Blessed are the Persecuted for Righteousness’ Sake

“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” [1]

Why are the righteous persecuted? Shouldn’t rulers and peoples of the nations be grateful to God for such bright shining stars in the darkness?

The good news is that Jesus Christ blesses those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake. He promises them (us who believe in Him), the kingdom of heaven.

The kingdom of heaven is better than kingdoms people are fighting for here on earth.

The Bible speaks, “Of whom the world was not worthy.” These people believed in God and drew from God the ability to live righteously amidst people who hated righteousness. [2]

Sin is a poison. Sin began for humanity with the serpent in the garden. His venom entered humanity’s bloodstream when our first parents bit on his lure, which was to disobey God.

Jesus called the religious leaders who wanted to kill Him serpents and vipers. The same devil who detested sinless Adam and Eve, and wanted to defile them, defiled these religious leaders. Therefore, Jesus asked them, “How can you escape the condemnation of hell?”

They needed the antidote to the sin-poison. The antidote was speaking to them, but they would not believe in Him. Jesus said to them, “Serpents, brood of vipers! How can you escape the condemnation of hell? Therefore, indeed, I send you prophets, wise men, and scribes: some of them you will kill and crucify, and some of them you will scourge in your synagogues and persecute from city to city, that on you may come all the righteous blood shed on the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah, son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar.” [3]

Why are the righteous persecuted? Because of envy! The first murder stemmed from envy.

“We should not be like Cain, who was of the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own deeds were evil and his brother’s righteous.” [4]

Jesus was handed over to Pilate by the chief priests due to envy. “For he [Pilate] knew that it was out of envy that they had delivered Him [Jesus] up.” [5]

David is the Hebrew word for Beloved. He is an Old Testament type of the New Testament Beloved, who is Christ. God referred to Jesus as “My Beloved Son.” Paul speaks of God blessing us in the Beloved. Beloved being a reference to Christ! [6] Old Testament David was persecuted because his works were righteous. His king was jealous of him.

The Lord had given David victory over the giant Goliath, and over the armies of the Philistines. As David returned from battle, he was met by a chorus of women singing joyfully, dancing and playing musical instruments. One of the lines of their songs went like this, “Saul has struck down his thousands, and David his ten thousands.”

The Bible says of King Saul, “Saul was very angry, and this saying displeased him. He said, ‘They have ascribed to David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed thousands, and what more can he have but the kingdom?’” [7]

King Saul sent the nation’s army after David to kill him. Saul would have succeeded in killing David if it had not been for God rescuing David over and over again. Finally, the day came after so many years of persecution, Saul died, and David was installed as the new king. The story of Saul and David is a metaphor for the story of the world’s ungodly and envious leaders being replaced by Christ when He returns.

“Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, ‘The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever.’” [8]

Psalm 18 is David’s victory song to the Lord. It begins with this introduction: “To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David the servant of the Lord, who spoke to the Lord the words of this song on the day that the Lord delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul. And he said: ‘I will love You, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised; so, shall I be saved from my enemies.’” [9]

Our Messiah, the Beloved, Jesus Christ is the Rock, Fortress, Deliverer, Strength and Salvation of all who trust in Him. He is worthy of our praise.

Sherry (my wife) has memorized Psalm 18. She exemplifies for me one who lives for God and trusts in God to preserve her life. I praise God for raising up in my midst such a servant of His Word.

David ends his Psalm of victory over persecution with these words, “Great deliverance He gives to His king, and shows mercy to His anointed, to David and his descendants forevermore.” [10]

We who believe in Jesus Christ have been grafted into the family of God. We share in the King’s great deliverance. We share in His mercy. We, who believe in Christ, have become descendants of David the Beloved via the blood: the blood of Christ! Therefore, we are heirs of God and coheirs with Christ. We have treasures in heaven that the world cannot take from us.

“The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with Him in order that we may also be glorified with Him.” [11]

Yes, we may incur afflictions and trouble from those whose only treasures are the temporary pleasures of this world, but our eternal rewards from Christ shall far surpass all our expectations. “For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison.” [12]

[1] Matthew 5:10
[2] Hebrews 11:38
[3] Matthew 23:33-35
[4] 1 John 3:12
[5] Matthew 27:18
[6] Matthew 3:17; Ephesians 1:6
[7] 1 Samuel 18:6-8
[8] Revelation 11:15
[9] Psalm 18:1-3
[10] Psalm 18:50
[11] Romans 8:16-17
[12] 2 Corinthians 4:17