The Pulpit Commentary — Matthew — Volume 1 — Section 444

Ver, 21.-The mission of 'l'eligious penecution. In warning the apostles that their mission would involve persecution, our Lord clearly showed that such persecution was in the Divine pla.n, and, if in the Divine plan, it had its mission ; it would prove to be a blessing; it wa.s indeed a "blessing in disguise." The calamitous and distressing side of religious persecution ha.s been so often dwelt on that it may be well to " turn the shield," and look on the brighter side. Religious persecution ha.s its important uses and ministries; in one form or other it has been found in every age, and the Church of every age has been the better for it. This does not excuse persecutors or relieve their guilt; but it does bring to us a fuller sense of the Divine overruling of even evil things. The forms that persecution took in the early Church may be illustrated, 'l'acitus tells us that "the Christians were convicted of enmity to the human race." I. RELIGIOUS PERSECUTION BAB ALWAYS BEEN A TEST OF SINCERITY. It finds out those who only profess, and those who profess because they possess. Only the men in earnest abide the stress of persecution. A man must care about a thing if he is willing to suffer for its sake. Persecution is a natural process of separating tares from wheat. How ma.ny unworthy ones would be in Church relations if religion involved no strain I There is testing social persecution nowadays. 11. RELIGIOUS PERSECUTION HAS ALWAYS BEEN AN AGENT IN CLEABING DOCTRINE. All sorts of ideas, good, fodifferent, and bad, are being constantly taught. They would grow into doctrines if they were not subject to some clearing process. A man will suffer for what are deep convictions, but a man will not readily suffer for his fanciful notions. Many an error has been cleared away in times of persecution, but no truth was ever then lost. lIL RELIGIOUS PERSECUTION BAB ALWAYS BEEN THE GBEAT INCENTIVE TO ZEAL. Ages of peace too often become ages of ease and indifference. Aggressive Christianity is found in vigour only in persecuting times. Strikingly illustrated in Madagascar, Enterprise, energy, faith, flourish in times of pressure and peril. IV. RELIGIOUS PERSECUTION HAS ALWAYS PROVED A GBEAT HELP TO BROTHERHOOD. The sufferings of some, the perils of all. throw each upon the other's keeping. The story of persecuting days is a delightful record of sweet charities and loving helpfulness in the Christian brotherhood.-R. T. Ver. 25.-The commQf'l lot of master and servant. Point out the connection in which this text stands. Christ illustrated what was his claim on men, and what was involved in becoming citizens of his kingdom, by sending out his apostles on a trial or model mission. He corrects certain wrong impressions and false expectations in this passage. Those apostles will not meet with all the success they anticipate. They will repeat his own story of thankless labour and reproach. I. THE IDEA OF A TRUE LIFE 1B LIVING OVER AGAIN THE LIFE OF CHBIBT. The disciples of Christ are expected to reproduce their Master's idea.e, principles, and even actions; but their own personal stamp is to be quite plain on all their repr~ductions, A worthy servant does, both consciously and unconsciously, what he sees his master do. Jesus Christ is our Lord and Master In such a sense as makes him our ideal of what the true e.nd noble life i&. Reproducing him may be said to involve: 1. Looking CH. x. 1-42.J TBE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MATTHEW. «1