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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadBob Utley You Can Understand the Bible - Matthew 5:10 - 5:10
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NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Mat_5:10
10"Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."
Mat_5:10 "those who have been persecuted" This is a perfect passive participle. It speaks to those who have been and continue to be persecuted by an outside agent (i.e., Satan, demonic, unbelievers). The persecution of believers is a real possibility, even an expected reality, for God's children in a fallen world (cf. Act_14:22; Rom_5:3-4; Rom_8:17; Php_1:29; 1Th_3:3; 2Ti_3:12; Jas_1:2-4; 1Pe_3:14; 1Pe_4:12-19; Rev_11:7; Rev_13:7). Notice the suffering is occurring because of the godly lifestyle and witness of believers. God uses it to make believers like Christ (cf. Heb_5:8).This verse is a needed balance to the modern American (health, wealth and prosperity, see Gordon Fee, The Disease of the Health Wealth Gospel) overemphasis on the covenant promises of Deuteronomy 27-29 applied directly and unconditionally (i.e., ignoring the curses for disobedience) to all believers. Health, wealth, and prosperity promises must be balanced by the repeated acknowledgment of the suffering of believers, because they are people of faith in a fallen, godless world. Jesus suffered, the Apostles suffered, the early Christians suffered, so shall believers in every age! With this truth in mind it is also probable that the church will go through the tribulation period (no secret rapture)!