The Sword
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"As it is written, For your sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter!" Romans 8:36
The apostle continues his challenge. He supposes that the believer may be put to the sword—but he affirms that the sword shall not separate from Christ. The union is so strong, so close, so lasting, that all attempts to dissolve it are in vain. Once in Christ, in Christ forever. The greatest trials imaginable may fall to the Christian's lot—but they do not affect the love of Christ to him, nor can they sever him from Christ. Above condemnation, secured against the possibility of being separated from Christ—we shall endure anything, we shall overcome all. "As it is written, For your sake we are killed all the daylong; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter" (Romans 8:36). How wondrous the trials the Lord's people have endured! how terrible the deaths to which they have been exposed!
This Is Set Forth Literally: "For your sake we are killed all the day long." Note the cause of their sufferings, "For your sake."This was true of Israel of old. Being separated from the nations, and forbidden to hold any religious fellowship with them, they were the objects of the world's hatred, scorn, and opposition. It is equally true of Christians. As chosen in Christ, as set apart for God, they are separated from the world, and are required to live in separation from the world. They can acknowledge no God but Jehovah in Jesus. They can adopt no rule of life or worship but God's own inspired word. They are for Christ, and for Christ alone. To them he is the true God and eternal life. They can hold no religious fellowship with any who do not live in fellowship with God.
They look upon themselves as God's children, who must not mix with ungodly worldlings;—as the members of Christ, who must not be united with the members of Satan;—as the temples of the Holy Spirit, which can have no agreement with idols.
To them the Holy Spirit says, "Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: "I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people." "Therefore come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you." "I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty." 2 Corinthians 6:14-18
Attending to this message, they not only separate from the world—but live in separation from it; thus condemning it and its religion. This provokes envy and jealousy, and stirs up enmity and malice. The proud world feels insulted—by the testimony of the Church, and has ever been determined to destroy it. For the sake of Christ's truth, which they firmly hold; for the sake of Christ's cause, which they endeavour to extend; and because they associate together in Christ's name, to do him honour; therefore the world hates them. As Cain hated Abel on account of his religion, and slew him because the token of God's approbation was enjoyed by him, just so is it with the world. As he who was born after the flesh persecuted him who was born after the Spirit, even so is it now.
Observe the extent of their sufferings. They were not only robbed of their property; they were not only deprived of their political rights and, religious liberty; they were not only banished from their homes and expelled from their fatherland—but they were KILLED. The most barbarous, cruel, and lingering deaths were selected for them: and as it was with the apostles, so with many of the disciples; as Paul said, "I think that God has set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death; for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men. We are fools for Christ's sake."
See, too, the continuance of their sufferings: "We are killed all the day long." A Christian could die but once—but Christians were daily slain. They were always exposed to death. They stood in jeopardy every hour. They lived in constant hazard of death; as Paul said of himself, "I die daily." They lived a life of constant exposure to death; and though they might have no fear of death, they were in daily fear of dying.
This Is Represented Figuratively: "We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter!" As sheep for sacrifice; for Jesus said, "Whoever kills you—will think that he does God service." And as such they gave themselves up; as Paul, when sentenced to a cruel and violent death, exclaimed, "I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only—but unto all them also who love his appearing."
But the reference seems rather to be—as sheep for the shambles: "You have given us as sheep appointed for meat." This expresses the little value the world sets on the lives of Christians. To kill a Christian, once, was no more thought of than to kill a dog;—they were not considered fit to live. The conduct of the enemies of the Jews fitly represents the conduct of the world towards the Church; as the Lord speaks, "Thus says the Lord my God; Feed the flock of the slaughter; whose possessors slay them, and hold themselves not guilty: and those who sell them say, Blessed be the Lord; for I am rich: and their own shepherds pity them not."
The treatment received shows the meekness of Christians when in the hands of their enemies; as Jesus said, "Go your ways; behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves." It sets forth, too, the meekness of believers under persecution. As the Master was, so in a measure they were. "He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent—so he opens not his mouth." As the lamb licks the hand of the butcher which holds the knife that is to be thrust into its throat—so did the primitive believers pray for and bless their bloody persecutors and murderers!
We should also be prepared to part with all for Christ, even life itself, in any way and at any time he pleases! Hence Jesus stipulates with us: "If any man comes to me, and hates not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yes, and his own life also—he cannot be my disciple. And whoever does not bear his cross, and come after me—cannot be my disciple." And again: "Then Jesus said unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever will save his life shall lose it, and whoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it."
We must love Christ more than all. We must prefer Christ to all. We must be prepared to do anything for Christ; to part with anything for Christ; and to suffer anything for Christ. God's people have always been a poor, oppressed, and persecuted people. They have always, more or less, been "accounted as sheep for the slaughter;" therefore it is not strange if we are called to suffer, nor should we think it so; as Peter exhorts, "Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you!" 1 Peter 4:12-14
These trials, troubles, and persecutions, are permitted to fall on us, to prove the nature of our religion—that it is divine; to show its reality—that it is a substance, a life, a mighty principle, not merely a form; to display its strength—manifesting that it is invincible, and cannot be conquered either by earth or hell. They are intended also to exercise our grace—our faith in the unseen, when, like Moses, we endure as seeing Him who is invisible; our love to the spiritual, when, with David, we exclaim, "Because your loving-kindness is better than life, my lips shall praise you." Also, they manifest our hope in the future, when, with Jude, we are found "looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life."
Severe as our trials may be, terrible as our persecutions sometimes are, they are only a rough road to a certain glorious end; for "we must needs die." "It is appointed unto all men once to die;" and, at the worst, we only die a little sooner, and arrive at home by a short-cut. We are travelling across a desert, passing through a terrible wilderness, to take possession of a better country. As it was said of the patriarchs, so it may be said of those who suffer persecution and death for Christ's sake: "Now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he has prepared for them a city."
Let the believer die when he may, how he may—death to him is great gain! He leaves a worn-out and uncomfortable tent—to take possession of a glorious building of God. He realizes, in and after his fiercest conflicts and trials, the words of Jesus: "Truly I say unto you, There is no man that has left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's—but he shall receive an hundredfold more in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life."
What folly, then, to prefer ease—to the honour of Jesus; or life—to the glory of God! If we will not give—he can take. Which, then, is wisest, which is best;—to give to Jesus out of love; or leave him to take, to chastise our cowardice and fear?
O may the words of Jesus ring in our ears whenever we are tempted to flinch, or to withhold anything from him: "I say unto you, my friends, Be not afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will forewarn you whom you shall fear: Fear him, who after he has killed—has power to cast into hell; yes, I say unto you, Fear him!"
Gracious Lord, give us so much godly fear that we may ever stand in awe of you; and never let us so fear man as to dishonour you! O for that confidence in God, that zeal for the honour of Jesus, that concern for the good of God's people, that shall raise us above the love of life, the fear of death, and the hatred and opposition of the world!
The world, when not restrained by divine providence, or influenced by education, thinks no more of killing a Christian than a butcher does of killing a sheep! It has no remorse. Yes, it has more pity for a murderer, than for a Christian. It was so in the experience of the Master. When the Jews had placed themselves in a wrong position before Pilate, by delivering up the Saviour out of mere envy, Pilate declared him to be guiltless, and then turned to the people and priests, and in substance said, 'You are in the wrong, for I can find no fault in this man, nor can Herod: but it is customary for me to release to you one prisoner at this feast: ask for Jesus, and I will release him.' But how did they act? They asked for Barabbas! Now Barabbas was both a thief and a murderer—yet they preferred him! What had Jesus done? what had his harmless disciples done? yet they treated them with more contempt and with more cruelty—than they did robbers and murderers! And this was done, not merely by the excited rabble—but by the most learned, the most religious, and the best educated among them!
Are we exempt from such treatment?—we must ascribe it to the goodness of God. Human nature is the same; and had not our fathers suffered and bled to procure liberty for us, and had not the providence of God co-operated with them, we would still have been "killed all the day long," and been "accounted as sheep for the slaughter." If ever such trials come on us as were endured by our forefathers, we must look to the end, as they did, and carry out the admonition of James. He brings the charge against the wealthy, "You have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton; you have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter. You have condemned and killed the just; and he does not resist you." Then he turns to the persecuted, and says, "Be patient, therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the gardener waits for the precious fruit of the earth, and has long patience for it, until he receive the early and the latter rain. Be also patient; establish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draws near."
Suffer as the prophets suffered. We consider them happy which endure; and, as in the case of Job, we see the design of the Lord is full of pity and of tender mercy. Lord, give us grace that we may so walk through the present evil world, and so endure the toils, trials, and troubles that come upon us for your sake, and on account of our religion, that we may joyfully look forward unto the end, and patiently wait for your coming to set all things right. O that we may so live, so labour, so suffer, and so die, as to bring great glory to our Saviour's precious name! Amen.
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