Network Discipling Ministries

THE POOR AND THE PERSECUTED

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

One is only left to imagine the utter consternation of Jesus’ mountain-side audience as He unveiled the character traits of His kingdom citizens and the principle of His government. The people He enumerated are those who live in the shadows of the maddening crowds that throng the world’s thoroughfares. He ended His list with a very strange twist, linking the “poor in spirit” with the “persecuted righteous,” extending to both groups ownership rights to the kingdom—legal heirs. These two unique classes of kingdom citizens share a very special spiritual characteristic—that of utter dependence upon God for life and livelihood (in the case of the poor); and a complete reliance upon God for justice and deliverance (in the case of the persecuted).

If they choose to operate from the perspective of self-centeredness (flesh or self-dependence), the “poor in spirit” (not substance) may possess the power to provide everything they need for their livelihood, while the persecuted righteous may also possess the ability to fight for their “rights.” However, as ransomed kingdom heirs, they must follow the sterling example and protocol of their King, who when they [sinful men] hurled their insults at Him, He did not retaliate; when He suffered, He made no threats. Instead, He entrusted Himself to Him [God] who judges justly (1 Peter 2:23, NIV). It was this King and Savior of the world who once told the Roman governor, Pilate, “My kingdom is not from this world. If my kingdom were from this world, my followers would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here” (John 18:36, NRSV).

Jesus is also absolutely clear in His definition of the persecuted ones who are heirs of the kingdom. He said that they are persecuted because of their righteous actions, not a life of sin and rebellion. But what is there to rejoice about when a person is being persecuted? For starters, the persecuted-for-righteousness-sake one, who shares the in the suffering of his King, will also share in the glory of His coronation and everlasting glory of His kingdom (1 Peter 1:6-9; 2:12, 13).

Secondly, the world loves its own and seeks to destroy those who do not really belong to it (2 Timothy 3:12). Listen to what Jesus had to say:

¹⁸If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. ¹⁹If 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. ²⁰Remember 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.

John 15:18-20

Finally, being persecuted for righteousness is an unavoidable cross-bearing legacy that deals death-blows to our flesh so that the inner man of our spirit can soar to kingdom dominance; for the “Father of spirits” has only one goal for every son and daughter of His—that is, that we may share His holiness (Hebrews 12:9, 10; 2 Peter 1:3).