Will You Be Persecuted For Your Faith? - Matthew 10:21-25

21 “Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death. 

Jesus continues to prepare the disciples for what they should expect as he sends them out to do the work he has trained them to do. Jesus says something that is very surprising.  Not only will the disciples be persecuted by the governors and rulers, but even by their own families. 

"Jesus knew that in some cases the gospel would divide family members, and that some of the most bitter persecution would take place among families."

We might ask how can this possibly happeen? 

 "Yet, dreadful as this prediction was, it was fulfilled; and, incredible as it seems, parents and children, husbands and wives, were found wicked enough to deliver up each other to these cruel modes of death on account of attachment to the gospel. Such is the opposition of the heart of man to the gospel! That hostility which will overcome the strong ties of natural affection, and which will be satisfied with nothing else to show its power, can be no slight opposition to the gospel of God." (Benson)

22 You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. 

Jesus adds that they will be hated by everyone because of their association with him.  

"At times this has been true; when entire cultures have hated the followers of Jesus." (Guzik)

It is not that Jesus is saying categorically that EVERY person will hate them, but that they will be hated by the world.  And the cause of it is the Christ in them.  The enmity is directed at him, but since we carry around Christ in our  mortal bodies. we become the target of the anger.  This is the basic sense of the word "anti-Christ".  The world, as ruled by the prince of the air, opposes everything and everyone who would represent the Spirit of Christ.  

Though the hatred would be real and palpable, these trials can be overcome by clinging to faith until Jesus' return in great and promised glory.  Paul tells us in Philippians 1:6, "He (Jesus) who began a good work in you will be faithful to complete it." 

 23 When you are persecuted in one place, flee to another. Truly I tell you, you will not finish going through the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.

Jesus then clarifies that there is nothing wrong with escaping the persecution they are experiencing. Paul says in 1 Corinthians 10:13, "When we are tempted look for the way of escape that God would provide so we can stand up under temptation."  

"In this, Jesus taught His disciples that it was wrong for them to court martyrdom. They were not to run towards persecution, or even remain if they had the chance for an honorable escape. If they could flee to another place, they were to do it." Guzik

Jesus then says something else that is very interesting.  He says the disciples will be evangelizing in their local mission field and will not finish the task before the Son of Man comes.  What does he mean by this comment, "before the Son of Man comes".  

Though some think this refers to the destruction of the temple in A.D. 70 as symbolic of Jesus coming back in judgment, it doesn't seem specific enough.  Some pick this interpretation because it seems as though the context supports the present day situation of the disciples going through the cities and then turning to the Gentiles. 

Others think it is a reference to Jesus' second coming because of the relationship of this passage with Matthew 24, which uses much of the same langauge.  Matthew 24 is clearly referring to the end time and the time of judge concurrent with Jesus return to the earth. 

The key to the interpretation is to go to Matthew 24.  Here clearly Jesus is referring to His Second Coming.  He also uses the language of "the Son of Man" coming.  

Listen to this language.  It is not the language of the destruction of the temple. 

"For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now—and never to be equaled again." 24:21

“Immediately after the distress of those days “‘the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.’" 24:29

For these reason I think this verse is referring to Jesus' second coming, not the destruction of Israel in AD 70. 

24 “The student is not above the teacher, nor a servant above his master. 

As a disciple of Jesus, they would face the same treatment as Jesus did.  History bears that many of the disciples were persecuted and killed for their testimony about Jesus. 

25 It is enough for students to be like their teachers, and servants like their masters. If the head of the house has been called Beelzebul, how much more the members of his household!

When Jesus was called "Satan" by his opponents it was to try and defame his name.  They should expect the same treatment and languaging.  

This also is a clear description of what it means to be a disciple of Christ. The terms "student" and "apprentice" are good synonyms for disciple.  A disciple trained to become like their master.  The sole purpose of a disciple of Christ is to become like him.  And if we do the things Jesus did we can expect similar treatment from those who oppose him.  

Have you ever been persecuted for your Christian faith?  What promplted this treatment?  If you have never been persecuted for your faith as a believer in Jesus, what do you think that says about your discipleship?  

Though we should never look to be persecuted, the bottom line is as we live boldly for Christ. we will likely be persecuted even if only indirectly.  We don't face the persecution in our country that many Christians in other countries face, but Christians in America are increasingly facing disdain in our culture.  Being a Christian today often implies that you are "racist", "homophobic", "bigoted", "hypocritcal" and certainly "unsophisticated".  I think this is only going to increase in  our secular culture that is hostile to God generally and Christians specifically.