The Beatitudes
Matthew 5:10 “Blessed [are] they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
Blessed are they... As Jesus develops His message, He clearly teaches that such a life causes His people to be in direct contrast to the world in which they live. Therefore, He reminds us, “Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness” sake.” The plural use of “ye” (in verse 11), indicates that He foresaw this persecution as touching all His followers.
Notice 2Tim. 3:12, “Yea, and all that will love godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.”
To be persecuted for something we have done wrong is one thing, but to be persecuted because we are, to the best of our ability, serving God is something else. Paul said, to count it all joy when we are persecuted for Jesus. The disciples and Paul thought it a great honor to be persecuted for preaching about Jesus.
Most ministers today are not under persecution. Many are preaching what their congregation wants to hear. They are careful not to stir up the regular members by preaching against adultery, homosexuality, stealing, lying, coveting, and all the other sins of our day.
If you start preaching hard against pornography, rock music, drugs, alcohol, X-rated and PG-rated television and movies, and a total lapse of fellowship with God, you will see persecution. People do not want to be preached to about their sins. It is okay to preach about sins they are not committing. Just don’t preach on “their” sins.
Many of the early Christians were martyred for the name of Jesus Christ. Are we that committed today, that we would proclaim Jesus even to the death?
With God’s help, I will go on preaching what I hear in my spirit for the church. We must repent and renew our lives with the Lord Jesus Christ. Heaven is our home. We are just here temporarily.
The Scripture says when we see great troubles coming upon the earth to look up and rejoice (Luke 21:28), “And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draws near.
They desire and possess God’s righteousness even though it brings them persecution (Mat. 5:10).
These qualities contrast sharply with Pharisaic “righteousness.” The Pharisees were not “poor in spirit”; did not “mourn” in recognition of their needs; were proud and harsh, not humble and gentle; they felt they had attained righteousness and therefore did not have a continual appetite or desire for it; they were more concerned with “legalities” of God’s and their own laws than with showing mercy; were pure ceremonially but not inwardly; created a rift, not peace in Judaism; and certainly, did not possess true righteousness.
Jesus’ followers who possess these qualities become heirs of the kingdom (Mat. 5:3, 5:10) on earth (Mat. 5:5), receive spiritual comfort (Mat. 5:4) and satisfaction (Mat. 5:6), receive mercy from God and others (Mat. 5:7), will see God (Mat. 5:8), that is, Jesus Christ, who is God “in a body” (1Tim. 3:16; cf. John 1:18; 14:7-9). His followers were known as God’s sons (Mat. 5:9; cf. Gal. 3:26) for they partook of His righteousness (Mat. 5:10).
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