I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.

Matthew 10:16

Jesus uses the sheep/wolf, snake/dove analogy as an intro to a discussion with His disciples about persecution. For Christians to understand the proper response to persecution, we need a quick zoo lesson. There are no known species of attack sheep and no known poisonous doves. In contrast, wolves tend to be vicious and bloodthirsty and many snakes attack and kill. There have been times in history when Christians have acted and reacted more like wolves and snakes than sheep and doves. After telling His disciples they should respond like sheep and doves, Jesus goes on to describe five types of persecution in Matthew 10.

1.   Physical Abuse
“Be on your guard against men; they will hand you over to the local councils and flog you in their synagogues.” (Matthew 10:17)

Jesus warned His disciples that they could face flogging and other types of physical abuse for following Him. Like the early disciples, many in restricted nations today face violent persecution.

2.   Political Persecution
“On my account you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles. But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say” (Matthew 10:18, 19)

In verse 17 the physical persecution was done at the hands of religious leaders. In verses 18 and 19 Jesus warns that persecution will also come from those with political power in the form of arrest and imprisonment. Along with the warning is an exhortation to see the persecution as an opportunity to be His witness before government leaders.

3.   Family Betrayal
“Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death.” (Matthew 10:21)

Persecution not only comes from religion and government, it can also come from family. Being persecuted by religious or government leaders who may or may not actually know us is difficult, but nothing compares to the personal pain of being persecuted and rejected by family. When describing family persecution Jesus used a word that He did not use to describe religious or government persecution. He described family persecution as “betrayal”.

4.   Name-Calling
“A student is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. It is enough for the student to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master. If the head of the house has been called Beelzebub, how much more the members of his household!” (Matthew 10:24, 25)

Here Jesus warned His disciples that there would be some name-calling. Not everyone liked or agreed with Jesus and not everyone will like or agree with us. Some violently disagreed with Jesus and thought they are serving God in their efforts to destroy Him and His disciples. While violent persecution is rare in the Western world today, it is quite common in many nations. Verbal violence is the attack of choice in civilized Western societies. Today, as in the days of Jesus, it seems that the more religious a person is, the more name-calling he does. If they called Jesus Beelzebub, then how much more will they speak evil of His followers! Everyone who wants to be a disciple of Jesus and everyone who wants to make disciples must accept that being called derogatory names is part of the package.

5.   Martyrdom
Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. (Matthew 10:28)

The ultimate and final form of persecution ends in death. Most of the original disciples experienced all five types of persecution that Jesus spoke of in Matthew 10 including martyrdom. Modern followers of Christ must be willing to follow Him no matter the cost, just as His original disciples, most of whom suffered violent deaths because of their faith.

Having looked at five types of persecution that disciples may face, we must remember that nothing, not even persecution, can separate us from the love of God (Romans 8:35,36).