There will be no easy road for all those who want to follow Christ, however if the disciple remained faithful to Christ, the disciple could find joy and in heaven he will be greatly rewarded. This principle is real and applicable in each dispensation. It is not might or could be persecuted but we will surely be persecuted in different ways when we are seriously committed to God, doing our responsibilities as a believer in Christ. Are you a committed disciple? Are you doing your responsibilities as a disciple?

I – SEVERE PERSECUTION OF THE DISCIPLES OF JESUS CHRIST – v.11-12

True Disciples of Jesus Christ will be persecuted in this world.

The word “persecute” in verse 11 and “persecuted” in verse 12 is in Greek word (diōxōsin) which means to be pursued and driven away. Their intense desire or passion is to get the faithful disciple of Christ to be out of the scene that they will never be seen. These persecutors will be relentless, merciless and ruthless in their chasing of those faithful disciple of God.

How the disciple will be persecuted:

A. ABUSED BY WORDS – v.11a

Matthew 5:11a “Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you…” KJV

Matthew 5:11a “Blessed are you when people insult you…” NASB

Mateo 5:11a “Mapapalad kayo kapag kayo ay nilalait…” TAGALOG

The word “revile” in KJV, ESV, NKJV or “insult” in NASB means to reproach, revile, upbraid. It means the persecutor uses verbal attacks to reproach, to blame and to disgrace the follower of God. Any disciple who serves God faithfully, inevitably that disciple will be attack and blame for everything and some persecutor will try to make the faithful disciple a reproach, will be humiliated and embarrassed.

B. AVOIDED BY DRIVEN AWAY – v.11b

Matthew 5:11b “…and persecute you…”

Mateo 5:11b “…inuusig…” TAGALOG

Those faithful disciple will be persecuted by being driven away. Like as we previously, that the faithful servant of God will be driven away by those enemies of the gospel of Christ and of the truth of God’s Word. The enemies of God are planning for vengeance that they may get rid of the faithful followers of the Lord.

C. ALLEGATED FALSELY – v.11c

Matthew 5:11c “and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely…”

Mateo 5:11c “…at pinagsasabihan ng sari-saring kasamaan na pawang kasinungalingan….” TAGALOG

A disciple will be persecuted through false allegations by liars inventor of all things that are not true.

The faithful disciple, those who walks close with God, will be accused falsely by all kinds of invented evil things by those liars whose allegations are all evil and untrue.

Facts about the persecution of the disciples:

1. Reason why they experienced persecution – v.11

Matthew 5:11d “…for my sake.” KJV

Matthew 5:11d “on my account.” ESV

Mateo 5:11d “…dahil sa akin.” TAGALOG

It is a great privilege that the true Disciples are being persecuted because of Jesus Christ.

Jesus is telling His faithful disciples to know they are persecuted “on my account.”

2. Rejoicing exceeded during persecution – v.12a

Matthew 5:12a “Rejoice, and be exceeding glad...”

Mateo 5:12a “Magalak kayo at magsaya..”. TAGALOG

Faithful Disciples who are being persecuted and falsely accused may still rejoice.

3. Rewards for those who endured persecution – v.12b

Matthew 5:12b “…for great is your reward in heaven…”

Mateo 5:12b “…sapagkat malaki ang gantimpala ninyo sa langit...” TAGALOG

Disciples who endure persecution will receive great heavenly rewards.

Interestingly, Jesus Christ promised His disciples rewards in heaven not Kingdom at that point of time.

4. Ranked with the Prophets in equal persecution – v.12

Matthew 5:12c “…for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.”

Mateo 5:12c “…sapagkat gayundin nila inusig ang mga propeta na nauna sa inyo.” TAGALOG

The New Testament Disciples being persecuted are in the same class as the Old Testament prophets.

The faithful servant’s responsibility is to proclaim the Word of Truth about Jesus Christ and whey they were unfairly mistreated for preaching the message of truth of God’s Word, they were equally ranked with the persecuted prophets of the Old Testament. No difference, they experienced all what the prophets of God experienced when they faithfully serve God.

