“Who both killed the Lord Jesus, and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they please not God, and are contrary to all men: Forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved, to fill up their sins alway: for the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost” (1 Thessalonians 2:15-16).
Introduction
Paul here pinpoints where most of the opposition and persecution was coming from. We should never be surprised that those who set themselves against us are religious people. When they take this to the logical extreme, they see nothing wrong with killing those who preach and teach the truth. “Yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service” (John 16:2).
The persecution
Paul makes it clear that, if the Jews continuously opposed and persecuted their own prophets, and crucified their Messiah, they will think nothing of doing away with those who follow Jesus Christ. He denounces their wickedness in the same manner as the prophets of the Old Testament, and pronounces the judgement of God upon them. Paul does not enter into political correctness here. We cannot put all the guilt upon the Roman Empire, because the Jews played a major part in the death of Christ. Just as it was not Assyria, Egypt or Babylon that caused their forefathers to reject and kill the prophets, so Israel alone is responsible for crucifying the Lord. “Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain” (Acts 2:23). The Jews at the crucifixion knew exactly what they were doing. “Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children” (Matthew 27:25). Jesus said, “Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city: That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar” (Matthew 23:34-35).
The cost of discipleship is great. The enemy of the church today is not Judaism but Islam, pseudo-Christianity (Romanism and liberal theology), and philosophy. We must remind ourselves that our battle is never with other human beings, but with the organisations, theories and governments that Satan uses in seeking to destroy the church. “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places” (Ephesians 6:12). The good and encouraging news is, the faith upheld by the Thessalonian church is still being honoured today. “Upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18). Because of this we do not need to become depressed or feel forsaken when affliction comes our way. “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified” (1 Peter 4:12-14) … “Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you” (Matthew 5:12).
The judgement
God’s wrath rests upon all who oppose Him and His people. Those who resist Christ are already turned over to blindness of heart and reprobation. “Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened … And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;” (Romans 1:21, 28). They may think that they are getting away with it, but one day the wrath of God will be poured out. The church is easy game for those who hate Christ because we do not take vengeance, but they forget that there is a God in Heaven who must repay those who commit wickedness. “Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord” (Romans 12:19). As God dealt with Haman in Esther’s day so He will judge all those who hate His own (see the Book of Esther). Those who persecute the Lord’s people do not realise that they are storing up wrath against themselves.
We may be told that we cannot preach that Jesus Christ is “the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by” Him (John 14:6). They may cast us into prison for our faith. They may kill and persecute us, but we must continue to do as Christ commanded. “We ought to obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29).
Conclusion
Many millions of faithful followers of Christ have endured tribulation and death for the cause of Christ. Who knows if and when we will be called on to do the same? All such people have understood that the world, with its politics and false religion, hates the Saviour, therefore it is little wonder that it hates His disciples too. “If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth 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 know not him that sent me. If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloak for their sin. He that hateth me hateth my Father also. If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father. But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause” (John 15:18-25).
© 8/2/2008