Pray for who?

In the address we generally call the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said early on, “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”  (Matthew 5:11-12)  It isn’t easy for us to get our minds aligned with this teaching!  But there’s more.  Just a little further on, Jesus says to us, “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”  (verse 44)

Rejoice, feel blessed, when you are reviled and persecuted.  And pray for the perpetrators!

Persecution can arise from individual action or mob action.  But the big persecutions have always come from governments, or from groups acting with the overt or tacit approval of governments.  Such persecution started with the religious authorities working against Jesus and his followers, and as the gospel spread local authorities in the Empire persecuted the apostles and early believers, eventually growing to where Rome itself was involved.  This should come as no surprise!  There is an inevitability of persecution, we are told:  “Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.”  (2 Timothy 3:12)  “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.”  (1 Peter 4:12)

It’s against this backdrop that we read:  “First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.”  (1 Timothy 2:1-2)  We are urged by Paul to pray for those in authority—and Paul was directly in the line of fire from those very authorities, having been imprisoned and beaten by them on multiple occasions. 

Jesus says to pray for the persecutors, and the apostles repeat the command, for example, “Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them.”  (Romans 12:14)  In writing to Timothy, Paul gives us a little more about what the content of our prayers ought to be—that we would be left alone to worship in peace.  And going on to the next verses, he tells us more:  “This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.”  (1 Timothy 2:3-4)  Implied here is another aspect of the prayer for those in authority: that they be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth.

You know who the emperor was – Nero, who would be so extreme in his torture and slaughter of Christians that even the Romans would be disgusted.  Pray for this guy, Paul says.  In our own day, think of the most brutal ruling authorities you’re aware of…and pray for them. 

Governments have, from the beginning, been the enemies of Christ and his followers.  Even when supposedly acting in the name of the Lord!  They have enmity toward us because we maintain that only Jesus will bring righteous government, and the godly principles he (and we) stand for are in clear opposition to the principles embraced by worldly political leaders. 

Our job is to obey the ruling authorities (Romans 13:1-7, Titus 3:1-2, 1 Peter 2:13-17).  Right up to the point where obeying them would mean disobeying God (Acts 4:18-20 & 5:29).  That means obeying Nero and the government under him, vile as it might be.  And beyond obeying, pray for them.

It is abundantly clear, from our Lord and his apostles, that it is not our place to take up arms—nor ballots, nor even voices—either for nor against governments, whatever we may think of them.  Our place is to pray for them, even if they go so far as to become our persecutors.

Do we think this was an easy teaching for our first century brothers and sisters to swallow?  Or, in our own time, for our brothers and sisters in Cameroon or Congo, Pakistan or Iran?  We are called, not to voice or act in resistance to, or in support of, the authorities that are; rather to pray for them.  And as Peter pointedly reminds us, we are to look to the example of Jesus:

“For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.”  (1 Peter 2:21-25)

Have we forgotten?  It was governments, both local and “federal”, that murdered the Lord.  But he did not revile, did not threaten.  There is so much reviling, so much threatening, around us, from all sides!  But instead of becoming like that, Jesus trusted the One who in the end will right all wrongs.  And he calls us to him, to return to him, and to his way.  What did he do on the cross?  No reviling, no threatening.  Prayer:  “Father, forgive them.”  He does not think he is asking too much of us when he commands that we do the same. 

Love, Paul

If you have any feedback, please contact me at: paul.zilmer@gmail.com