Persecution Complex

#biblestudy #whatjesussaid #gospel #greeknewtestament

Matthew 10: 16 - 23
There are a lot of American and other Christians who sadly use these verses to justify claims they are being persecuted ... WHEN THEY ARE NOT.

Chances are if you're reading this in English and have access to the Internet you live in a country where the only "persecution" you have to worry about is a court case and a fine for libel?

Be cautious about people
for  hey will give you over into the councils
 (Note Plural from in greek  this is not just the Jewish Synhedrin but councils in general)
and in their synagogues they will flog / whip you
and to / before  leaders and also kings you will be taken / lead
(akheesesthe is a future passive from agoo
remember aspiration as a passive marker so the stem of agoo becomes kh
and the kh is the sound in Kin not sKin !)
for / because of me to witness to them and to the (pagan non jewish) nations

When(ever) and they deliver you not worry how or what to say!

it will be given to you in that hour what you will say
 it will be you speaking
but the spirit of the father of you the talking in you ?

note alla emphasizing that the spirit will inspire and give your speech

betray brother a brother into death and father a child and raise up against / ( rebel violently )  children against parents  and kill them

epanasteesontai from epanistami

Something like the situations during the religious wars of the 16th and 17th centuries in Europe or the Russian and Chinese revolutions and the great persecutions under the Roman empire

you might also want to read about the Donatists and Arians?

and you will be hated by all for the name of me
he who endures to end this one will be saved
when(ever) and they pursue / hunt you in the city flee into the other.

The persecution perhaps we should worry about is the denial of refugee status to those forced to flee their countries to others.

truly for i say to you not will have completely finished (going thru)  the cities of israel until comes the son of man

perhaps what we should worry about is not whether or not you can boycott certain people or causes without being sued but actual PHYSICAL violence towards you?

As I said at the start if you  have your own laptop to access to a public library  you are probably at little risk of physical persecution but please do spare a thought or more if possible  for those who genuinely are?