Jesus shares beatitudes and persecution. Read Matthew 5:1-12
These words of scripture are called the Beatitudes. It may surprise you that there is also a secular version of this scripture—a recognition that what Jesus said is inspired by God but wanting to take human credit. Secular meditations on the Beatitudes focus on transforming them from religious guidance to secular “be-attitudes”—man’s idea of what is right than guidance from Jesus. Slyly making them a framework for humanist ethics and psychological well-being. Does this sound a little like what the serpent told Eve “your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” Do we decide what is good and evil or does God?
While Luke locates his parallel version well into Jesus’ ministry (Lk 6:20-49), Matthew places them at the very beginning. The setting for the beatitudes is auspicious: Jesus, the Rabbi teacher, sits (it was the custom for the one who is teaching to be seated) before his disciples on a mountain top like Moses on Mt. Sinai. But Jesus is not simply a lawgiver and prophet. It is tempting to see the beatitudes as Jesus’s attempt to instill in us a change of attitude. One can say that beatitude could be understood as “attitudes to be.” In contrast to the secular Be-Attitudes” these sayings are more descriptive of what the coming Kingdom is like rather than a laundry list of you shall do commands. Unlike the laws given by Moses, the beatitudes picture an alternative reality. They describe what it will be like when God’s Kingdom comes, and God’s will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. This reality is already present in the seed that is the community of Jesus’ disciples—what we now call the Church. Do we nurture the coming Kingdom or do we posture the be-attitudes when they fit us?
The last five beatitudes (Matthew 5:7–12) name human actions that express God’s transforming and challenging work for a just world. They identify distinctive practices—doing mercy, being pure in heart, making peace, being persecuted and reviled—that further God’s justice. These actions mark the identity of the community of Jesus’ followers that challenges, and redefines dominant cultural commitments.
Persecution was a familiar concept to Jesus’s disciples in that day. Through Christ’s strength, they daily bore the burden of horrific oppression and torture for the sake of the Gospel. It might surprise you to know that in parts of the world Christian persecution is considered one of the largest human rights issues of our era. Some places it is with open violence. Other places just like Eve faced in the Garden of Eden, it is subtle, driven by humanist and cultural forces.
For 12Indeed, all who want to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. 13But wicked people and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving others and being deceived. 14But as for you, continue in what you have learned and firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it, 15and how from childhood you have known the sacred writings that are able to instruct you for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17so that everyone who belongs to God may be proficient, equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:12-17) There may be a day coming when we are the ones standing in the need of prayer.
The final two beatitudes, which are very much alike: “…people will revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.” No good deed goes unpunished, says the cynic. This is a crucial moment when we must decide, as a person, a community, a state, a nation do we stand with God or with the world. The power of these verses is that in Christ there is hope. He promises that we are invited to the kingdom of heaven. A world where we will be comforted, have no hunger, have mercy, see and be children of God. As we are created in his image “27So God created humankind in his image” (Genesis 1:27), we are challenged to carry out His desires. It is a challenge. We need to challenge ourselves to be the hope and promise and to strive to grow closer to God.
Let us Pray
Dear Lord, when we face trials, ridicule, or opposition for our faith, help us not to falter. Give us the courage to stand for Your truth, even when it is uncomfortable or costly. When others speak evil against us on Your account, help us to remember we are in good company, walking in the footsteps of Jesus and the prophets. Replace our fear with joy and our weakness with Your strength. Help us to focus on the reward in heaven rather than the temporary comfort of this world. Let our lives be a bold witness for Your Gospel, reflecting Your light in all circumstances.
In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen