“Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
Click here to read the introduction to this series on the Beatitudes.
I often refer to God as “the God of Detail.” From flowers and sunsets to neighbors and nurses, I am often struck by his hand in the smallest of details. Some will say you can find love in the details; I would agree. Just look around, you see his details (love) everywhere!
The scripture that we have been studying over the last few weeks is no different. In chapter 5 of Matthew, Jesus begins by teaching his disciples using the Beatitudes. He has placed each one in order and, in his perfection, the first 7 lead up to the 8th: Blessed are the persecuted because of righteousness.
If we are poor in spirit, mourn, humble, hunger and thirst for righteousness, merciful, pure-hearted, and workers of peace, there is a high probability we will experience persecution. If we model our life after Christ, using the Beatitudes as our litmus test, we will suffer. As I have meditated over each Beatitude, I often asked myself, what does that look like through my words and actions? Each one, in its own way, can be difficult in striving to master, but ideally, we must display them all.
The final Beatitude is the only one that is explained further as we read Verses 11 and 12:
“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. - Matthew 5:11-12
If we purposefully live a righteous life, we will be insulted, persecuted, and slandered. But take heart and rejoice, because we will find favor in the eyes of the Lord and our reward will be eternal. Again, looking to our Savior we see nothing short of perfection, as his life on earth exhibited all the characteristics of the Beatitudes, even as he was led to the cross.
-Pastor Darcy Webster
Associate Pastor of Operations and Pastoral Care