Persecution Of Believers

Jesus Was Persecuted.

John 15:18-21.

If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you.  If you were of the world, the world would love his own: but because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.  Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his Lord. If they have persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept My saying, they will keep yours also.  But all these things will they do unto you for My name’s sake, because they do not know the Father that sent Me.

Persecuted Because of Righteousness.

Matthew 5:10-12.

Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake,For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Luke 21:10-13.

Then said Jesus unto them, Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom:  And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.  But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name’s sake.  And it shall turn to you for a testimony.

Persecuted Because Of The Word.

Matthew 13:18-21.

Hear you therefore the parable of the sower.  When anyone hears the Word of the Kingdom and fails to understand it then the wicked one comes to catch away that which is sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the wayside. But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that hears the word, and immediately joyfully receives the word.;  Yet he because he has no root in himself, he only endures for a while: for when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, by and by he is offended. 

How To Respond To Persecution.

Matthew 5:43-45.

You have heard that it has been said, that you shall love your neighbour, and hate your enemy.  But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;  That you may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for He makes His sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.