Lesson 12: The King’s Pain

The Gospel
of Matthew

Chapter 5

The King’s Pain

Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness
sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven Matthew 5:10

Per⋅se⋅cute: to pursue with harassing or oppressive treatment, esp. because of religion, race, or beliefs; harass persistently: to annoy or trouble persistently.

Synonyms:
1.afflict, torture, torment. 2. worry,badger, vex, bother, pester.

The final beatitude shakes us into the reality of being a disciple and following the Christ. The Lord is issuing both a blessing and a forecast; they that desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. From the days of John the Baptist until now, the Kingdom
of God has suffered violence. The trailblazing power of the advancing Gospel always attracts opposition;

¹The priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to Peter and John while they were speaking to the people. ²They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead. ³They seized Peter and John, and because it was evening, they put them in jail until the next day. Acts 4:1-3

When the gospel is preached and the Kingdom expands, the forces of darkness look for human
agents to quell and suppress the momentum. This is a recurring pattern which Christians need to be aware of and prepared for:

Also a multitude gathered from the surrounding cities to Jerusalem, bringing sick people and those who were tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all
healed.

Then the high priest rose up, and all those who were with him (which is the sect of the Sadducees), and they were filled with indignation, ¹⁸ and laid their hands on the apostles and put them in the common prison. ¹⁹ But at night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said, ²⁰ “Go, stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this life.” Acts 5:16-20

Many times the enemy uses stealth tactics to propagate an offensive against the believer and
it takes discernment to figure out what the opposition is up to:

Be sober, be vigilant; because^[a] your adversary the devil walks about like a
roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. ⁹ Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. 1 Peter 5:8-9

Persecution therefore comes in physical and spiritual forms. If Satan cannot get the church
through physical persecution he reverts to hidden spiritual and divisive tactics:

Now in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a complaint against the Hebrews by the Hellenists,^[a] because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution. Acts 6:1

But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession. ² And he kept back part of the proceeds, his wife also being aware of it, and brought a certain part and laid it at the apostles’ feet. ³ But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself? Acts 5:1-3

As the early church began to grow and blossom, the enemy temporarily changed tactics from external attacks via the religious authorities to internal subversive warfare. As disciples of Christ we need to understand that this is the way the enemy operates and no one is exempt.

The Lord was resisted and persecuted by the forces of darkness all through His ministry. When Satan couldn’t get Jesus from the outside, he infiltrated the disciples ring through seducing Judas. We therefore need to have our wits around us at all times to decipher the wiles of our enemy:

Lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices. 2Cor 2:11

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. ¹¹ Put on the whole armour of God that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. ¹² For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age,^[a] against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Eph 6:10-12

When you make up your mind to put your spiritual life into gear and follow Jesus without
compromise, you WILL encounter resistance. How ever we are encouraged to resist the enemy and stand our ground when things seem to be going awry. Jesus preaches to us to take Satan’s best punches and remain standing.

³³I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace and
confidence. In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]! For I have overcome the world. [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you.]John 16:33

In these days, the Lord is calling you to press into your destiny with ALL of your heart and
leave no room for compromise or lethargy. This is the season to spend time in the Lord’s Presence and put on the armour of purity, power and praise.

May God strengthen you in this hour to STAND!!