Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Those who are opposed and made to suffer because they do what is right are pronounced truly happy, and the kingdom of heaven is theirs. That kingdom is not earthly glory, riches, or freedom from trial, but a spiritual kingdom of grace, righteousness, peace, and joy where happiness comes from God in the heart rather than from possessions, fame, or human praise. Its promise carries present peace and cheer with Christ's presence, and a future great reward, eternal life, and the crown of life that neither imprisonment nor death can take away. Such persecution takes many forms, including insult, false accusation, rejection, loss of comfort and livelihood, imprisonment, torture, and death, and it comes because light exposes sin and the world loves sin and hates righteousness. Those who endure it are to rejoice exceedingly rather than be surprised or cast down, remaining faithful to duty and truth without sacrificing principle, giving no just cause for blame, and letting trial refine character and turn the heart toward heaven.
Sermon Setting and Context
Jesus saw the multitudes, went up into a mountain, and when He was set His disciples came to Him and He opened His mouth and taught them this blessing. It was spoken on a level place on the mountainside within hearing of the assembled multitude, with the disciples close about Him in the inner circle. It was addressed especially to the disciples yet designed to reach hearts and consciences in the mixed crowd of Jews and Gentiles, teaching the need of heart reformation and longing to fill the world with a peace and joy like that of heaven.
It was given after His temptation and victory in the wilderness in Matthew 4, and is to be studied together with those conflicts and victories as revealing the character of His teaching. Its teaching opposed the doctrines and practices of the self-righteous scribes and Pharisees. It presented the same divine principles taught in the Old Testament, contrasted with human traditions that had obscured God's law.
Together with the other Beatitudes it states the principles governing His kingdom of divine grace. It is not a promise of earthly glory, of freedom from bondage, of restored national glory, or of temporal and earthly dominion, and by so stating it disappointed hopes for a great display of power and for worldly greatness. It was spoken to lay ambition for an earthly kingdom low in the dust, correcting high imaginings and presenting a kingdom where human ambitions and earthly passions cannot find entrance. Though not yet fully accomplished in its subjects, the work is begun in them that will make them fit to share the inheritance of the saints in light.
It sets before men the character of that kingdom, where names and positions and titles are nothing and pure virtue and a holy character are everything in the sight of heaven. Together with the other Beatitudes it is an exposition of the law, presenting the far-reaching, spiritual claims of the law of God. The state of the heart regulates life and character, and the spirit of the law must be in the heart for its claims to be kept, calling for perfect obedience. It corrects high imaginings by blessing traits of character entirely opposite to those being cherished, and persecution for righteousness belongs to the character of those of that kingdom.
It is part of a soul-saving message given to all who will receive it. Those humble in spirit who receive this truth from Christ are converted, and God's rebuke for past wrongs is removed. It widens vision beyond territorial lines and human distinctions to all sinful, suffering people. Its lessons are to be shown in daily life, and living them can make a deeper and more lasting impression than preaching alone.
Its words are all essential, come from God, and carry heaven's authority, giving saving truth and hope. Its teaching is divinely authoritative and truthful, showing the way to heaven so simply that even a child can study it without being misled. The beatitudes belong to those who receive the Word into good and honest hearts. Christ pronounces a distinct blessing on those who day by day accept and follow His teaching.
Blessing Words and Promise
Those who are persecuted because they do what is right, because they seek and pursue righteousness, are blessed and the kingdom of heaven belongs to them. This persecuted character stands among the attributes and godly qualities that God delights to see in people, in contrast to wealth and all human measures of worth.
Jesus does not offer His followers hope of attaining earthly glory and riches, nor a life free from trial. He offers instead the privilege of walking with the Master in paths of self-denial and reproach, because the world does not know them. Happiness does not depend on worldly possessions, fame, honor, or human praise, but on God's grace in the heart and the righteous life it produces. That blessedness is present, bringing cheerfulness, peace, and joy into daily work below.