II – SACRED PURPOSE OF THE DISCIPLES OF JESUS CHRIST – v. 13-16

If you notice the opening pronoun “you” in verse 13 and verse 14 are emphatic which means Christ stressing the disciple’s responsibility emphatically. Christ tells his disciples what they should know about their sacred purpose and responsibilities.

A. Influence as Salt of the earth. – v.13

Matthew 5:13 “Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.”

Mateo 5:13 “Kayo ang asin ng lupa; ngunit kung ang asin ay tumabang, paano maibabalik ang alat nito? Wala na itong kabuluhan, maliban sa itapon sa labas at tapakan ng mga tao.” TAGALOG

Jesus told His disciples of their sacred purpose and that they are to be the salt of the earth.

Christ used a metaphor when He said that they are the salt of the earth, then Jesus said in verse 13 “but if the salt have lost his savour, where shall it be salted? It is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.”, Jesus is saying that their job as disciple is like a salt and they will become worthless as a salt lost its savour, they lost its purpose, they are nothing but useless. They must have strong good influence as a salt.

Different views of salt metaphor:

1. Taste better: Some viewed salt makes food taste, as salt of the earth we are to make our world better by living humbly, happily (John 13:10-17) and honestly (Romans 12:17; Hebrews 13:18).

2. Total preservation: Some viewed salt preserves from corruption, as a salt of the earth we are to preserve the world from corruption by living holy (Genesis 18:23-32) (Romans 12:1-2) (I Peter 1:15-16).

3. Thirst for Christ: Some viewed salt creates thirst for drink, as a salt of the earth we are to create a thirst for Christ by living heavenly (Philippians 3:20; Colossians 3:1-2).

As a disciple of Christ, we have the responsibility to maintain good works (Titus 3:8) and godly character to conform to Christ and to be like the Christ (Romans 8:29; I Peter 1:15-16), if we neglect and set aside this main responsibility and sacred purpose as disciple of Christ, the world will mock us and like the salt, we will be trampled by them and become worthless in this world.

B. Illumination as light of the world – v.14-16

Here Jesus told HIs disciples of another sacred purpose and that they are the light of the world.

Although there are lot of Christians who philosophically said that they do not care what others think about them, since it may be true, but as a Christian we better need to care about what other sees in ourselves because we represent Christ, we reflect Christ to this world. Let them see Christ in our lives.

1. Restricted Challenge (Avoid hiding your light) - v.14-15

a.) The cannot hide challenge – v.14

Matthew 5:14 “Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.”

Mateo 5:14 “Kayo ang ilaw ng sanlibutan. Ang isang lunsod na nakatayo sa ibabaw ng isang burol ay hindi maitatago.” TAGALOG

B.) The do not hide challenge – v.15

Matthew 5:15 “Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.”

Mateo 5:15 “Hindi nila sinisindihan ang isang ilawan at inilalagay sa ilalim ng isang takalan, kundi sa talagang patungan at nagbibigay ng liwanag sa lahat ng nasa bahay.” TAGALOG

2. Required Challenge (Allow shining of your light) – v.16

Matthew 5:16 “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”

Mateo 5:16 “Paliwanagin ninyo nang gayon ang inyong ilaw sa harap ng mga tao; upang makita nila ang inyong mabubuting gawa, at luwalhatiin nila ang inyong Ama na nasa langit.” TAGALOG

Jesus said that the purpose of our good works are to glorify our Father which is in heaven, Jesus did not say that we need to do good works so that when people see our good works they will glorify and exalts ourselves. No, it did not, Jesus don’t want us to rob the glory that is belong to God. The purpose of our good works is not to save us (Titus 3:5) but when we got saved by grace through faith not by works (Ephesians 2:8-9) purposely we are newly created unto good works (Ephesians 2:10), which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them that our lives are to be the reflection of Jesus Christ. Amen!