The Believer’s Guide to Finding Courage Amid Persecution

August 27, 2024

One of my favorite passages in the Bible is found in the Beatitudes.1 In the fifth chapter of Matthew’s gospel, Yahusha teaches critical topics, presenting foundational principles of discipleship. He mentors his followers on how to respond righteously toward others and navigate the world when faced with various situations. This article explores the relevance of these principles in today’s fallen world and their enduring significance as we approach the end times.

In Matthew 5:10-20, Yahusha describes the nature and behavior of true disciples. He warns that this faith walk will not be a cakewalk.2 He tells His followers to expect persecution from the world because of their light and ‘saltiness’. 

“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything but is thrown out and trampled underfoot. You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hidden. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven. Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets; I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one letter, not one stroke of a letter, will pass from the law until all is accomplished. Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, will be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” (NRSV) Matthew 5:10-20

The Believer’s Response to Persecution

Matthew 5:10-11 delivers an essential message to disciples about the unavoidable reality that all believers will encounter: persecution.  Yet, the result of such persecution is that you will be blessed.

Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. (NRSV)

The Greek word for blessed used here is markarios,3 an adjective that is defined as blessed or happy. A more poetic expression of the Greek root word makar, elevates its meaning as to be supremely blessed, happy, or fortunate. The other keyword in the passage is dioko,4 which means to be made to run or flee, driven away, be harassed, troubled, and mistreated. 

Man thinking about persecution

So, how does being mistreated, harassed, and driven away make a person feel happy, fortunate, and supremely blessed? Our natural inclination is not to feel happiness in response to persecution. But how does experiencing persecution for the sake of righteousness contrast with the Hebraic usage of the word “blessed?” 

The answer may be found by taking a look at Deuteronomy chapter 28’s usage of the word blessed, which is barak.5 Barak is a primitive root meaning to kneel, and by implication to bless God (as an act of adoration), and (vice-versa) man (as a benefit), or to praise, salute, or curse.

For the Hebrew disciples, the concept of “blessing” was closely linked to enduring persecution while living righteously in obedience to Yahusha’s teachings. They might perceive it like this: when persecuted for upholding the Torah and the testimony of Yahusha HaMashiach, the entire experience felt like being in the presence of Yahuah the Father—kneeling, saluting, blessing, and adoring Him. In their spirit, they recognized the grace, love, and mercy the Father bestowed upon them. This understanding served as a reminder and affirmation that they were on the right path, the narrow way leading to the Kingdom of Heaven.

With this in mind, it makes more sense that a disciple’s reaction to such persecution would result in actual happiness and the feeling of being blessed, as the Greek concept of the word blessed implies. 

And they heeded his advice, and having called for the emissaries, beating them, they commanded that they should not speak in the Name of יהושע, and let them go. Then indeed they went rejoicing from the presence of the council, because they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His Name. And daily in the Set-apart Place, and in every house, they did not cease teaching and bringing the Good News: יהושע the Messiah! Acts 5:40-42 (TS2009). 

Verse 40 indicates that they were rejoicing that this persecution took place and that they were counted worthy to suffer for the name of the Messiah. Also, we see that regardless of the threat of harm, they never stopped teaching the testimony of Yahusha Messiah. We see many other accounts of persecution throughout Scripture, such as Stephens’s martyrdom in Acts 7, James’ murder by King Herod Agrippa in Acts 12, Paul and Silas being beaten and thrown into prison in Acts 16, Paul’s accounts of persecution in 2 Corinthians 11, and of course the persecution of Yahusha himself as detailed in the synoptic gospels. 

So what we can clearly see from the death of Yahusha, Stephen, and others is their attitude and example of spiritual maturity. Their response to the harshest persecution imaginable, being murdered, was a desire in their heart for the Father to forgive the persecutors, for they did not know what they were doing. The hope of repentance and redemption still remains even for them. 