The kingdom promised is spiritual, not temporal and earthly dominion, but Christ's kingdom of love, grace, and righteousness, distinguished by the likeness of the Son of man. Those persecuted for righteousness' sake are its subjects together with the poor in spirit and the meek, and also with the pure in heart and the peacemakers. Though the kingdom is not yet fully accomplished in them, the work is begun in them that will make them fit to share the inheritance of the saints in light. In that gospel from the mount Christ set before them His standard of purity, righteousness, and love, and the prospect of immortal life.
That kingdom is the Father's kingdom made up of righteousness, peace, and joy. It is a homelike kingdom where the Father holds the scepter and love, peace, rest, and joy pervade without overwhelming awfulness. Believers who receive Christ's righteousness and persevere as overcomers become members of the royal family and heirs of the kingdom, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ by His death, with mansions prepared for them. There the faithful righteous shall shine forth as the sun and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
The promise includes a great reward in heaven, eternal rewards, and the crown of life. Even if Christ's followers are imprisoned or killed for faith, they need not mourn, for Christ is with them wherever they are. Death cannot take away their hope of life without end and an unfading crown of glory. Those who receive Him as Saviour, Redeemer, and Prince of life never hunger and never thirst, because no greater joy exists than that found in Christ.
Christ lived every phase of the Beatitudes before He preached them, so this blessing describes His own deeds. He spoke to bless men and make them happy, laying aside the legislator's imperative and command in order to rescue from earthliness all that would accord with His purity and advance His work. Blessing after blessing flowed from His lips like the gushing forth of a long-sealed current of rich life, every sentence a rich jewel from the treasure-house of truth. The divine nature shone through His humanity as He pronounced benediction on the objects of His mercy and love, blessing with fullness from the inexhaustible store of the richest treasures. The treasures of eternity were at His command, committed to Him by the Father who holds back nothing in heaven as too costly beside the gift of the only begotten Son. Through His death on the cross as a sacrifice for the world He brought the greatest blessing God could bestow, the gift of the Holy Spirit, giving power to become the sons of God to as many as receive Him.
By this teaching Christ longed to fill the world with a peace and joy that would be a similitude of that found in the heavenly world. Turning from the ambitious favorites of the world to those they disowned, He pronounces blessed all who receive His light and life. To the persecuted and despised He opens His arms of refuge, welcoming them and offering them rest. He invites them to come, take His yoke of submission, learn His meekness and lowliness of heart, and find rest for the soul. He presents every virtue and every feature of Christian excellence, adding one endowment after another to the possessor of His graces until He looks on him with delight.
Persecution Forms and Causes
Persecution for righteousness' sake takes in opposition, abuse, rejection, insults, reviling, false accusation and evil spoken falsely against believers in their work of leading souls to salvation. It extends to imprisonment, torture, fire, sword and death, and to loss of earthly comforts, want, livelihood and housing. Imprisoned Sabbath-keepers illustrate suffering for faith, as does the Lord family's loss of livelihood and housing after refusing Sabbath work. Patient endurance under abuse while sharing Scripture and the Sabbath, praying for and forgiving the persecutor and dying in triumph of faith, is another illustration of the same blessing.
History shows the same pattern when ecclesiastical and civil authorities tried to crush teachers of truth by imprisonment, torture, fire and sword, and thousands sealed their faith with blood. Many who received the light of truth suffered torture and death for its sake. Luther's cheerful endurance of trials and anguish in defending truth exemplifies joyful faithfulness under persecution for Christ and the truth.
It comes because the world loves sin and hates righteousness, and Christ's light exposes sin and reveals the need for reform. Those who yield obedience to heaven's law and seek harmony with God meet opposition because the offense of the cross has not ceased, with principalities and powers and wicked spirits in high places arrayed against them. Satan makes the labor of those doing Christ's works difficult by stirring others to speak against God's servants. A generation that puts convenience before truth may call followers enthusiasts or fanatics, because divine truth condemns sin and calls to righteousness, and a true follower must be ready to sacrifice anything rather than lose God's favor.
