Jesus recalls something He had said earlier (13:16) and quotes it exactly, for a change. They certainly did persecute Jesus (5:16) and they will persecute everyone who is like Him (Matt 10:17-22, Mark 13:9-13, Luke 12:2-9, 51-53). Why, do you think, is this warning recorded in all 4 gospels? This prophecy that Jesus gave did indeed come about (1 Cor 4:12; 2 Cor 4:9; Gal 4:29; 2 Tim 3:12).

John 13:16  I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.

John 5:16  So, because Jesus was doing these things on the Sabbath, the Jews persecuted him.

Matthew 10:17-22  “Be on your guard against men; they will hand you over to the local councils and flog you in their synagogues.  On my account you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles.  But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say,  for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.  “Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death.  All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.

Mark 13:9-13  “You must be on your guard. You will be handed over to the local councils and flogged in the synagogues. On account of me you will stand before governors and kings as witnesses to them.  And the gospel must first be preached to all nations.  Whenever you are arrested and brought to trial, do not worry beforehand about what to say. Just say whatever is given you at the time, for it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit.  “Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child. Children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death.  All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.

Luke 12:2-9  There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known.  What you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered in the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the roofs.  “I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more.  But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after the killing of the body, has power to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him.  Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God.  Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.  “I tell you, whoever acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man will also acknowledge him before the angels of God.  But he who disowns me before men will be disowned before the angels of God.

Luke 12:51-53  Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division.  From now on there will be five in one family divided against each other, three against two and two against three.  They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”

1 Corinthians 4:12  We work hard with our own hands. When we are cursed, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it;

2 Corinthians 4:9  persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.

Galatians 4:29  At that time the son born in the ordinary way persecuted the son born by the power of the Spirit. It is the same now.

2 Timothy 3:12  In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,

Lloyd observes “How good it would be for us sometimes, when we are worrying about our feelings and about our ‘prayer-life,’ if an angel were to appear to us and say, ‘Don’t waste time worrying about these things. What you need to do is to get on with the business of being persecuted’! Not that we are to go out of our way to invite persecution; but we should examine our lives more seriously to see if they are free from compromise with the world.”

“If they obeyed my teaching . . .” = Basically Jesus is speaking here of rejection, but the positive is also relevant. Some had indeed kept the teaching of Jesus and some would keep the teaching of the disciples.