28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? 29 Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, 30 Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish. 27 And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.

Luke 14: 25-33 And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them, 26 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. He even goes a little deeper to say that “whosoever will save his life shall lose it but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it.” (Mark 8:35) I like how Luke puts it a little differently: For example, Jesus uses the metaphor that whoever follows Him will need to “take up his cross”. Take up your crossĬonstant reminders to His disciples are recorded throughout the gospel accounts as well as the Book of Acts. 20 For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you.įather, forgive them for they know not what they do. Matthew 10:19-20 But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak. Then He encourages them with the promise that the Spirit of the Father will be with them and will speak for them. He warns them that leaders will judge them. You can read about that in Matthew 5:35-48.Ĭontinuing on in the book of Matthew Jesus tells the Apostles once again that He is sending them out into a world which will hate them. Later in the same chapter of Matthew, Jesus went into a little more detail regarding the reality of the persecution to come and He told them how they should respond. 12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. 11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Matthew 5:10-12 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. During His famous Sermon on the Mount He even reminded them that the prophets before them were persecuted for righteousness sake. He said that people would hate them because of Him.

He warned the Apostles and His many disciples that life would no longer be easy for them that chose to follow Him. What does the Bible teach about persecution? What should our attitude be? How should we pray for the persecutors? Jesus Spoke of Persecution and the Persecutedĭuring the Earthly ministry of Jesus, He often spoke of what was to come when He left to be with the Father. In some cases he asked that their hearts would be softened and in others he asked that the Lord pronounce judgment upon them (e.g. When you read through the Book of Psalms you see that David continually prayed for those who persecuted him.

Even so, we are called to pray for everyone. Praying for the lovely people is just much easier. Undoubtedly the most difficult people to pray for are those that persecute us.

Closing prayer for bible study