Keys of the Kingdom

QQUICK

QUIZ 1 Pop group Girls Aloud were created through which TV talent show? 2 Britain’s Jake Wightman won gold in which event at the World Athletics Championships this year?

4A ANSWERS 5. Good night. 6. Vietnam. Which retired astronaut’s debut novel The Apollo Murders was published last year? Who had a No 1 hit in 2014 with the song ‘Stay with Me’? What does the French phrase ‘bonne nuit’ mean in English? In which southeast Asian country is Unesco World Heritage Site Ha Long Bay? 3 5 6 3. Chris Hadfield. 4. Sam Smith. 1. Popstars: The Rivals. 2. The men’s 1500m.

In this occasional series, Nigel Bovey unlocks the mystery of the Kingdom of Heaven, which Jesus speaks to his disciples about in Matthew’s Gospel The cost of the Kingdom

THROUGHOUT his ministry, Jesus makes it clear that the

principles and values of the Kingdom of Heaven are starkly different from those of the everyday world. In chapter 5 of Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus says that God values meekness, mercy and peacemaking.

Such a radical lifestyle is a challenge not only to those who adopt it but also to those who don’t. Confronted by goodness, they feel bad. Feeling threatened, they retaliate.

Jesus describes the Kingdom of Heaven in terms of ‘blessedness’ – an awareness of God’s presence in every circumstance. He warns people that there can be a cost: they may be ‘persecuted because of righteousness’ (Matthew 5:10 New International Version).

The first thing to note is that Jesus does not promise extra reward to those who are persecuted. In effect, he says that following him can be costly. Nobody should think of becoming a A radical Christian to gain popularity. lifestyle is History is full of courageous Christians who accepted death rather than deny their faith. a challenge Here, though, Jesus is addressing a lower level of persecution – harassment and verbal abuse. In the original text of verse 11, the Greek word translated as ‘persecute’ means ‘pursue’ and ‘put to flight’. The word for ‘insult’ is connected with defaming. Falsely saying ‘all kinds of evil’ is telling lies.

Later in the Gospel, Jesus also says that ‘the Kingdom of Heaven has been subjected to violence’ (Matthew 11:12). The reality is that Jesus’ followers can face misunderstanding and opposition. They may be misrepresented and discriminated against. Some people are imprisoned, tortured and killed simply for being a Christian.

Whatever the challenge, Jesus says it should come as no surprise – the prophets of the past were persecuted. Jesus himself would be hounded to death. Elsewhere in the New Testament Jesus warns: ‘If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also’ (John 15:20).

Rather than retaliate, the righteous response is to ‘love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you’ (Matthew 5:44). By so doing, the follower of Jesus shows the world just how different they are now that they live according to the values of the Kingdom of Heaven.