Friday, March 4, 2011
The Beatitudes, Part 45 of 50
TEXT: "Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 5:10).
IDEA: The last beatitude hardly seems to be a blessing at all.
PURPOSE: To help listeners take seriously the reality of persecution that may come to a Christ-follower.
Do you think there are any benefits in the power of positive thinking? What are they?
Do you think that the beatitudes in Matthew that we have studied are negative or positive?
I. Doesn’t the eighth beatitude seem to be rather negative? Read text above.
Is the beatitude saying, “Blessed are those who are persecuted because they grab people by the lapels and shout at them or become zealots for some political cause, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven”? Do you think some people read it that way?
The followers of Jesus mentioned in this beatitude are determined to live as Jesus lived. Their attitudes and conduct would be spelled out in the previous beatitudes.
Do you think it’s possible for Christians to be “persecuted” for unrighteous behavior?
Is it possible for Christians to be lazy or not get along with others? They may believe that they bear the “offense of the cross” when they are simply offensive.
Can you think of any Christians who may have felt “blessed” by the negative reaction of others to them, but it had little or nothing to do with being a Christian?
II. Do you think it is possible that anyone could be persecuted for righteousness’ sake?
Why would anyone want to persecute the “poor in spirit” or those who regard themselves as “faded yellow photographs of what they should be”? Why would anyone be hostile to those who hunger for righteousness or are merciful or want to bring peace?
Wouldn’t you think that everyone who knew a follower of Jesus would sing, “For he’s a jolly good fellow, for she’s a jolly good person, that nobody can deny”?
If you demonstrate genuine transparent righteousness, many will reject you.
Jesus, the most righteous man who ever lived, was rejected by those He came to save.
He warned that what was true of Him will be true of us. (See John 15:18-20.)