The hardest trials to bear are those coming from brethren and familiar friends, yet borne with patience they reflect back upon those who caused them. Persecution means light not appearing as light to others, with works and spirit misrepresented, motives misconstrued, mission and character misinterpreted, humility misjudged, and independence, firmness and boldness called rashness, along with criticism. Those so treated are to move on crying courage in the Lord with eyes fixed on Christ.
This earth is not heaven, so tribulation, reviling and persecution for living for righteousness and for Christ are to be expected, because Christ declared it beforehand. He told it beforehand so believers will not be surprised and amazed nor be cast down and oppressed when trials come. Its principle applies to every age and every class of people, setting a standard of righteous character to be reached through faith in Christ by living His life with lifelong untiring effort. It applies to the trials believers meet in the last days, for which they are to stand braced for trial trusting Christ's promised presence.
Reasons to Rejoice Enduring
Suffering for His cause is reason for joy, good cheer, and exceeding gladness, and for finding peace in Him as the living risen Redeemer. Persecution for Christ does not separate from His love, for He is refuge, comfort, light, and rest to the persecuted. He remains faithful to tried and faithful children and gives courage, because trials and loss of earthly comfort are temporary and brief. Present distress will end in peace, with God's light and glory and promised peace to follow.
Such trials can loosen attachment to the world and turn the heart and desires toward heaven. They strengthen faith and trust in God, refine character, and prepare believers for their work and for service with God. So received, they add to heavenly reward and contribute to the joy of final triumph. They bring believers nearer to rest and reward, so that loss of comforts cannot make them renounce Christ.
Those who endure are to rejoice because their reward in heaven is great, as explained by the next beatitude about being insulted, persecuted, reviled, and falsely accused for Christ's sake. Their experience places them in the company of the prophets and righteous people before them who also suffered for obedience.
Persecution does not mean faith has failed. Believers can remain faithful to Christ, encourage one another with faith, patience, and hope, and refuse to renounce belief even when deprived of every earthly comfort. They are consoled by the reward of God's afflicted children, which neither persecution nor cruelty can take away or separate from God's care.
The reward belongs also to faithful wives who endure want and persecution alongside husbands sacrificing for soul-saving. Partaking of Christ's humiliation and suffering for truth's sake adopts believers as sons and daughters of God who inherit the crown of life.
Faithful Response Under Trial
Those under trial for doing right are to stay confident and faithful instead of giving way to discouragement, doing their duty calmly and faithfully to win God's approval rather than fearing people or courting their favor. They put God's commandments first and seek and preserve peace wherever possible, yet never surrender principle or truth even when obedience brings distress, reproach, suffering, or death. Loyalty to truth is not to be traded for safety, financial advantage, favor, worldly honor, or position, for even death for truth is gain, and the true follower is ready to sacrifice anything rather than lose God's favor, daring to separate from the world in holy and complete obedience in dependence on Jesus.
Tests of faith and patience are to be accepted rather than avoided, with the eye fixed on Christ and the life not governed by human fear or favor. No human policy, promised reward, or offered honor can turn the righteous from Christ, for God's promises and the Holy Spirit strengthen them and open the preciousness of Scripture to their understanding so they stand firm in the faith and hope of the gospel. There is no neutrality in the conflict between good and evil, and all under His banner engage with Him in it as faithful soldiers.
Believers are to give no legitimate cause for condemnation but to guard words and actions lest they join in persecuting God's servants, whose labor is made hard when others are stirred to speak against them. The blessed are not those who suffer because a harsh spirit causes strife, nor those hated for uncultivated manners, needless quarrels, noisy irritating conduct, or deliberately making the Sabbath irritating to others. Such ways make a person a stumbling block and bring reproach on the truth and misapply this promise, so those who cause this kind of offense must repent.
Being spoken against or criticized does not by itself prove persecution for righteousness, as was seen at first with Bennet and Bellings, with leaders at first presumed persecuted because others were prejudiced against them, and with claims to sinless holiness joined to neglect of family duties. Conduct must remain in the path of Bible truth, doing right because it is right, in a religion born of love that is humble, kind, courteous, just, pure, simple, and uplifting. Slander tests reputation, but a righteous character preserves its purity under it until God vindicates the innocent.
