“Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." Matthew 5:10
By the time we get to this Beatitude, with the other qualities in place (repentance, submitting to God, hungering after righteousness, showing mercy, seeking to live a pure life, having God’s peace within us) – we are describing a spiritually mature believer. And this may come as a surprise to some people: the world doesn’t like spiritually mature believers. We are the light that shines in the darkness, exposing the works of unbelievers for what they are – evil (John 3:19-20). People don’t like to be reminded of this, but rather than repenting, they attack the source of light. It was true in Jesus’ day, and it is still true today. The world hates us, because it hated Him.
Persecution is inevitable for a believer (1 Pet. 4:12, 2 Tim. 3:12). And we are blessed when we are persecuted, because it shows that our lives are having that irritating influence on the people around us. It shows that we are not of this world. It means that we are well on the road to Christian maturity.
So when you are persecuted for believing in Jesus Christ, don’t despair. Remember the words of Jesus here: you are blessed, and your eternal destination is heaven.
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