THOSE WHO ARE PERSECUTED BECAUSE OF JESUS

Passage: Matthew 5:10-12

Key verse: 10

NIV

10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,(A)
    for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.(B)

11 “Blessed are you when people insult you,(C) persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.(D) 12 Rejoice and be glad,(E) because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.(F)

Read full chapter
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

10 (A)“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for (B)theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

11 (C)“Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely (D)on my account. 12 (E)Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for (F)so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Read full chapter
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

1. Blessed are the persecuted (10)

The kingdom of heaven is promised to two kinds of people: to those who know their spiritual poverty and to those who are persecuted because of righteousness. It is not easy to stand on Jesus' side in a world that hates truth and righteousness. It is not easy to be faithful to Jesus to the end. But the reward for doing so is very great--it is the kingdom of heaven. One who has the kingdom has everything.

2. Rejoice and be glad (11-12)

No one enjoys suffering. But Jesus says that we should rejoice and be glad when we are persecuted for his sake. Why? Because our reward in heaven will be great (12). We stand in God's redemptive history with great servants of God like Moses, Elijah and Isaiah. Meaninglessness is a sickness of our times. When we find our small place in God's history and faithfully stand there, we find the meaning of our lives.

Prayer: Lord, help me to be faithful to you to the end and receive your promised crown of life.

One Word: Rejoice to suffer with Jesus