The blessing holds deep meaning as a golden treasure of truth and instruction, yet its value is dimly appreciated and seldom brought into practical experience. Messengers need to see its real worth and, when proved and tried, to work it out and incorporate it into life in order to gain experimental knowledge of highest value. Christ teaches its meaning daily by giving followers a lived experience of it as they cooperate with Him and do the work God has given them, wearing His yoke and not one of human manufacture and learning His meekness and lowliness. In this way is formed the faultless character without spot in the sight of a pure and holy God that is required for salvation and will stand when judgment sits and the books are opened and all receive sentence according to deeds, and angels love such ones and minister to them in every phase of life.
Its standard of righteous character can be reached by living through faith in Christ and living His life, but reaching it calls for lifelong untiring effort. Disciples today must spend time learning the fifth chapter of Matthew so that unity and love and Christian fellowship prevail among them. Failure brings condemnation, for thinking and speaking evil, gathering evil, accusing, worrying, finding fault, and using speech to destroy confidence is Satan's work and stands directly contrary to God's help in forming Christlike character. Those who receive Christ as a personal Saviour, doing His work and following His way, become members of the royal family and heirs of the kingdom, washing their robes of character white in the blood of the Lamb, and as laborers together with God they represent the Saviour in word and deed.
Scripture Connections and Application
The words that follow explain this persecution as being insulted, reviled, persecuted, and falsely accused for Christ's sake, and those who endure it are to rejoice and be exceeding glad because their reward in heaven is great, for so the prophets before them were persecuted. Suffering for doing what is right does not forfeit divine favor but secures it, and belongs with rejoicing when reviled and slandered for Christ's sake in the fellowship of the prophets. It belongs with being preserving salt that must not lose its savor and with being open light that must not be hidden, leading to the charge to live so that good works are seen and God is glorified. Followers must exhibit this grace of Christ's Spirit in character and put it to practical use in order to be lights of the world, a light imparted to sweep away traditions and man-made requirements and to enforce the real principles of God's law. Accepting that light is essential for restoration to spiritual life and for a sound, healthful, happy experience through exercising the best and noblest faculties of the soul, making life pleasant and useful to others by obedience to God's requirements and giving safe direction without going astray in following where Christ leads.
Matthew 5 is the pure gospel explaining God's holy law, which requires love for God and for one's neighbor, so that unjustly gaining wealth at another's expense falls short of its standard. Study of its words of blessing teaches precious lessons, and Scripture from this passage can be shared with people in trial, its promises shielding them from temptation and helping furnish reasons for faith. The Beatitudes are lessons first lived out before they were taught, describing His own deeds, and they are to be considered individually to learn what they mean in a person's life. They are a lesson for those who claim to be God's children, teaching who is blessed and calling them to place themselves among that number. This truth of persecution for righteousness belongs to the character and work to be practiced wherever Christians serve, a characteristic to be revealed in the work of followers as a mark of Christian service, and those who understand and live these teachings share Christ's labors and their rewards.
Doing right because it is right, without being discouraged, means walking in all humility of mind before God in a religion born of love that is simple, kind, courteous, just, pure and uplifting and seeks to please God by righteousness. That life is to be practiced in order to correct the misunderstanding of God as a despot, which is Satan's work, and to reveal Him as merciful and gracious as He revealed His attributes to Moses. The Jews misunderstood and disobeyed Him and their ruin was the result, and many who claim to believe the truth today are passing over the same ground and will have the same history unless they speedily repent. Persecution for the sake of right fell on teachers of truth when ecclesiastical and civil authorities tried to crush them by imprisonment, torture, fire, and sword, and thousands sealed their faith with blood, yet the answer is flight and continued witness rather than surrender. The persecuted go into another place and preach Christ in the church, in private houses, or in the open air wherever a hearing can be had, so that every place of hearing becomes holy, persecution does not stop the kingdom of heaven but extends it, letting light penetrate everywhere and making clearer the contrast between the work of God and the work of Satan.
