Perseguição
Jesus advertiu que seus seguidores seriam perseguidos pelo mundo. Mas a perseguição não é sinal de fracasso — é sinal de fidelidade. Bem-aventurados os que sofrem por causa da justiça.
Perseguição como marca do discípulo
Jesus disse: se o mundo vos odeia, sabei que antes de vós odiou a mim. Todo o que quer viver piedosamente será perseguido.
If the world hate you, know ye, that it had me in hate rather than you.
And all men that will live faithfully [or piously] in Christ Jesus, shall suffer persecution.
Blessed be they that suffer persecution for rightwiseness, for the kingdom of heavens [or the kingdom of heaven] is theirs.
Blessed be ye, when men shall curse you, and shall pursue you, and shall say all evil against you lying, for me.
Ye shall be blessed, when men shall hate you, and separate you away, and put reproof to you[or shall put shame on you], and cast out your name as evil, for man’s Son.
Recompensa na perseguição
Os perseguidos por causa de Cristo receberão grande galardão no céu. Quem perde por amor ao evangelho receberá cem vezes mais.
Jesus answered, and said, Truly I say to you, there is no man that leaveth house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or children, or fields for me and for the gospel,
which shall not take an hundredfold so much now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and fields, with persecutions, and in the world to coming [or to come] everlasting life.
Who then shall part us from the charity of Christ? tribulation, or anguish, or hunger, or nakedness, or persecution, or peril, or sword?
For which thing I am pleased in mine infirmities, in despisings, [or reprovings], in needs, in persecutions, in anguishes, for Christ; for when I am sick, then I am mighty.
Amor e confiança em meio à adversidade
A Bíblia nos ensina a amar nossos perseguidores, abençoar os que nos maldizem e confiar que nossos tempos estão nas mãos de Deus.
But I say to you, love ye your enemies, do ye well to them that hate you, and pray ye for them that pursue, and slander you;
Bless ye men that pursue you; bless ye, and do not ye curse;
my times be in thine hands. Deliver thou me from the hands of mine enemies; and from them that pursue me.
For why though I shall go in the midst of shadow of death; I shall not dread evils, for thou art with me. Thy rod and thy staff; those have comforted me.
Be ye sober, and wake ye, for your adversary, the devil, as a roaring lion goeth about, seeking whom he shall devour.
And I felled down to the earth, and heard a voice from heaven, saying to me, Saul, Saul, what persecutest [or pursuest] thou me? It is hard to [or for] thee, to kick against the prick.