This is the heart of our Messiah Yahusha, and I pray he gives us all the same heart. I love the example shown in Acts 2:14-41 following the miracle of the Holy Spirit granting tongues of different languages to share the gospel message. In verse 37, after hearing Peter’s explanation of Scripture and the testimony of Messiah, these people were pierced to the heart. Realizing now that they had participated in the persecution and murder of Messiah, they ask Peter, “What shall we do”? To which Peter replies in verse 28, “Repent, and let each one of you is immersed (mikvah) in the Name of Yahusha Messiah for the forgiveness of sins. And you shall receive the gift of the Set-apart Spirit.” 

Our Behavior Is Our Witness

Sharing our faith with those who do not believe in the Bible, Yahuah the Creator, or Yahusha, His Son, and treating them with kindness and respect, is undoubtedly a crucial aspect of our responsibilities as believers.

But how can they call on Him they have not believed in? And how can they believe without hearing about Him?  And how can they hear without a preacher? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: How beautiful are the feet of those who announce the gospel of good things! Romans 10:14 HCSB)

The verse clearly asks, how can the lost believe in Yahuah, his Torah, and the redemption available to them through Yahusha Messiah if they never hear about them? Many believers in the United States take it for granted that most people have at least heard of the Bible, but according to a 2021 Statista survey[a], 29% of Americans have never even read the Bible. The same study also points out that only 11% of Americans read their Bible daily. That, of course, means the remaining 60% are somewhere in between.

Romans chapters 10 and 11 focus on Israel’s rejection of Yah’s ways and the Messiah, yet conclude with a hopeful reminder that it is not too late for them to return to Yahuah; they can still be grafted back into Yah’s kingdom. 

Brothers and sisters, if these figures tell us anything, it is that most of the people in America are either lost or are being pulled further away from the principles and laws taught in the Bible. It’s no wonder that we are witnessing lawlessness abound in America. Unjust or perverse “laws” continue to be instituted, which are contrary to Scripture and the Torah. This is because 89% of them don’t read, study, or understand the Creator’s words or commands. And to no surprise of the believer, we all clearly see these people continuing to descend in wickedness. 2 Peter 3:9 says, 

“יהוה is not slow in regard to the promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward us, not wishing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” (TS2009)

Therefore, we should never give up on witnessing to the lost because the reality is that many of these men and women are victims of deceit from both the evil one and wicked people. We must remember that as Paul states in 1 Timothy 1:9-11: 

But we know that the law is good, provided one uses it legitimately. We know that the law is not meant for a righteous person, but for the lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinful, for the unholy and irreverent, for those who kill their fathers and mothers, for murderers, for the sexually immoral and homosexuals, for kidnappers, liars, perjurers, and for whatever else is contrary to the sound teaching. 

Mark 16:15 also tells us to “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.” (ESV)

Our behavior is our witness

Additionally, Yahuah instructs Jeremiah 1:7-8 in this way:

Then the Lord said to me: Do not say, “I am only a youth,” for you will go to everyone I send you to and speak whatever I tell you. Do not be afraid of anyone, for I will be with you to deliver you. This is the Lord’s declaration. (HCSB) 

This instruction is just as valid for believers today. We must never stop reaching out to the lost or trying to teach them the difference between righteousness and wickedness because this is indeed a Gospel Worth Dying For. If it means that just one more soul is led to salvation in Yahusha messiah, the truth of Yahuah’s ways, then it is worth it. 

There is also the matter of how Scripture teaches us to treat people. Matthew 5:16 reads, 

“In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” (ESV) 

Likewise, we are urged in Luke 6 and Matthew 5 to love our enemies, do good to them, and pray for them. This doesn’t mean we yoke ourselves with evil people because Proverbs 4 warns us to stay away from the path of the wicked. But inevitably, we do interact with the world in our daily lives. When we do we must remember Romans 12:4, 1 Peter 3:9, and follow the directives given in Proverbs 24:17-18…

Don’t gloat when your enemy falls, and don’t let your heart rejoice when he stumbles, or the Lord will see, be displeased, and turn His wrath away from him.

We must remember that vengeance is Yahuah’s6. Yah will contend with the darkness, evil, and the wicked in His timing. We as believers need to remain focused on Messiah Yahusha’s instructions to let the light of our redeemed life shine before mankind.