Those who are opposed and made to suffer because they do what is right are pronounced truly happy, and the kingdom of heaven is theirs.
That kingdom is not earthly glory, riches, or freedom from trial, but a spiritual kingdom of grace, righteousness, peace, and joy where happiness comes from God in the heart rather than from possessions, fame, or human praise.
Its promise carries present peace and cheer with Christ's presence, and a future great reward, eternal life, and the crown of life that neither imprisonment nor death can take away.
Such persecution takes many forms, including insult, false accusation, rejection, loss of comfort and livelihood, imprisonment, torture, and death, and it comes because light exposes sin and the world loves sin and hates righteousness.
Those who endure it are to rejoice exceedingly rather than be surprised or cast down, remaining faithful to duty and truth without sacrificing principle, giving no just cause for blame, and letting trial refine character and turn the heart toward heaven.
Sermon Setting and Context
Jesus saw the multitudes, went up into a mountain, and when He was set His disciples came to Him and He opened His mouth and taught them this blessing. It was spoken on a level place on the mountainside within hearing of the assembled multitude, with the disciples close about Him in the inner circle. It was addressed especially to the disciples yet designed to reach hearts and consciences in the mixed crowd of Jews and Gentiles, teaching the need of heart reformation and longing to fill the world with a peace and joy like that of heaven.
It was given after His temptation and victory in the wilderness in Matthew 4, and is to be studied together with those conflicts and victories as revealing the character of His teaching. Its teaching opposed the doctrines and practices of the self-righteous scribes and Pharisees. It presented the same divine principles taught in the Old Testament, contrasted with human traditions that had obscured God's law.
Together with the other Beatitudes it states the principles governing His kingdom of divine grace. It is not a promise of earthly glory, of freedom from bondage, of restored national glory, or of temporal and earthly dominion, and by so stating it disappointed hopes for a great display of power and for worldly greatness. It was spoken to lay ambition for an earthly kingdom low in the dust, correcting high imaginings and presenting a kingdom where human ambitions and earthly passions cannot find entrance. Though not yet fully accomplished in its subjects, the work is begun in them that will make them fit to share the inheritance of the saints in light.
It sets before men the character of that kingdom, where names and positions and titles are nothing and pure virtue and a holy character are everything in the sight of heaven. Together with the other Beatitudes it is an exposition of the law, presenting the far-reaching, spiritual claims of the law of God. The state of the heart regulates life and character, and the spirit of the law must be in the heart for its claims to be kept, calling for perfect obedience. It corrects high imaginings by blessing traits of character entirely opposite to those being cherished, and persecution for righteousness belongs to the character of those of that kingdom.
It is part of a soul-saving message given to all who will receive it. Those humble in spirit who receive this truth from Christ are converted, and God's rebuke for past wrongs is removed. It widens vision beyond territorial lines and human distinctions to all sinful, suffering people. Its lessons are to be shown in daily life, and living them can make a deeper and more lasting impression than preaching alone.
Its words are all essential, come from God, and carry heaven's authority, giving saving truth and hope. Its teaching is divinely authoritative and truthful, showing the way to heaven so simply that even a child can study it without being misled. The beatitudes belong to those who receive the Word into good and honest hearts. Christ pronounces a distinct blessing on those who day by day accept and follow His teaching.
Blessing Words and Promise
Those who are persecuted because they do what is right, because they seek and pursue righteousness, are blessed and the kingdom of heaven belongs to them. This persecuted character stands among the attributes and godly qualities that God delights to see in people, in contrast to wealth and all human measures of worth.
Jesus does not offer His followers hope of attaining earthly glory and riches, nor a life free from trial. He offers instead the privilege of walking with the Master in paths of self-denial and reproach, because the world does not know them. Happiness does not depend on worldly possessions, fame, honor, or human praise, but on God's grace in the heart and the righteous life it produces. That blessedness is present, bringing cheerfulness, peace, and joy into daily work below.
