Hatred Without Cause

If your Lord was hated without cause, do not expect to have a quiet life in this world. If your Lord was subjected to all this contempt and all this sorrow, do you suppose that you will always ride through this world in a carriage? If you suppose so, you will be wonderfully mistaken.

Since your Lord was persecuted, you must expect the same. Some of you pity us when we are persecuted and despised. Ah! Save your pity; save it for those of whom the world speaks well; save it for those against whom the woe is pronounced: “Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you!” Save your pity for the favorites of the earth; save your compassion for the lords of this earth, who are applauded by all men. We do not ask for your commiseration; indeed, gentlemen, in all these things we rejoice, and “we glory in tribulations, knowing that the things which have happened unto us have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel.” And we count it joy when we fall into all kinds of trials, for we rejoice that in this way the name of Christ is made known and His kingdom is extended.

The other lesson is this: see to it that, if the world hates you, it hates you without cause. If the world is going to oppose you, there is no sense in provoking the world to oppose you. This world is bitter enough without my adding vinegar to it. Some people imagine that the world will persecute them; therefore, they take up a fighting stance, as though they were inviting persecution. Now, I do not see what good comes from doing that. Do not try to make or provoke other people to hate you. Truly, the opposition some people face is not for righteousness’ sake, but because of their own sin or their own offensive character. Many Christians live together with others in a household—perhaps there is a Christian maidservant; she says that she is persecuted for righteousness’ sake. But she has a bad disposition, sometimes speaks harshly, and then the mistress of the house scolds her. That is not being persecuted for righteousness’ sake. There is another person, perhaps a merchant in the city; he is not held in very high esteem. He says that he is persecuted for righteousness’ sake, but the truth is that he did not honor a discount offered some time ago. Another says that he is persecuted for righteousness’ sake, but he goes about assuming authority over others, and from time to time people answer him back and rebuke him.

Christian people, take care that, if you are persecuted, it is for righteousness’ sake; for if you are persecuted because of yourself, you must bear the consequences. Christ has nothing to do with the persecutions that you bring upon yourself through your own sins; they are punishments upon you. They hated Christ without cause; therefore, do not fear being hated. They hated Christ without cause; therefore, do not provoke others to hate you, and give the world no reason to do so.

And now, you who hate Christ, if only you might love Him. Oh, that He would come to you now! Oh, that He would reveal Himself to you! And then surely you would love Him at once. He who believes in the Lord Jesus will certainly love Him, and he who loves Him will be saved. Oh, that God would give you faith and give you love, through Christ Jesus! Amen.

Source: http://www.spurgeongems.org/schs89.pdf

Hatred Without Cause (Sermon #89—preached June 29, 1856)