DAY #67: Matthew 5:11-16

Background:
The Beatitudes (Matt. 5:3 – 5:10) is one of the most treasured passages in the Bible. In the eighth Beatitude (5:10), Jesus encourages us (His followers) to courageously remain faithful amid opposition and mistreatment for doing right:

“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

Alas! Jesus does not stop there! He continues to expand on the topic of "persecution" in verses 11-12:

“Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.” (5:11)

Jesus further cautions that if we are to follow Him, we will suffer persecution in many different ways because of Him: attacks, harassment, insults, slander, scorn, exclusion, ridicule …. He warns us, His disciples, that we would be hated because the world hates Him first and rejects His teachings! We would be “as sheep in the midst of wolves.” We would be arrested, scourged; even our loved ones would persecute us. He minces no words and spares us no feelings. He wants us to know that there is a price to pay to live the Kingdom life; but He also assures us that the fruit of living such a life is eternal. Even though men may take away everything from us in this world, they can't touch what God will give us in the next. So we should “rejoice and be glad.” (5:12)

How, then, should we live?

Jesus directs our attention to two ordinary images to convey two extraordinary truths: salt and light!

“You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet.” (5:13)

What does salt have to teach us about God and His reign on earth? Salt was a valuable commodity in the ancient world. People traded and bartered with it. Salt also served a very useful purpose in hot climates before the invention of electricity and refrigeration. Salt not only gave food flavor, it also preserved meat from spoiling. Jesus uses the image of salt to describe how we are to live in the world. As salt purifies, preserves, and penetrates, so we, His disciples, must be as salt to purify, preserve, and penetrate this world for the Kingdom of God and of His righteousness.

Jesus also uses the image of light and a lamp to describe how we are to live in the light of His truth and love.

“You are the light of the world ………. let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” (5:14-15)

Lamps enable us to see and work in the dark without stumbling. “Light” is an expression of the inner beauty, truth, and goodness of God. God’s grace not only illumines the darkness in our lives, it also fills us with spiritual light, joy, and peace. Just as natural light illumines the darkness and enables one to see visually, so the light of Christ shines in our hearts and enables us to see the heavenly realm of God’s Kingdom. Nothing can remain hidden or secret. We can try to hide things from others, from ourselves, and from God. But God sees it all! There is great freedom and joy for those who live in God’s light and who seek His truth. We are to be light-bearers of Christ so that others may see the truth of the gospel and be freed from the blindness of sin and deception.

SO WHAT? (What will I do with what I have read today?)

To be honest, who among us, Christians or not, enjoy being persecuted? Offhand, it would seem that a Christian who exudes kindness, honesty and selflessness would be blessed, not blasted. But in our fallen world, such is not the case.

Let’s take off our rose-colored glasses and face this fact: There is a price to pay if we are to live the Kingdom life. Jesus wants us to contemplate carefully the age-old question: “Why are good people persecuted?” He asks us to count the cost carefully, lest we should turn our backs when we encounter persecution and suffering.

Is it worth it? This is a foundational question that begs a true answer from deep within each of us. What's your answer?

Pauline Lo Alker

Posted by Pastor Mike