The kingdom promised is spiritual, not temporal and earthly dominion, but Christ's kingdom of love, grace, and righteousness, distinguished by the likeness of the Son of man. Those persecuted for righteousness' sake are its subjects together with the poor in spirit and the meek, and also with the pure in heart and the peacemakers. Though the kingdom is not yet fully accomplished in them, the work is begun in them that will make them fit to share the inheritance of the saints in light. In that gospel from the mount Christ set before them His standard of purity, righteousness, and love, and the prospect of immortal life.
That kingdom is the Father's kingdom made up of righteousness, peace, and joy. It is a homelike kingdom where the Father holds the scepter and love, peace, rest, and joy pervade without overwhelming awfulness. Believers who receive Christ's righteousness and persevere as overcomers become members of the royal family and heirs of the kingdom, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ by His death, with mansions prepared for them. There the faithful righteous shall shine forth as the sun and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
The promise includes a great reward in heaven, eternal rewards, and the crown of life. Even if Christ's followers are imprisoned or killed for faith, they need not mourn, for Christ is with them wherever they are. Death cannot take away their hope of life without end and an unfading crown of glory. Those who receive Him as Saviour, Redeemer, and Prince of life never hunger and never thirst, because no greater joy exists than that found in Christ.
Christ lived every phase of the Beatitudes before He preached them, so this blessing describes His own deeds. He spoke to bless men and make them happy, laying aside the legislator's imperative and command in order to rescue from earthliness all that would accord with His purity and advance His work. Blessing after blessing flowed from His lips like the gushing forth of a long-sealed current of rich life, every sentence a rich jewel from the treasure-house of truth. The divine nature shone through His humanity as He pronounced benediction on the objects of His mercy and love, blessing with fullness from the inexhaustible store of the richest treasures. The treasures of eternity were at His command, committed to Him by the Father who holds back nothing in heaven as too costly beside the gift of the only begotten Son. Through His death on the cross as a sacrifice for the world He brought the greatest blessing God could bestow, the gift of the Holy Spirit, giving power to become the sons of God to as many as receive Him.
By this teaching Christ longed to fill the world with a peace and joy that would be a similitude of that found in the heavenly world. Turning from the ambitious favorites of the world to those they disowned, He pronounces blessed all who receive His light and life. To the persecuted and despised He opens His arms of refuge, welcoming them and offering them rest. He invites them to come, take His yoke of submission, learn His meekness and lowliness of heart, and find rest for the soul. He presents every virtue and every feature of Christian excellence, adding one endowment after another to the possessor of His graces until He looks on him with delight.
Persecution Forms and Causes
Persecution for righteousness' sake takes in opposition, abuse, rejection, insults, reviling, false accusation and evil spoken falsely against believers in their work of leading souls to salvation. It extends to imprisonment, torture, fire, sword and death, and to loss of earthly comforts, want, livelihood and housing. Imprisoned Sabbath-keepers illustrate suffering for faith, as does the Lord family's loss of livelihood and housing after refusing Sabbath work. Patient endurance under abuse while sharing Scripture and the Sabbath, praying for and forgiving the persecutor and dying in triumph of faith, is another illustration of the same blessing.
History shows the same pattern when ecclesiastical and civil authorities tried to crush teachers of truth by imprisonment, torture, fire and sword, and thousands sealed their faith with blood. Many who received the light of truth suffered torture and death for its sake. Luther's cheerful endurance of trials and anguish in defending truth exemplifies joyful faithfulness under persecution for Christ and the truth.
It comes because the world loves sin and hates righteousness, and Christ's light exposes sin and reveals the need for reform. Those who yield obedience to heaven's law and seek harmony with God meet opposition because the offense of the cross has not ceased, with principalities and powers and wicked spirits in high places arrayed against them. Satan makes the labor of those doing Christ's works difficult by stirring others to speak against God's servants. A generation that puts convenience before truth may call followers enthusiasts or fanatics, because divine truth condemns sin and calls to righteousness, and a true follower must be ready to sacrifice anything rather than lose God's favor.
