Matthew 24:9
“Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The text doesn't just say believers will be hated; it emphasizes they'll be hated "for my name's sake." This means their suffering isn't random or due to their own faults, but a direct consequence of their allegiance to Jesus, making their persecution a powerful testament to His identity.
Jesus is answering his disciples' questions about the end times and the signs of his coming. After warning them about deception and cosmic disturbances, he shifts to the specific trials his followers will face, including persecution and hatred from the world. This verse is part of a larger discourse predicting widespread tribulation, betrayal, and apostasy that will precede the final judgment.
Jesus doesn't sugarcoat the future for his followers. He directly predicts intense suffering, even death. But why?
Jesus is clear: suffering and hatred are not random occurrences for his followers, but a direct consequence of belonging to Him.
A Divinely Foretold Path
Jesus says, "they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death." This isn't a passive possibility; it's a foregone conclusion for those who follow Him. The commentaries note that this suffering wasn't just a general hardship, but often a direct result of broader societal calamities, where Christians became scapegoats.
The Cost of His Name
The core reason for this hatred is unmistakable: "for my name's sake." The ancient world, and indeed our world today, often reacts with hostility to anything that challenges its prevailing norms or idols. To be identified with Christ meant being identified with a message that turned the world upside down, making believers targets. It was, as one commentator put it, a "war against the very name."
The verse mentions being hated by 'all nations.' What does this sweeping statement really mean for believers, then and now?
Jesus' prediction of being "hated by all nations" speaks to a universal opposition that transcends specific cultures or eras.
Beyond Local Prejudice
While the immediate context might point to the hatred shown by both Jews and Gentiles towards early Christians, the phrase "all nations" suggests a broader, systemic rejection. It wasn't just isolated incidents, but a pervasive animosity that would follow the name of Christ wherever it was proclaimed.
A Testimony to the World
This intense hatred wasn't intended to crush believers, but to serve as a "testimony." As the commentaries highlight, facing this opposition, especially when believers stood firm, powerfully attested to the truth and divine power of the gospel. It showed that the commitment to Christ was so profound that it defied worldly hatred and persecution, ultimately silencing or at least exposing the injustice of the adversaries.
Understand the original words
thlipsis · Greek Noun
Refers to severe suffering, affliction, or pressure, often associated with the persecution of the faithful or the final judgments leading up to the end of the age.
onoma · Greek Noun
The authority, character, and person of Jesus Christ; being identified with Him as His follower, which often invokes the enmity of a fallen world.
Jesus' words here describe a future filled with intense suffering and rejection for his followers. The historical record shows that from the very early days of the church, Christians were indeed delivered up to afflictions, scourged, imprisoned, and even killed, often becoming scapegoats for societal problems and facing a hatred directed at the very name of Christ.
c. AD 30-33
Early Persecution of Christians
Following Jesus' ascension, the early Christian church faced immediate opposition from Jewish religious authorities. Apostles like Peter and John were arrested and brought before the Sanhedrin, fulfilling predictions of facing religious councils and synagogues.
c. AD 40-50
Expulsion of Jews from Rome
Emperor Claudius expelled Jews from Rome due to disturbances related to "Chrestus." This event likely impacted early Christians, who were often associated with Jewish communities and faced discrimination.
c. AD 60-62
Paul's Imprisonment and Trial
The Apostle Paul, facing accusations and trials before various Roman authorities like Felix and Festus, exemplifies being brought before rulers and kings for Christ's sake. His situation highlights the political and legal challenges faced by Christians.
AD 64— this verse
Nero's Persecution of Christians
This passage shows the immediate fulfillment of Jesus' words as Stephen, facing death, prays for his persecutors, demonstrating the hatred and martyrdom predicted.
Romans 8:35-37Paul powerfully echoes this theme, assuring believers that no tribulation, hatred, or persecution can separate them from the love of God in Christ, providing deep comfort amidst the predicted suffering.
1 Peter 4:12-13Peter directly addresses believers experiencing fiery trials, reminding them not to be surprised by the hatred they face, but to rejoice as they share in Christ's sufferings.
John 15:18-21Jesus explicitly warns his disciples that the world will hate them because it hated Him first, directly paralleling the reason for the persecution mentioned in Matthew 24:9.
2 Timothy 3:12Paul reiterates this truth, stating plainly that all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, confirming that such opposition is a mark of true discipleship.
bensonMatthew 24:9: "Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake."
Matthew 24:9 . Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, &c. — From the calamities of the nation in general, he passes to those of the Christians in particular: and indeed the former were in a great measure the occasion of the latter; famines, pestilences, earthquakes, and the like calamities, being reckoned judgments for the sins of the Christians,…
calvinMatthew 24:9-14: "Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake."
- Then will they deliver you up to be afflicted, and will kill you; and you will be hated by all nations on account of my name. 10. And then will many be offended, and will deliver up one another, and will hate one another. 11. And many false prophets will arise, and will deceive many. 12. And because iniquity will abound, the love of many will be cool…
The text doesn't just say believers will be hated; it emphasizes they'll be hated "for my name's sake." This means their suffering isn't random or due to their own faults, but a direct consequence of their allegiance to Jesus, making their persecution a powerful testament to His identity.
Jesus is answering his disciples' questions about the end times and the signs of his coming. After warning them about deception and cosmic disturbances, he shifts to the specific trials his followers will face, including persecution and hatred from the world. This verse is part of a larger discourse predicting widespread tribulation, betrayal, and apostasy that will precede the final judgment.
Jesus is answering his disciples' questions about the end times and the signs of his coming. After warning them about deception and cosmic disturbances, he shifts to the specific trials his followers will face, including persecution and hatred from the world. This verse is part of a larger discourse predicting widespread tribulation, betrayal, and apostasy that will precede the final judgment.
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Following the Great Fire of Rome, Emperor Nero scapegoated Christians, initiating a brutal period of persecution. This event, remembered as a 'war against the name,' saw widespread suffering and martyrdom, including the deaths of Peter and Paul.
c. AD 90-100
Persecution under Domitian
The reign of Emperor Domitian saw further persecution of Christians, who were viewed with suspicion and often punished for refusing to worship the emperor. This continued the pattern of being hated and targeted by imperial authorities.
c. AD 112
Pliny the Younger's Inquiry
Governor Pliny the Younger's letter to Emperor Trajan inquiring about how to handle Christians reveals the widespread nature of the movement and the Roman state's struggle to categorize and manage them, often resulting in punishment for simply bearing the Christian name.
"“Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake." — The text doesn't just say believers will be hated; it emphasizes they'll be hated "for my name's sake." This means their suffering isn't random or due to their own faults, but a direct consequence of…
