My Name’s Sake

by Steve Pond

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My Name's Sake

Here are six verses that have a common theme, “My Name sake”. These verses seem to imply that God’s people will be hated and persecuted because they believe in Jesus. But there is a problem with this idea, many of them also believe in Jesus. They would not persecute God’s people if they also believe in Jesus. So obviously, this is not the reason they persecute and hate God’s people.

Matthew 10:22

And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.

Matthew 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.

Mark 13:13

And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

Luke 21:12

But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name's sake.

Luke 21:17

And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake.

John 15:21

But all these things will they do unto you for my name's sake, because they know not him that sent me.

To get to the bottom of this lets take a further look at those who do the persecuting. There are two groups of people who persecute God’s people;

1. The first group truly hates Jesus Christ and have nothing to do with Him.

2. Those whose say they love and follow Jesus but do not. This is the group we will be looking at. Ellen White says that the Protestant churches will join the Papacy in persecuting God’s people.

So why would the professing Christian church hate and persecute God’s people. There are several reasons but the main reason is that God’s people by their very existence reproach the Sunday churches and as Ellen White stated, “They cannot refute the Sabbath”.

You see, God’s people keep His Commandments and this is why they are persecuted by the apostate Christian churches, it is NOT because they believe in Jesus, for they also believe in Jesus, they just do not believe in Him as the Bible enjoins.

Now back to the six verses above. “For My name’s sake” is NOT referring to His name as Jesus, or Yahshua or any of His other names. He is referring to the act of keeping His commandments for the benefits derived by obeying them. (ref, Ezekiel 14:6–23)

Take a look at these verses;

Psalm 143:11

Quicken me, O LORD, for thy name's sake: for thy righteousness' sake bring my soul out of trouble.

Isaiah 42:21

The LORD is well pleased for his righteousness' sake; he will magnify the law, and make it honourable.

Matthew 5:10

Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

1 Peter 3:14

But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;

Finding some one who knows the definition of righteousness is very rare these days, so here it is;

Noah Webster’s 1828 edition

RIGHTEOUSNESS, n.

1. Purity of heart and rectitude of life; conformity of heart and life to the divine law.

The fact is; We as God’s people will be hated and persecuted because we keep His Commandments.

“His Name” folks is the Ten Commandment Law.

Still in doubt?

Lets take a look at Psalms 91. In psalms 91 we find in excess of twenty promises from God Almighty, and all are predicated on a single requirement found in verse 14.

PSALM 91

1 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

2 I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.

3 Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.

4 He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler

5 Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;

6 Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.

7 A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand but it shall not come nigh thee.

8 Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.

9 Because thou hast made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation

10 There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.

11 For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.

12 They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.

13 Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.

14 Because he hath set his love upon me therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.

15 He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.

16 With long life will I satisfy him and shew him my salvation.

Now really folks, are God’s promises granted by knowing how to pronounce His name or are they granted by keeping his law?

By the way, do you see any simularities between Psalms 91:14 and John 14:15?

God Bless,

Steve Pond