The hardest trials to bear are those coming from brethren and familiar friends, yet borne with patience they reflect back upon those who caused them. Persecution means light not appearing as light to others, with works and spirit misrepresented, motives misconstrued, mission and character misinterpreted, humility misjudged, and independence, firmness and boldness called rashness, along with criticism. Those so treated are to move on crying courage in the Lord with eyes fixed on Christ.
This earth is not heaven, so tribulation, reviling and persecution for living for righteousness and for Christ are to be expected, because Christ declared it beforehand. He told it beforehand so believers will not be surprised and amazed nor be cast down and oppressed when trials come. Its principle applies to every age and every class of people, setting a standard of righteous character to be reached through faith in Christ by living His life with lifelong untiring effort. It applies to the trials believers meet in the last days, for which they are to stand braced for trial trusting Christ's promised presence.
Reasons to Rejoice Enduring
Suffering for His cause is reason for joy, good cheer, and exceeding gladness, and for finding peace in Him as the living risen Redeemer. Persecution for Christ does not separate from His love, for He is refuge, comfort, light, and rest to the persecuted. He remains faithful to tried and faithful children and gives courage, because trials and loss of earthly comfort are temporary and brief. Present distress will end in peace, with God's light and glory and promised peace to follow.
Such trials can loosen attachment to the world and turn the heart and desires toward heaven. They strengthen faith and trust in God, refine character, and prepare believers for their work and for service with God. So received, they add to heavenly reward and contribute to the joy of final triumph. They bring believers nearer to rest and reward, so that loss of comforts cannot make them renounce Christ.
Those who endure are to rejoice because their reward in heaven is great, as explained by the next beatitude about being insulted, persecuted, reviled, and falsely accused for Christ's sake. Their experience places them in the company of the prophets and righteous people before them who also suffered for obedience.
Persecution does not mean faith has failed. Believers can remain faithful to Christ, encourage one another with faith, patience, and hope, and refuse to renounce belief even when deprived of every earthly comfort. They are consoled by the reward of God's afflicted children, which neither persecution nor cruelty can take away or separate from God's care.
The reward belongs also to faithful wives who endure want and persecution alongside husbands sacrificing for soul-saving. Partaking of Christ's humiliation and suffering for truth's sake adopts believers as sons and daughters of God who inherit the crown of life.
Faithful Response Under Trial
Those under trial for doing right are to stay confident and faithful instead of giving way to discouragement, doing their duty calmly and faithfully to win God's approval rather than fearing people or courting their favor. They put God's commandments first and seek and preserve peace wherever possible, yet never surrender principle or truth even when obedience brings distress, reproach, suffering, or death. Loyalty to truth is not to be traded for safety, financial advantage, favor, worldly honor, or position, for even death for truth is gain, and the true follower is ready to sacrifice anything rather than lose God's favor, daring to separate from the world in holy and complete obedience in dependence on Jesus.
Tests of faith and patience are to be accepted rather than avoided, with the eye fixed on Christ and the life not governed by human fear or favor. No human policy, promised reward, or offered honor can turn the righteous from Christ, for God's promises and the Holy Spirit strengthen them and open the preciousness of Scripture to their understanding so they stand firm in the faith and hope of the gospel. There is no neutrality in the conflict between good and evil, and all under His banner engage with Him in it as faithful soldiers.
Believers are to give no legitimate cause for condemnation but to guard words and actions lest they join in persecuting God's servants, whose labor is made hard when others are stirred to speak against them. The blessed are not those who suffer because a harsh spirit causes strife, nor those hated for uncultivated manners, needless quarrels, noisy irritating conduct, or deliberately making the Sabbath irritating to others. Such ways make a person a stumbling block and bring reproach on the truth and misapply this promise, so those who cause this kind of offense must repent.
Being spoken against or criticized does not by itself prove persecution for righteousness, as was seen at first with Bennet and Bellings, with leaders at first presumed persecuted because others were prejudiced against them, and with claims to sinless holiness joined to neglect of family duties. Conduct must remain in the path of Bible truth, doing right because it is right, in a religion born of love that is humble, kind, courteous, just, pure, simple, and uplifting. Slander tests reputation, but a righteous character preserves its purity under it until God vindicates the innocent.
