The Beatitudes 8
Bible passage: Matthew 5:10
"10. Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven"
Dear brothers and sisters,
The Beatitudes are God’s Word, the source of all blessings. Those who live by them will surely be blessed. But the blessings in the Beatitudes differ from what the world generally considers as blessings. While the world sees wealth as a blessing, the Beatitudes say, "Blessed are the poor in spirit." Rather than joy or happiness, Jesus says, "Blessed are those who mourn." Rather than fullness or abundance, Jesus declares, "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness."
To some, this may sound unusual, but those who have heard the spiritual meaning in previous sessions likely understand that "the Beatitudes are the greatest, most eternal, and genuine blessings, far surpassing worldly blessings." This is because the Beatitudes offer spiritual blessings—salvation and the blessings of heaven—greater than the material blessings of wealth, health, familial harmony, fame, and power valued by the world. No matter how much wealth and glory you enjoy, it is far better to live as a beggar on earth and enter heaven than to face eternal torment in hell. The Beatitudes include not only spiritual blessings but also worldly blessings that people desire. For those who embody them, God, the LORD of all, can grant abundant wealth, honor, and power.
Blessings from God are eternal and unshaken, even in hardships. These blessings also bring glory in heaven. Achieving the Beatitudes means being richly blessed in both spirit and body, leaving nothing in the world to envy. Previously, we learned up to the seventh blessing of the Beatitudes. Today is the eighth blessing: "Blessed are those who are persecuted." Everyone would prefer to live respected and comfortably rather than being despised, insulted, beaten, or even killed. Who would willingly choose persecution? But God declares such persecution to be true and eternal blessing. I pray in the name of the Lord that through today's message, you will deeply understand the spiritual meaning, nourish your soul, and become truly blessed.
Dear brothers and sisters, People who share the gospel often say, "Accept Jesus Christ and be saved," or "Believe in God and receive blessings." They tend to mention that faith in the Lord brings material blessings at work, solves problems, and enjoy prosperity in all things. But Philippians 1:29 says, “For to you it has been granted for Christ’s sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake.” This reminds us that believing in the Lord not only brings salvation and blessings but also the privilege of sharing in His sufferings.
Jesus speaks of those who have left houses, family, or field for His sake and the gospel in Mark 10:30: “But that he will receive a hundred times as much now in the present age, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and farms, along with persecutions; and in the age to come, eternal life.” This means those who sacrifice for the Lord receive blessings in this life and eternal life in the next—but also persecutions. Why does faith in the Lord bring suffering? Living by His Word is an act of light spiritually, while the world is ruled by Satan, the ruler of darkness. As more people believe in the Lord who is light, the domain of the enemy devil, the ruler of the darkness, diminishes. The enemy devil and Satan controls those who belong to the world to persecute believers, trying to keep them from faith and drive them away from the light. The enemy’s goal is to prevent righteousness, block salvation, and stop the spread of the gospel. There are two types of persecution believers face in the world.
The first, as mentioned in today’s passage, is persecution for the sake of righteousness. The second, stated in verse 11, is persecution because of Jesus Christ. Today, we’ll focus on what it means to be persecuted for the sake of righteousness and why those who endure it are truly blessed. Dear brothers and sisters, Being persecuted for righteousness means facing opposition when believers live according to God’s righteous Word, following truth, goodness, and light. 2 Timothy 3:12 tells us, “Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.” Those who live a faithful and good life in the Lord are bound to face persecution in the world.
But those who claim to believe in the Lord but compromise with the world instead of living a proper Christian life might avoid persecution. For example, why was Daniel thrown into the lions’ den? It was because he remained steadfast in prayer without ceasing. Those who envied Daniel devised a way to kill him, creating a law prohibiting anyone from praying to anyone but the king for one month. The penalty for breaking this law was being thrown into the lion's den. Daniel knew this and could have stopped prayer for a month to avoid being persecuted. Since he couldn’t commit a sin of ceasing to pray for the sake of the secular law, Daniel continued to pray with thanksgiving, despite knowing the consequences.
