Rev. Sang Ho Bae's exposition of the Beatitudes is about to conclude. If I am not mistaken, this is the 8th study on Beatitudes and the 20th in the entire series of the exposition of the Gospel of Matthew. This time, Rev. Bae talks about Christian persecution.

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Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount:

Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven (Matt. 5:10).

Persecution accompanies physical and mental suffering, but the Lord calls that suffering a “blessing” and says, “Rejoice and be glad” (v. 12). This paradox is a truth that the world cannot understand, and only those who know the kingdom of God can grasp. Martyn Lloyd-Jones called this verse “the most paradoxical and yet the most glorious declaration that reveals the essence of the Christian faith.”

Distinguishing Christian Suffering

However, not all suffering becomes “persecution for righteousness.” The “righteousness” Jesus spoke of is not mere moral justice or personal conviction but the life of faith that follows Jesus. Therefore, suffering that comes from personality flaws or relational problems is not suffering for righteousness. Conflicts that arise from a dogmatic and aggressive tone, a closed disposition, or a critical attitude come not from faith but from one’s own character. The same is true for suffering caused by improper behavior or rudeness. First Peter 4:15 says, “Let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler.” Being complained about for singing hymns or praying loudly without considering neighbors is not because of faith but because of a lack of consideration. Many Christians mistake criticism caused by their own faults as “suffering for righteousness,” but only suffering received because of Jesus is suffering for righteousness.

The same applies to suffering caused by political or social struggles. Some misunderstand Scripture and suffer because they participate in anti-government movements or political reform movements, but this too is not the “suffering for righteousness” that Scripture speaks of. The action itself may be right, but it cannot be equated with the righteousness of the kingdom of God. Calvin said, “The sufferings that belong to Christ are always sufferings directly connected to the gospel.” The relative values of the world—patriotism or a sense of justice—are not identical to the absolute values Scripture speaks of. The reason Scripture praises Rahab for betraying her own people and hiding the Israelite spies is that the values of the kingdom of God take precedence over the values of the world.

The Meaning of Suffering for Righteousness' Sake

Then what is “persecution for righteousness” according to Scripture? Jesus said, “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account” (Matt. 5:11). The key is “on my account”—that is, suffering because of Jesus, because of the gospel, because of the kingdom of God. The prophets of the Old Testament were hated and persecuted for one reason: because they proclaimed the word of God. They were hated not because of moral defects but because they revealed God’s truth. The believers of the early church were imprisoned, tortured, and martyred because they were Christians and because they preached the gospel.

Another reason the Roman Empire persecuted Christians was because of their holy lives. Whenever Romans encountered Christians who were truthful and pure, they disliked seeing themselves as base and evil. When they looked at the Christians, their hidden sins came to mind, their consciences were pricked, and their own lives appeared vulgar. Just as a person in darkness is dazzled when exposed to light, to morally corrupt Romans, Christians were beings who made their conscience uncomfortable, and so they sought to remove them. The reason Jesus was persecuted was also because He was the light. Light exposes darkness, and therefore darkness hates the light.

In today’s democratic societies, it is rare to be imprisoned or lose one’s life because of faith. But this does not mean there is no persecution. Rather, in many cases Christians do not feel persecution because they compromise their faith. When one clearly reveals biblical values and tries to live according to the truth, opposition immediately arises. In the workplace, in school, and in social relationships, one may experience subtle ridicule, exclusion, and disadvantage. This is today’s “invisible persecution.”

Why is Suffering for Jesus a Blessing?

Then why is persecution for righteousness a blessing? Jesus commands, “Rejoice and be glad,” and gives the reason: “for your reward is great in heaven” (v. 12). Suffering for righteousness is evidence that one is already a citizen of heaven living according to the values of the kingdom of God. God remembers the suffering received for the Lord and repays it with a great reward. Also, the statement “for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (v. 10) is not future tense but present tense. That is, the one who is persecuted already belongs to the kingdom of heaven.

The believers of the early church did not resist or retaliate when persecuted but rather rejoiced. Acts 5:41 records that they rejoiced “that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name.” The early Christians regarded suffering for the Lord as a privilege. On the epitaphs of the 200,000 martyrs buried in the Roman catacombs, there is almost no trace of sorrow. They considered suffering to be glory.

Matthew 5:10–12 clearly reveals the Christian paradox that suffering for righteousness is not misfortune but rather blessing. Jesus declared, “Great is your reward in heaven.” For God has prepared not a small reward but a great and glorious one for those who are persecuted for the Lord.