The Beatitudes. The Eighth Beatitude. 1. Aim: To explain the 8th beatitude which is about rejoicing while being persecuted.

Transcription

1 Beatitudes - The Eighth Beatitude P. 1 Int. The Beatitudes The Eighth Beatitude 1. Aim: To explain the 8th beatitude which is about rejoicing while being persecuted. 2. Mt. 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. 3. This is the last of the beatitudes and it is similar to the first in the reward For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4. Society has always persecuted its best and prosecuted its worst citizens, for refusing to conform to the middle of the road. There is conflict between good and evil, right and wrong, truth and error. 5. The eighth beatitude reminds us that being a Christian in the sinful world will inevitably cost and bring tribulation (John 16:33). In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. 6. Let us notice: a. The righteous b. The persecution they receive c. Their behavior in persecution. d. Blessings the righteous receive

2 Beatitudes - The Eighth Beatitude P. 2 Discussion I. WHO ARE THE RIGHTEOUS? A. Each of the preceding beatitudes introduces a characteristic of the righteous person. Righteous means Right Living or living in harmony with God s will. These beatitudes tell us how to be in a right relation with God and our fellow man. 1. Beatitude Number one introduces humility. 2. Number two penitence 3. Number three meekness. 4. Number four - a craving for righteousness 5. Number five - mercy 6. Number six - purity of heart 7. Number seven - peaceableness B. This last beatitude does not introduce another characteristic: 1. It tells about how the righteous person is going to be received by the world. 2. Often they are rejected and persecuted. II. THE PERSECUTION THEY RECEIVE A. Persecution is common 1. II Tim. 3:12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. 2. This is a spiritual law that is unchangeable - just like the law of gravity. 3. Jn. 15:20 Jesus said:...if they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you;...

3 Beatitudes - The Eighth Beatitude P I Pet. 4:15-16 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. Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf. 5. Peter also said: Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trail which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: I Pet 4:12 B. Persecution for righteousness sake 1. Jesus used the term persecuted not prosecuted. 2. Prosecuted - means the just action which is taken against one who is guilty of wrong doing. 3. Persecuted means that evil which has been done to one who is not guilty of wrong doing. 4. Those who suffer for their own wrongs are not blessed. a. If we are haughty, selfish, or evil speaking then we may expect others to retaliate against us. b. We can receive no comfort from this beatitude on account of our misconduct or foolish behavior. 5. The blessed put the kingdom of God First in their life. They suffer because of their righteous Godly living. 6. The word persecute is defined as: a. to harass or punish in a manner designed to injure, grieve, or afflict; specifically : to cause to suffer because of belief b. to annoy with persistent or urgent approaches (as attacks, pleas, or importunities) : pester [Merriam-Webster online]

4 Beatitudes - The Eighth Beatitude P. 4 C. Why are the righteous persecuted? 1. The righteous are different: a. The world dislikes this - Jn. 15:19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. b. The unbelievers do not know Jesus and they enjoy sinning. (1) They enjoy partaking in as many sins as possible. (2) Sinning is what gives them pleasure. c. Vultures do not like sweet smells - so the wicked have a natural dislike for those who are godly. 2. The righteous are a constant rebuke to the unrighteous a. Matt. 14:1-12 Herod was angry with John and had him beheaded. Why? John told him that it was unlawful for him to be married to this woman? b. The unrighteous do not like this. c. The sinner is an enemy of God and he is trying to fight back against God. d. Since the sinner cannot get at God, he does the next best thing - he goes after those that follow God. e. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. John 3:20 3. Envy a. The wicked dislike any person that outshines himself b. Gen. 4:1-8 Cain killed Abel

5 Beatitudes - The Eighth Beatitude P The righteous interfere a. The righteous person interferes with the interests of the unrighteous b. Acts 16: :23ff c. The righteous man opposes the barroom -abortion - gambling - homosexuality D. The kind of the persecution: 1. Physical - many are victims of this physical violence. a. Abel - killed by his brother - 1 John 3:12 not as Cain who was of the wicked one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his works were evil and his brother's righteous. b. Joseph was persecuted by his brothers, and down in Egypt he was cast into prison for righteousness sake. - Gen. 37, 39 c. Moses was reviled again and again - Exodus 5:21, 14:11, 16:2, 17:2 d. John the Baptist - beheaded e. Jesus was crucified f. Paul had many persecutions that were physical - stonings, beatings with a rod and a whip. - 2 Cor. 11:23-27 g. Stephen was stoned to death h. James was beheaded i. Peter and John were cast into prison. Sometimes it is this physical persecution that we receive

6 Beatitudes - The Eighth Beatitude P Verbal a. Persecution today is in a much milder form but it is just as real. b. Sometimes it is in the form of words either written or spoken. c. Men shall reproach you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Matt. 5:11 ASV (1) Reproach in the KJV and NKJV is translated revile (2) Revile is defined as to defame, chide, taunt, cast in teeth, upbraid d. Slander, lying - Many times the enemy ridicules us. e. The church and Christians are often subjected to false accusations and misrepresentations. III. OUR BEHAVIOR IN PERSECUTION A. We should not: 1. Whine and complain 2. Indulge in self pity and parade their misfortune. 3. Try to get even - retaliate and take vengeance - Rom.12: Give up - Matt. 10:22 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved. B. Jesus said: Rejoice and be exceeding glad: Matt.5:12 1. Acts 5:41 And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name. 2. Acts 16: Paul and Silas in prison 3. Persecution drives the persecuted closer to God!

7 Beatitudes - The Eighth Beatitude P Rejoice that you are counted worthy to suffer for the kingdom of God. John 15:19-20 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. 20 Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. 5. It is not a great disaster when we are persecuted. C. Two reasons why we should rejoice: 1. Their reward: a. Great is your reward in heaven Matt. 5:12 b. Job 3:17 There the wicked cease from troubling; and there the weary be at rest. c. Paul said that if we suffer with Christ we will also be glorified with Him - Rom. 8:17 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. d. Heb. 10: Some of these people endured afflictions but they knew that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance. e. Heaven will surely be worth it all. f. Mark 10:29,30 Jesus says we shall have a hundred fold here and in the world to come eternal life

8 Beatitudes - The Eighth Beatitude P Our company is wonderful: a. For so persecuted they the prophets that were before you. Matt.5:12 b. The leaders - the prophets - are the chief sufferers. c. Men like: Isaiah, Daniel, Stephen, The apostles. d. God's best beloved people have suffered persecution. e. Persecution does not mean disfavor with God. CONCLUSION 1. This last beatitude resembles the first. a. The first beatitude states the condition of becoming a citizen of the kingdom. b. The last describes the character of one who has become a citizen. 2. This beatitude sees the disciple at his highest. a. He triumphs by spiritual power over the forces of opposition. b. A Christian who can receive persecution and maintain his integrity and fidelity has his inheritance in the kingdom. c. Persecution may seem harsh, but it is only the storm before the rainbow. d. It is a tool which God uses to prepare us for greater things. 3. God's reward cannot be measured for it consists of salvation in the age to come. 4. The first word in this lesson is Blessed. Matt. 5:3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10 a. The Lord desires us to be blessed - happy b. These rules will give us the kind of life that makes for a blessing not a curse.

9 Beatitudes - The Eighth Beatitude P Summary of BLESSED ARE THE PERSECUTED a. Specific - the righteous will be persecuted b. Results - Theirs is the kingdom of heaven c. Principle - Endurance - Gal. 6:9 d. Application - Hardships are common - 2 Tim. 2:3 6. The beatitudes are the foundation of Christian character. a. It is no accident that Jesus put them first in the Sermon on the Mount. b. Read them often c. Obey them always Nelson Chapel Church of Christ, 5039 Six Mile Road Maryville, Tn Sunday Morning - Sept. 16, Sermon by Arthur Pigman Druid Hill Dr. Maryville, Tn art65ann@gmail.com