Christian Persecution
"A man's foes shall be they of his own household"
I have made the statement before "If Christ had a Judas in His life, then you and I will also have a 'Judas' in our lives."
Remember, Christ's words are spiritual words:
John 6:63 it is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.
That being the case, when Christ makes this statement:
Micah 7:6 For the son dishonoureth the father, the daughter riseth up against her mother, the daughter in law against her mother in law; a man's enemies are the men of his own house.
Jesus said it:
Matt 10:35 For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. 36 And a man's foes shall be they of his own household.
Matthew 12:47 Someone said to Him, "Behold, Your mother and your brothers are standing outside seeking to speak to You." 48But Jesus answered the one who was telling Him and said, "Who is My mother and who are My brothers?" 49And stretching out His hand toward His disciples, He said, "Behold My mother and My brothers!
Listen to Paul the Apostle:
2 Timothy 3: 12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. 13But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. 14But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; 15And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
Luke Speaks:
Acts 14:22 Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.
All of the relationships mentioned above are primarily spiritual relationships. We have no record that Jesus Brothers and Sisters were "foes...of his own household."
Those who we do know were "foes of His own household" were the scribes and Pharisees and the rulers of the people:
Acts 4:26 The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ.27 For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together, 28 For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done.
Peter tells us two chapters earlier that Pilate would have let Christ go, but the people of Israel, "His own household," insisted on His death:
Acts 3:13 The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go.
Luke 23:20 Pilate therefore, willing to release Jesus, spake again to them. 21 But they cried, saying, Crucify him, crucify him. 22 And he said unto them the third time, Why, what evil hath he done? I have found no cause of death in him: I will therefore chastise him, and let him go.
Luke 23:23 And they were instant with loud voices, requiring that he might be crucified. And the voices of them and of the chief priests prevailed. 24 And Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they required. 25 And he released unto them him that for sedition and murder was cast into prison, whom they had desired; but he delivered Jesus to their will.
God's "hand and counsel determined before to use "the people... and... the chief priests" to "require that He might be crucified" even after Pilate had "determined to let him go."
These are the "they of his own household" to whom Christ refers in Matt. 10:6.
These are they who are always calling for the crucifixion of Christ's elect in every generation.
So if you are experiencing persecution from church friends or relatives for your beliefs, start rejoicing in the fact that you have been "counted worthy to suffer with Him".
Gal 6:9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
James 1:2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
Rom 8:17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
2 Tim 2:12 If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:
2 Cor. 11:26 In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;
"I pray for the brethren that God will give you the strength to "faint not".
We are actually called to "much tribulation:"
Acts 14:22 Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.
Closing
Count tribulation as a blessing.
One of the highest honors God bestows on His elect is to be "in perils by mine own countrymen... [And] among false brothers." It is not just our faith that pleases God. What is even more precious to God is "the trial of our faith."
1 Pet 1:7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:
James 1:2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; 3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. 4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
Rom 2:7 To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life:
I hope this is the encouragement you need to "continue in well doing."