Consider it this way: the world of the lost is like a ship caught in a violent storm, surrounded by darkness, wind, rain, hail, and lightning. The people are adrift at sea, tossed by the turbulent waves. Their only hope is the guiding light of a lighthouse, which can lead them safely back to shore, allowing them to stand on solid ground. Yet, the storm also batters the lighthouse itself, subjecting it to the relentless assault of rain, hail, wind, and lightning. Despite this, the lighthouse must remain steadfast, enduring the storm’s fury to provide a beacon of hope. 

Praise Yahuah that the lighthouse is maintained by the most capable keeper imaginable, the Ruach Hakodesh, and its light reflects the goodness and safety found in Yahusha Messiah. Our role is to endure the challenges because we cherish the light within us. Our heart’s desire should align with the light’s aim: to guide those lost at sea to safety so they can walk in the light again. However, those adrift must choose to seek the light and steer their course toward it once they see it. While Yah will assist them on their journey, the choice remains theirs.

Navigating Disagreements with Grace and Respect

Last but not least, it is essential to consider how we treat fellow believers who may disagree with our interpretation of Scripture. If you have stuck with reading this article thus far, I would encourage you to read through my article Patience Rooted in Love. In it, I outline how Yah’s word guides us on how to show love and patience toward one another in circumstances of differing scriptural understanding. 

Brother Matthew Janzen once stated, “We are in the same school, but we are not all in the same grade.” I like this statement because it reminds us that we are all in this together; we are all still learning, but we are not all at the same point in our studies or understanding. 

I would also add that we should be reminded to remain humble because this school, the School of Torah Keeping and Belief in Yahusha Messiah, doesn’t end at grade 12. We continue to be students our entire lives, so we must remain diligent, humble, and kind throughout this walk. 

Reverend John Watson (1850-1907) once said, “Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.” This walk is challenging for all of us at times. When we are at our lowest points, we often need someone to reach out and pick us up. Likewise, we should be ready to lift others up at their low points. 

As Galatians 6:2 points out, we are to “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” 1 Thessalonians 5:11 reminds us, “Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.” 

You might be asking yourself, but what about mainstream Christians who reject Yahuah’s commandments and believe all of the Law is done away with? That attitude would fall into one of the categories discussed in this article. Hopefully, they are in the same school – the school of Yahuah –  and they are only in a lower grade and responding as a youthful, immature student often does when challenged with information that is contrary to their current understanding. 

Or, they may fall into the category of the ‘world’ – participating in deception and joining in on the persecution of Yah’s people. Of which I sincerely hope they are not, but as we can see from Scripture, many of them are. Nonetheless, their negative response to our obedience to Torah observance should not sway us because either way, we must continue to be the light and flavorful salt of the earth. We must continue being kind, loving, and building one another up. 

Thank you for taking the time to read this article. I pray that it has blessed you and challenged you to delve deeper into Yahuah’s word, draw closer to him, and act daily as the representatives of Messiah Yahusha that we are all called to be. 


FOOTNOTES

1 In the context of Matthew 5:3–12, the word beatitude means a specific declaration of blessedness, and these declarations and promises are often found in the Psalms of the Old Testament.

2 A cakewalk is an absurdly or surprisingly easy task.

3 Strong’s #G3107

4 Strong’s #G1377

5 Strong’s #H1288

6 Deuteronomy 32:25, Romans 12:19, Hebrews 10:30, and Psalm 94:1

[a] Bible readership in the U.S. 2021 | Statista.com

Jay Kilcrease

Jay Kilcrease is a native Oklahoman, U.S. Air Force veteran, husband of 19 years, and father of three boys. He served many years in music ministry and is also an ordained minister. His pursuit of academics has earned him three undergraduate degrees and an MBA from Liberty University. Jay has led his family in Torah Biblical Studies for the past ten years and aspires to apply his writing skills for the furtherance of the Gospel of the Kingdom in the service of Yahusha Ha’Mashiach.

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