In Psalms hundred and nineteen, verse twenty-three, the psalmist testifies that he has suffered much scorn, contempt, and slander as he attempted to live a righteous life by God’s Word. This opposition, however, did not deter him from following God’s way. Today, those faithful to Christ and His Word must also expect to be criticized and ridiculed. They may be called legalists or extremists by those who conform to the worldly ways of an ungodly society.
Faithful followers of Jesus Christ should rejoice, as in Luke six, verse twenty-three. Because of their faithfulness to Christ and His godly standards, they experience judgment from others and gain no respect. In other words, persecution because of righteousness is evidence that believers are in the right fellowship with the Lord since Jesus was also ill-treated and hated by the world, as in John fifteen, verses eighteen through twenty-one.
The two instances that prove godly people are carefully watched and targeted by Satan, and the ungodly begin again in Mathew four, verses one through eleven. However, before that verse, Jesus received baptism from John the Baptist in verses twelve to sixteen. Still, in verse seventeen,
“And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” Right after this encounter, the devil comes to hinder the Son of God. However, in retaliation, God used the Word against him.
The other example is in Mark four, verses twenty-seven through thirty-three. The chief priests, scribes, and elders asked him a question. However, before Jesus answered, He gave them one after these religious people received their question in verse thirty. They privately commune with each other in verses thirty-one through thirty-two, “And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say, Why then did ye not believe him? But if we shall say, Of men; they feared the people: for all men counted John, that he was a prophet indeed.” Then, these religious leaders gave their answer to Jesus in verse thirty-one.
The focus here is how they were talking together and not in the presence of Jesus. This example of the religious group speaking secretly, devising to counter the Son of God, is how believers will experience against unbelievers and church-goers; Especially those who strive to live in righteousness.