His three friends faced a similar choice—they could have avoided persecution by bowing to the king’s idol once, but they chose to be thrown into the fiery furnace to keep righteousness before God who forbade idolatry. When believers seek to live righteously before God, persecution inevitably follows. In the New Testament era, there was intense persecution when the gospel was first preached. To avoid denying the Lord's name, believers had to endure severe suffering. A simple denial of Jesus would have allowed them to keep family, honor, power, and wealth and receive more rewards. But believers chose to be persecuted for righteousness’ sake.
Many endured horrific torture, became prey to wild beasts, or were crucified as martyrs. South Korea also has a history of martyrdom, and even after religious freedom was legally granted, many believers faced persecution for a long time. Simply believing in the Lord led to hatred, insults, beatings, and even being cast out of homes or neighborhoods. Even now, some of you may experience similar persecution like insults or aggression. It doesn’t always come as physical threats, but when believers live out their faith properly, they can face opposition in various forms. For example, when you stop drinking and engaging in worldly behavior but try to live a holy life after receiving grace, your worldly friends may find you boring. It's why worldly people might get upset or speak unkindly. If there is a sports event or social gathering at work on Sunday, you can’t attend as you keep the Sabbath holy.
When unbelieving family members hold traditional ancestral rites, you do not bow before idols. While others go to the hospital and take medicine when sick, you pray in faith. When others deceive in trivial matters, you act honestly according to God’s Word. These can become reasons for persecution in the world. John 3:20-21 says, “For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed; but he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God.”
A person with a good heart is moved when they see others living righteously according to God’s Word and can also be led to salvation. But wicked people view righteousness as foolishness, and so hate and try to persecute the good. The wicked may try to persuade believers with their own logic saying: "Do you really have to believe so zealously? I know lifelong believers, elders, or deacons who break the Sabbath or drink." "Isn’t it enough to believe in God with your heart? Ancestral rites are cultural traditions, not idolatry, so you should bow." Or they may say, "You can go to heaven without keeping the Sabbath or praying; why make your religious life so difficult?"
If you truly believe in the Lord, no matter how much people try to persuade or persecute you, you won’t act in unrighteousness. Even if you lose your job, you won’t act in ways that disappoint God. Even if your family and friends feel hurt, you won’t act in a way that God despises. You would rather live according to God’s Word, even if it means facing persecution.
Our Heavenly Father gave His Son for us sinners, and Jesus died on the cross for our sake. Reflecting on this love, we can never compromise with the world and choose the easier path. Knowing that heaven and hell both exist, we must not act unrighteously out of love for the world and end up going to hell or barely receiving shameful salvation. It’s important to consider that sometimes believers face persecution not for living righteously but due to a lack of wisdom. For example, if you claim to live according to God’s Word but fail to be faithful in all God’s house, this won’t give grace to people around you. If the homemaker leaves the house untidy, fails to prepare meals, and spends all of Sunday away, then that person’s family can get upset. The issue isn’t church attendance, but failing to look after the household. But this person may mistakenly believe they are being persecuted for keeping the Sabbath.
If you are not diligent at work and put your responsibilities onto others while using church as an excuse, people can get annoyed about you going to church and persecute you. 1 Peter 2:19-20 tells us, “For this finds favor, if because of conscience toward God someone endures grief when suffering unjustly. For what credit is there if, when you sin and are harshly treated, you endure it with patience? But if when you do what is right and suffer for it, you patiently endure it, this finds favor with God.” While it’s good to rejoice and be victorious when suffering for righteousness, always reflect on yourself, make changes where needed, and glorify God in all that you do. The blessing for those persecuted for righteousness is that "the kingdom of heaven is theirs."
In the first Beatitude, it also says "the kingdom of heaven is theirs" for the poor in spirit. But the kingdom of heaven for the poor in spirit and the persecuted differ in meaning. The kingdom of heaven for the poor in spirit is broader in meaning: receiving salvation and entering heaven. The kingdom of heaven for those persecuted for righteousness is more specific; those who are persecuted for doing righteousness have their souls prosper and give glory to God. Accordingly, they will enter a better and more glorious place in heaven.
