Matthew 10:16-31
Why Does God Allow Persecution?
New and obscure ideas started spreading more quickly in the world when the printing press was created in 1439. Before this invention books were hand copied, usually by monks in a monastery, which meant a church was fortunate if they had one copy of the Bible per congregation and it was chained to the altar so no one would steal it. At this time, the majority of Europe was considered illiterate. The Bible was first printed in 1455 and the privilege of reading God’s word drove many common folk to learn to read. The printing press was both a blessing and a source of animosity much like our experience with the internet today. Print technology made it easier for the average person to own a copy of God’s word, but the rise of the printed word, also allowed ideas to compete. Sadly, religious opposition and suppression between differing Christian groups became common. For example: the Puritans weren’t just seeking the freedom to worship as they pleased, they were fleeing imprisonment and severe persecution. England saw the rise of separatists, which is the name they gave to groups like the Puritans, as a threat to the crown.
It is important we recognize the cultural biases in our lives that can compete with Jesus’ words when we study the Bible. Americans will be forever blessed because her Founding Fathers valued religious liberty and human rights. But, how do we interpret passages in the Bible which not only teach about persecution, but seem to promise persecution? We might even question why God allows persecution because it doesn’t make sense to our reasoning? So, before we go farther we must admit this natural discomfort with the subject of persecution.
With that background let’s look at Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 10:16-31.
Sheep Among Wolves
16 “Look, I’m sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as serpents and as innocent as doves. 17 Beware of them, because they will hand you over to local courts and flog you in their synagogues. 18 You will even be brought before governors and kings because of me, to bear witness to them and to the Gentiles. 19 But when they hand you over, don’t worry about how or what you are to speak. For you will be given what to say at that hour, 20 because it isn’t you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father is speaking through you.
21 “Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child. Children will rise up against parents and have them put to death. 22 You will be hated by everyone because of my name. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. 23 When they persecute you in one town, flee to another. For truly I tell you, you will not have gone through the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes. 24 A disciple is not above his teacher, or a slave above his master. 25 It is enough for a disciple to become like his teacher and a slave like his master. If they called the head of the house ‘Beelzebul,’ how much more the members of his household!
26 “Therefore, don’t be afraid of them, since there is nothing covered that won’t be uncovered and nothing hidden that won’t be made known. 27 What I tell you in the dark, speak in the light. What you hear in a whisper proclaim on the housetops. 28 Don’t fear those who kill the body but are not able to kill the soul; rather, fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. 29 Aren’t two sparrows sold for a penny?Yet not one of them falls to the ground without your Father’s consent. 30 But even the hairs of your head have all been counted. 31 So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. CSB
To fully understand why Jesus is promising a coming persecution in this passage we have to admit something that might be hard to face. It is difficult for us to grasp the eternal worth God places on earthly persecution.
Persecution is valuable because it cultivates a shrewdness and an innocence in us. (Matthew 10:16-17)
When we are mistreated by anyone it is normal to want vengeance and forgiveness can be hard to find. But Jesus is calling us to a better way. When someone hates Jesus and consequently us, God is calling us to bear Jesus’ image to that person (Matthew 10:25). The First Nations Version, translates Matthew 10:16 this way, “Look and listen! I am sending you out like sheep into a pack of wolves, so be as crafty as snakes, but as harmless and gentle as doves.” The CSB chooses the words “shrewd” and “innocent” to describe what God is cultivating in our hearts through persecution. Other translations use “wisdom” instead of shrewdness or craftiness to translate the word before serpents. Shrewd and innocent might initially feel counter intuitive. It is Christ-like to offer gentleness to others especially when we don’t feel secure. When I think of this tension between wisdom and harmlessness, shrewdness and innocence, I picture Corrie Ten Boom who bravely hid Jews in her home from the Nazis. Godly shrewdness does not mean we are deceitful or mean, but we might want to be silent at times. Remember, snakes are very quiet creatures and only make their presence known when they need too. Persecution will cultivate a balance in us between a growing shrewdness and a growing innocence.
