Sermon Tone Analysis

INTRODUCTION

We come to the last beatitude this evening.

There are some pastors who will divide this last beatitude into two beatitudes.

The reason for this is verses 10 and 11 opens up with the word “blessed,” which usually indicates an introduction into a new beatitude .

Yet, the reason I lump these verses into one beatitude is the theme and subject matter does not change; rather, verse 11 expands on the concept of verse 10.

I have mentioned this throughout the process - the key in understanding the beatitudes in a biblical context is the first beatitude.

We must come to God “poor in spirit.”

Without this brokenness of sin, which produces the poor in spirit, none of the other beatitudes will be understood properly and biblically.

The concept of “poor in spirit” goes beyond poverty.

The word “poor” does not mean someone living in poverty or an abled body homeless person.

Instead, the word “poor” means absolute destitution.

Regardless of effort, you cannot lift yourself up from complete dependence upon another.

An example of this poverty of inability is in .

Jesus encountered an impotent man in who was completely depended upon someone else to put him into to stirring pool.

Our impotency created by sin caused us to be completely and totally depended upon God and the work of Jesus on the cross for our salvation.

Coming to this conclusion is poor in spirit.

Once we come to Jesus in “poor in spirit” all the other beatitudes comes into focus, in which understanding and application are possible.

This means there is not a stand-alone beatitude.

We cannot be “poor in spirit” without showing any fruit (the remaining beatitudes), nor can we live out the remaining beatitudes without being “poor in spirit.”

In addition, as we demonstrate to the world that we are disciples of Jesus, we cannot live out the beatitudes out of order.

The previous beatitude opens up the possibility for the following beatitude.

A Christian can never be the eight and final beatitude, unless they are a peacemaker; and, a person cannot be a peacemaker, unless they are pure in heart; and a person cannot be pure in heart, unless they are merciful; therefore, as a disciple of Jesus Christ, we will never get into position to suffer persecution for His sake if we are not living out the first seven beatitudes.

The disciple of Jesus who is a peacemaker understands the end game.

Everyone

will spend eternity in either Heaven or Hell - WITHOUT EXCEPTION!

Instead of getting their way, they are invested in:

PERSECUTION

MEANING

The word “persecuted” means to be followed after or pursued.

The audience of 1 Peter was persecuted.

The reason they were scattered was the enemy pursued them.

Paul’ experienced enormous persecution during his first two missionary travels.

Wherever Paul went, the enemies of the gospel of Jesus Christ pursued him.

Persecution is not someone rejecting the Gospel of Jesus Christ, calling you a bad name, or wanting nothing to do with you.

Even though none of those things feel good and we may experience affliction to one degree or another, they are not persecution in the sense of how Jesus used the word.

Persecution is someone or a group of people aggressively and unjustly attacks you physically, emotionally, or spiritually.

Reason

Jesus says “blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake.”

The word “righteousness” carries with it an idea of a lifestyle that is in conformity to the law of God.

In other words, the blessed person is being persecuted because he or she is submitting to God’s word as their final authority in everything.

Jesus says “blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake.”

The word “righteousness” carries with it an idea of a lifestyle that is in conformity to the law of God.

In other words, the blessed person is being persecuted because he or she is submitting to God’s word as their final authority in everything.

When you do something for someone's sake, you do it in order to help them or make them happy.

Now when it comes to God, nothing we do is for the reason of helping Him.

We are not helping God in providing righteousness to us.

He does not need us to contribute to our righteousness.

He has giving us His righteousness.

So when Jesus said “for righteousness sake,” He had in mind living for God because we have righteousness.

We are satisfying the righteousness of God by surrendering to the final authority of God’s word.

In verse 11, Jesus further expands upon “for righteousness’ sake” by saying “for my sake.”

The two are tied into one common thread.

The righteousness we have is Jesus’ righteousness.

So if we are to be persecuted, let us make sure it is for Jesus and His righteousness.

Not for politics, agendas, movements, etc.

It is possible for Christians to suffer for activities not related to righteousness.

Peter was careful to remind the scattered Christians of his day that if they are to suffer, make sure it is for the right reason.

Peter was careful to remind the scattered Christians of his day that if they are to suffer, make sure it is for the right reason.

Several years back, I read the biography of Dietrich Bonhoeffer.

He was an amazing man of faith and understood the cost of discipleship.

He believed the Lutheran church of Germany needed reforming.

The had a high church philosophy; yet, without the Spirit and power of God.

He was hung in April of 1945 by the Germans for his role in the attempted assassination of Adolph Hiller.

Although he did much good during his life, his persecution by the Germans was not directly connected with his faith in Jesus Christ but his anti-nazi position.

Types

When we think of persecution our minds naturally drift towards physical harm, pain or death.

Yet, Jesus gives us a more broad understanding of persecution that extends beyond the physical to the emotional.

Revile - To defame, that is, rail at, chide, taunt: - cast in teeth, (suffer) reproach, revile, upbraid.

Persecute - To pursue (literally or figuratively); by implication to persecute: - ensue, follow (after), given to, (suffer) persecute (-ion), press toward.

In other words, being subject to a systematic harassment and attack due to your faith in jesus Christ.

Say all manner of evil - Abusive words false spoken that damages a person’s reputation.

History

It was not just the disciples of Jesus that would be persecuted for their faith in Jesus but the prophets of the Old Testament were persecuted by their own countrymen.

Abel

If the reference is to the Zechariah, son of Jehoiada, mentioned in 2 Chronicles, this is a way of Jesus saying “you are responsible for all the martyrs from A to Z.” Abel would have been the first martyr and Zechariah would have been, chronologically, the last martyr in the record of the Old Testament.

Zechariah

Zechariah was killed by stoning.

He was killed by those who wanted to re-create God into their own image.

This is what happened when Cain wanted God to accept his offering of works.

Cain was trying to worship God his own way instead of coming to God in the way God desired.

This happened to Zechariah too.

And, a few days after Jesus spoke these words to the religious establishment of His time, they slew Him.

Consider everything Jeremiah the Prophet went through:

He was beaten and out in stocks

Death Sentence on Jeremiah

King burns Jeremiah’s scroll

Jeremiah left to die in the mud

Jeremiah

Jeremiah called a liar

POWER

It is hard for us to imaging being able to endure such persecution for righteousness sake that others endured.

Stephen stoned to death

Andrew and Peter crucified upside down

Polycarp - Because of his refusal to burn incense to the Roman Emperor he was sentenced to burn at the stake.

Tradition says that the flames did not kill him so he was stabbed to death.

John Huss - Burned at the stake

William Tyndale - Tyndale was choked to death while tied to the stake and then his dead body was burned.

How could they endure persecution and keep the faith?

Their power was in their perspective.

v.10 “for their’s is the kingdom of God.”