Rabbi Yeshua is not advocating for physical persecution or suffering at the hands of others but is referring to the rewards those who do suffer will earn if their suffering is because they seek justice. However, persecution is also an internal struggle each person undergoes in the pursuit of inner righteousness, which external factors can intensify. This struggle, often manifesting as a battle with one’s lower nature or old habits of thought, is essential for spiritual growth. It is in these moments of internal conflict and “persecution” that significant spiritual advancement occurs. It is only when we become righteous within that we can truly seek righteousness outside.
The reason for persecution is often our resistance to embracing higher morals, thoughts, and actions, either internally or due to external peer pressure. When we face difficulties in maintaining right thinking – in the face of fear, anger, or despondency – we are essentially being “persecuted” by our flesh for our pursuit of righteousness. Such challenges are opportunities for profound spiritual growth and should be viewed as blessings.
Understanding that external persecution or mistreatment by others does not indicate spiritual superiority or lead to enlightenment is essential. Often, these experiences mirror unresolved internal issues typically manifested as an overly offensive attitude toward others or when crossing boundaries. This Beatitude emphasizes that without internal peace, we cannot create peace externally. Consequently, we may feel persecuted by those who resist our negativity and offensiveness, highlighting the need for inner tranquility to foster peace and harmony in our interactions.
Fixating on martyrdom or persecution can inadvertently attract similar experiences. Instead, the focus should be on overcoming internal challenges and aligning ourselves with God’s principles of love and truth. This alignment, as taught by Rabbi Yeshua, is the path to truly experiencing the kingdom of heaven.
The unfortunate reality is that much of what is labeled as ‘Christian persecution’ is, in fact, inflicted by fellow Christians who are overly religious and by non-Christians who feel attacked by Christians. “Blessed are they which are persecuted” was not first addressed to Christians in China facing persecution by a communist government but to 1st-century Jews who experienced persecution by highly religious people. Yeshua, too, was persecuted by religious legalists.
In this context, Christians can often find themselves in situations where they might face mockery or harsh judgment from their own community. For example, a Christian who chooses to embrace a certain interpretation of scripture may be labeled as a “false prophet” or a “fake Christian” by others within the faith. This labeling and name-calling, a form of persecution, stem from resistance to different interpretations or understandings of the faith. When outsiders observe this strife and lack of peace or a deficiency of love among Christians, it can lead them to reject Christianity altogether.
This article is part of the book, “The Kingdom of Yeshua: Christ’s Timeless Wisdom to Revive Your Spiritual Life.”
