In the Name of Jesus

Pastor Gary Oser

We come this month to the last of the Beatitudes, statements in Matthew 5:1-12 that begin with the word “blessed” and end with a promise. Let me remind you one more time that you don’t gain salvation by living out the Beatitudes. Rather, living out the Beatitudes is evidence you have experienced salvation through Christ alone.

The final beatitude found in Matthew 5:10-12 says, “Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

Of all the Beatitudes, this one would be contrary to what we would like or think. It is not just being persecuted that is blessed, rather, it is being persecuted for the right reasons.

This beatitude does not say, “Blessed are those who have been persecuted for saying and doing the wrong things.” It doesn’t say, “Blessed are those who have been persecuted for being tactless and arrogant to others.” Rather it says, “Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness (for living right)…Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you falsely and say all kinds of evil against you because of Me (for Jesus’ sake).”

It is when we have been persecuted for being a Christian, for taking a stand for truth and Christ that we are blessed.

The words of verse 12 stretch us even more; they tell us we should rejoice and be glad. Is that possible? It is not nature, but I believe it is possible when we remember the words in the middle of the verse, “…for your reward is great in heaven.”

Second Corinthians 4:17 adds, “For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory for beyond all comparison.” In other words, any suffering which we might have to go through for the cause of Christ in this life can’t hold a match to the glory we are one day going to experience in the presence of our Lord in heaven.

Each beatitude concludes with a promise as we have seen before. Note the promise for those who are persecuted for righteousness sake (because of Jesus). The last words of verse 10 say, “…for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

As believers, we are citizens of Christ’s kingdom now. However, we are also a part of His eternal kingdom. No matter what the world may take away from us through various kinds of persecution, it can’t take away life in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ for all eternity!

Whether we live in a relatively tolerant and protected society (as currently in America) or in a Godless, totalitarian regime, we should expect some persecution (2 Timothy 3:12).

I suspect before the Lord returns, we will see more persecution. When undergoing persecution, remember this great beatitude, “Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”