When Christians are persecuted in the world, their faith grows stronger, and they can attain holiness in their hearts. A person without refinement has weak faith, like a child. But those who endure persecution with joy, thanks, and perseverance in truth gradually grow into the faith of young men and then that of fathers. Through trials, they discover and cast off hidden untruth, cultivate gentleness and peace, and grow to resemble the Lord’s heart, even loving their enemies. As believers grow in understanding of the Lord’s heart, they develop deeper love for Him and have spiritually deep communication with Him. Previously, when slapped on the right cheek, they would be angry and seek to retaliate. But through suffering, they learn service and love, eventually offering the left cheek as well. When faced with difficulties, believers used to complain, but through persecution, hope for heaven fills them, and they now offer praises of thanksgiving and joy in every circumstance.
This is why Psalm 119:71 says, "It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I may learn Your statutes." Through suffering, believers become more humble, relying on the Lord, casting off sin, and growing in holiness according to God's Word each day. As a result, they’ll qualify to ascend through the kingdom of heaven—moving from the 1st to the 2nd kingdom of heaven, and eventually approaching the Father’s throne in New Jerusalem. Even if a person, poor in spirit, receives the Lord and gains the right to enter heaven, they will not be able to see the Father’s face without consistent pursuing of righteousness and undergoing refinement.
Through persecution and refinement, those who cast off sin and evil with a pure heart enter better dwelling places in heaven and can see the Father. But persecution for righteousness does not last forever. As faith matures and becomes complete, believers are no longer persecuted but respected by others, receiving abundant blessings from God in both spirit and body.
This is evident in the outcome of Daniel and his three friends. Daniel, steadfast in righteousness before God, was thrown into the lion’s den but unharmed as God closed the mouths of the famished lions. By coming out alive and intact, Daniel not only gave great glory to God but received more favor from the king. Similarly, Daniel's three friends, who refused to bow to the idol, were thrown into a furnace heated seven times hotter than usual. Through God’s protection, not a single hair on their heads were singed. Being amazed, the king glorified God and elevated the three men. Daniel 3:28-29 tells us, "Nebuchadnezzar responded and said, ‘Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has sent His angel and delivered His servants who put their trust in Him, violating the king’s command, and yielded up their bodies so as not to serve or worship any god except their own God.
Therefore I make a decree that any people, nation or tongue that speaks anything offensive against the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego shall be torn limb from limb and their houses reduced to a rubbish heap, inasmuch as there is no other god who is able to deliver in this way.’” Not only were they blessed more, but the king also acknowledged God, and they no longer faced persecution for not worshipping idols. Similarly, when you live in the Lord and in righteousness, those who once persecuted you may later recognize and respect you. When others see healing occur through the Handkerchief of Power or from using Muan Sweet Water, they start to appreciate and love you. Those who once ignored or despised you may acknowledge your faith as they witness God's work in your life.
As your faith grows, people who used to persecute you are impressed more deeply and come into the light themselves. 1 Corinthians 15:41 explains about future resurrection: "There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for star differs from star in glory." Those who have faith and will receive God's blessings do not think, “Let me go easy on myself. I’ll enter heaven anyway.’ When people are saved and enter heaven, some will enjoy glory like the sun, others will have glory like the moon, and others, like the stars, will have lesser glory. The kingdom of heaven saved people enter differs depending on how much you have pursued righteousness, transformed the heart, and overcome persecution while giving glory to God.
The Paradise and the 1st and 2nd kingdoms of heaven are completely different in joy and glory. The difference between the 2nd and 3rd kingdom of heaven is tremendous and the kingdom is not even comparable to New Jerusalem. Even if a saved person enters the Paradise, they will have no personal property or reward. Even if a person enters the 2nd kingdom of heaven, they will not be able to see the Lord’s face since they haven’t fully pursued righteousness and achieved purity of heart. Believers who fully accomplish righteousness and are faithful in all God’s house will enter New Jerusalem and have the glory of dwelling in a high place and seeing the Lord. With this hope, faithful believers diligently pursue righteousness.
They pray without ceasing, fast to cast off sin, give offerings to God to store up treasures in heaven, and live according to His word regardless of any persecution. Even in the face of severe suffering, it’s important to pray to God in faith, always rejoice, and give thanks in everything. Do not fear the persecution of those who can kill the body but not the soul. Rather fear God, love Him, and be bold in doing righteousness.
I pray in the name of the Lord that you will achieve complete holiness, receive the blessings God gives, glorify Him, and dwell forever in the brightest glory of heaven in New Jerusalem like the sun.
