Matthew 5:10

Matthew 5:10 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of 
heaven.

As if being blessed with the kingdom of heaven weren’t enough one might venture to ask the question, is there any earthly benefit to being persecuted for righteousness’ sake, is there any way to speed up the process and get something from our trials here on earth? Let’s take a look at what some other verses tell us about suffering and persecution… Romans 5:3-5 And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. James 1:2-4 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. Yes, there are definitely benefits to persecutions, and we are not only supposed to get through them, but to glory in them and count them all joy, what a seemingly counterintuitive mindset to take. But we are not to take glory for ourselves because we are able to grow through the pain; rather we are to glorify God in our persecutions. 1st Peter 4:12-16 Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified. But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody in other people’s matters. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter. 1st Peter 3:13-15 And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed. “And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled.” But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; So here we see that we have earthly benefits to persecutions, however, we must not forget to look at the heavenly perspective. 2nd Corinthians 4:17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory,

Application- To not be afraid of threats, nor be troubled.” But instead to sanctify the Lord God in my heart, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks a reason for the hope that is in me, with meekness and fear; 

Matthew 5:9

Matthew 5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for the shall be called sons of God.      

Peace is not the same as passivity, a passive heart can easily be filled with hate, with envy, with all sorts of evil, the peace talked about here could well be described as; the tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and content with its earthly lot, of whatsoever sort that is. Being a peacemaker doesn’t mean keeping the peace at all costs, peace does not coexist with sin, and Jesus showed us this when being running out the moneychangers from God’s temple. Isaiah 57:20-21 But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt. “There is no peace,” Says my God, “for the wicked.” Peace is not a compromising with sin, but rather having a right relationship with God. The work that Christ did here on earth, the death he died on the cross, the resurrection after 3 days, these were all done so that we could have peace with God. Ephesians 6:15 and having your feet shod with the preparation of the Gospel of peace. Isaiah 52:7 How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who proclaims peace, who brings glad tidings of good thing, who proclaims salvation, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns!”

Application- To daily put on the armor of God, and to continually remember that to be a peacemaker I have to be constantly filled with by the Holy Spirit whose fruit is peace.

Matthew 5:8

Matthew 5:8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

Titus 1:15 To the pure all things are pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; but even their mind and conscience are defiled.

Psalm 18:26 With the pure You will show Yourself pure; and with the devious You will show Yourself shrewd.

God is still there when a man is defiled and unbelieving, but that man cannot comprehend purity and thus cannot see God.

Purity is not a one-time deal, but rather a continuous process, and it’s more than just what you do with your actions but a matter of what’s in your heart.

John 13:10 Jesus said to him, “He who is bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean, but not all of you.”

If it was David never would have been able to return to a right relationship with God, you all know the story of David and Bathsheba, let’s look at how David sought to return to purity…

Psalm 51:6 Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts, and in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom.

Psalm 51:17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and a contrite heart—these, O God, You will not despise.

As the lyrics to the rap song ‘Responsibility’ Say, “Real men make mistakes and they own up to them quickly…And they do it 'cause He did it, motivated by the King (talking about responsibility)…” I think these lyrics do well in summing up the how and why of what David is talking about.

Application-To remember that Purity is not a one-time deal and you’re done, that we are called to be pure in heart, God desires truth in our inward parts and wants us to be humble enough to be real with him. To put in to practice owning quickly up to the mistakes that I make, and not doing it in a blame shifting type of manner.