PERSECUTION … THE SERPENT HATES AND HISSES
Matthew 5:10-12 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
Matthew Henry Commentary:
Blessed are ye – ye my disciples, and immediate followers.
Those suffer for righteousness’ sake, who suffer because they will not sin against their consciences, and who suffer for doing that which is good. Whatever pretence persecutors have, it is the power of godliness that they have an enmity to; it is really Christ and his righteousness that are maligned, hated, and persecuted; For thy sake I have borne reproach, Psalm 69:9; Romans 8:36.
So persecuted they the prophets that were before you, Matthew 5:12. They were before you in excellency, above what you are yet arrived at; they were before you in time, that they might be examples to you of suffering affliction and of patience, James 5:10. They were in like manner persecuted and abused; and can you expect to go to heaven in a way by yourself?
Was not Isaiah mocked for his line upon line?
Elisha for his bald head?
Were not all the prophets thus treated?
Therefore marvel not at it as a strange thing, murmur not at it as a hard thing;
it is a comfort to see the way of suffering a beaten road, and an honour to follow such leaders.
That grace which was sufficient for them, to carry them through their sufferings, shall not be deficient to you.
Those who are your enemies are the seed and successors of them who of old mocked the messengers of the Lord,
Therefore rejoice and be exceeding glad, Matthew 5:12. It is not enough to be patient and content under these sufferings as under common afflictions, and not to render railing for railing; but we must rejoice, because the honour and dignity, the pleasure and advantage, of suffering for Christ, are much more considerable than the pain or shame of it.
1 John 3:13 Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you.
To infer that it is no wonder that good men are so served now: Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you, 1 John 3:13. The serpentine nature still continues in the world. The great serpent himself reigns as the God of this world. Wonder not then that the serpentine world hates and hisses at you who belong to that seed of the woman that is to bruise the serpent’s head.
