down, and I will give you rest.
29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and you shall find rest for your souls.
30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
5*.
ROM 8:14-18
14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
6*.
1COR 10:13
13 You have not faced any inhuman type of temptation. Anyway, God is reliable and will not permit you to be tempted beyond what you can endure. Whatever the temptation, he always provides an escape route so that you need not collapse under that pressure.
7*.
EX 34:30-35
And when Aaron and all the children of Israel saw Moses, behold, the skin of his face shone; and they were afraid to come nigh him.
31 And Moses called unto them; and Aaron and all the rulers of the congregation returned unto him: and Moses talked with them.
32 And afterward all the children of Israel came nigh: and he gave them in commandment all that the Lord had spoken with him in mount Sinai.
33 And till Moses had done speaking with them, he put a vail on his face.
34 But when Moses went in before the Lord to speak with him, he took the vail off, until he came out. And he came out, and spake unto the children of Israel that which he was commanded.
35 And the children of Israel saw the face of Moses, that the skin of Moses' face shone: and Moses put the vail upon his face again, until he went in to speak with him.
8*. We see here the blending of divinity and humanity in one human being, making Moses a "type" of Christ.
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