The blessing holds deep meaning as a golden treasure of truth and instruction, yet its value is dimly appreciated and seldom brought into practical experience. Messengers need to see its real worth and, when proved and tried, to work it out and incorporate it into life in order to gain experimental knowledge of highest value. Christ teaches its meaning daily by giving followers a lived experience of it as they cooperate with Him and do the work God has given them, wearing His yoke and not one of human manufacture and learning His meekness and lowliness. In this way is formed the faultless character without spot in the sight of a pure and holy God that is required for salvation and will stand when judgment sits and the books are opened and all receive sentence according to deeds, and angels love such ones and minister to them in every phase of life.
Its standard of righteous character can be reached by living through faith in Christ and living His life, but reaching it calls for lifelong untiring effort. Disciples today must spend time learning the fifth chapter of Matthew so that unity and love and Christian fellowship prevail among them. Failure brings condemnation, for thinking and speaking evil, gathering evil, accusing, worrying, finding fault, and using speech to destroy confidence is Satan's work and stands directly contrary to God's help in forming Christlike character. Those who receive Christ as a personal Saviour, doing His work and following His way, become members of the royal family and heirs of the kingdom, washing their robes of character white in the blood of the Lamb, and as laborers together with God they represent the Saviour in word and deed.
Scripture Connections and Application
The words that follow explain this persecution as being insulted, reviled, persecuted, and falsely accused for Christ's sake, and those who endure it are to rejoice and be exceeding glad because their reward in heaven is great, for so the prophets before them were persecuted. Suffering for doing what is right does not forfeit divine favor but secures it, and belongs with rejoicing when reviled and slandered for Christ's sake in the fellowship of the prophets. It belongs with being preserving salt that must not lose its savor and with being open light that must not be hidden, leading to the charge to live so that good works are seen and God is glorified. Followers must exhibit this grace of Christ's Spirit in character and put it to practical use in order to be lights of the world, a light imparted to sweep away traditions and man-made requirements and to enforce the real principles of God's law. Accepting that light is essential for restoration to spiritual life and for a sound, healthful, happy experience through exercising the best and noblest faculties of the soul, making life pleasant and useful to others by obedience to God's requirements and giving safe direction without going astray in following where Christ leads.
Matthew 5 is the pure gospel explaining God's holy law, which requires love for God and for one's neighbor, so that unjustly gaining wealth at another's expense falls short of its standard. Study of its words of blessing teaches precious lessons, and Scripture from this passage can be shared with people in trial, its promises shielding them from temptation and helping furnish reasons for faith. The Beatitudes are lessons first lived out before they were taught, describing His own deeds, and they are to be considered individually to learn what they mean in a person's life. They are a lesson for those who claim to be God's children, teaching who is blessed and calling them to place themselves among that number. This truth of persecution for righteousness belongs to the character and work to be practiced wherever Christians serve, a characteristic to be revealed in the work of followers as a mark of Christian service, and those who understand and live these teachings share Christ's labors and their rewards.
Doing right because it is right, without being discouraged, means walking in all humility of mind before God in a religion born of love that is simple, kind, courteous, just, pure and uplifting and seeks to please God by righteousness. That life is to be practiced in order to correct the misunderstanding of God as a despot, which is Satan's work, and to reveal Him as merciful and gracious as He revealed His attributes to Moses. The Jews misunderstood and disobeyed Him and their ruin was the result, and many who claim to believe the truth today are passing over the same ground and will have the same history unless they speedily repent. Persecution for the sake of right fell on teachers of truth when ecclesiastical and civil authorities tried to crush them by imprisonment, torture, fire, and sword, and thousands sealed their faith with blood, yet the answer is flight and continued witness rather than surrender. The persecuted go into another place and preach Christ in the church, in private houses, or in the open air wherever a hearing can be had, so that every place of hearing becomes holy, persecution does not stop the kingdom of heaven but extends it, letting light penetrate everywhere and making clearer the contrast between the work of God and the work of Satan.