There is a big difference between God causing persecution and God knowing it will happen. The Bible teaches us that God is love, it is his very nature to love. So, when trying to bear persecution’s fruit, it is important to remember God is never the author of evil, but he is also never thwarted by evil. All his ways are good and no one can snatch us out of God’s hand (Romans 8:37-39).
Persecution is valuable because it creates evangelistic opportunities. (Matthew 10:18-23)
God sees the big picture and he desires for us to testify to those who are seeking our lives. He wants us to exhibit a Holy Boldness as he gives us the very words to speak to our accusers (Matt. 10:19-20). In Ephesians 6:12 Paul teaches us that our enemy is not flesh and blood. If we don’t know who our true enemy is we will engage in the wrong conflict. God does not want us to perceive our persecutors as our foes. He wants us to practice mercy and understand that persecution opens many doors of evangelism that won’t open any other way. We see this divine appointment to witness clearly in the lives of the early disciples. Peter was taken before the Sanhedrin for preaching about Jesus (Acts 4:8-10), Paul was taken before provincial governors for the same reason (Acts 26:28-31). Persecution spreads the gospel like no other method.
Jesus warns us that persecution might come from within our own families. Many of you have experienced this. Following Christ has caused your family to disown you or even harm you. This is the caution Jesus is giving here. Persecution may come from those people we love the most.
Persecution is valuable because it teaches us to fear God, not man. (Matthew 10:24-31)
Persecution will purify the believer and teach us to put our hope in God. God does not want us to get the eternal and the temporal mixed up. Men can take our lives, but only God determines where we spend eternity.
Persecution can be overt or covert. Overt is apparent and visible. Covert is hidden and concealed. Most of the persecution in the free world is covert, but it is still persecution. Deceived people with impure motives and deeply wounded hearts still cast spells seeking to exercise some control and find empowerment over their lives. The word occult means hidden. None the less, Christians are not called to go on a witch hunt and try to figure out who might be casting spells and giving ground to our enemy the devil (Matthew 10:26). All we have to do is look at Christian history to see that witch hunts have never been blessed by God. Instead, we know from the scriptures that God values personal choice (Matt 23:37). Throughout time God has never forced his love on anyone. It is not really love if we do not have a choice to trust God or not.
To properly respond to any persecution whether seen or unseen we must again remember Paul’s teaching from Ephesians 6:12 that our enemy is not flesh and blood. We need to submit to God (James 4:7) and remember to pray for those who seek our demise. The prayer Jesus prayed from the cross, “Father forgive them for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34) is still one of the most strategic prayers a Christian can pray. Forgiveness is a Christ-like attitude that has helped generations of believers survive the high cost of persecution.
God is always working for eternity. When we recognize the value of persecution we begin to see the worth God places on each of our lives. Even the very hairs on our head are numbered. Three times in this passage Jesus says, “Do not be afraid,” in verses 26, 28, and 31. Why this strong admonition? Fear will be normal, but fear will not be helpful. Trusting God is what brings us peace. With the Holy Spirit’s mighty power within us we have no reason to fear persecution. Instead, we should consider it an honor when we are treated just like Jesus (Acts 5:40-41).
Persecution is valuable because it cultivates a shrewdness and an innocence in us, it creates evangelistic opportunities, and it teaches us to fear God, not man.
Why is it hard for us to value the fruit born from spiritual persecution?
How can we change our attitude about persecutors?
We can agree with God that his word is true even if we don’t always understand it. We can agree that what Jesus says about eternity is more important than what joy or sorrow we experience in time. The promise of persecution does not mean we can’t struggle to establish religious liberties or human rights.
Once I had the privilege of traveling to Rome’s ancient coliseum, where so many Christians gave up their lives. I remember being overwhelmed by God’s holiness in that place. Without these Christians brave devotion to God I would have never heard about Jesus. I know that when these believers were martyred they were not thinking of me, but God was. He was thinking of you too. He saw through time and knew how he was going to gloriously advance his kingdom. Listen to these words from Revelation 12:11 which speaks to how we are to overcome the evil one in this world.
They overcame him
by the blood of the Lamb
and by the word of their testimony;
they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death. NIV
This is how the early church was established and it will be how the end time church will win.