Mt 5:10–12
By Wayne Moore
High Point Baptist Church, Stuart, VA
Matthew 5:10-12 is a portion of Jesus’ most famous sermon, the Sermon on the Mount. The message of His sermon is not how to be saved, but how the saved should live in preparation for the kingdom. Jesus explains what it means to live a righteous life that reflects His rule. These standards are not meant to discourage us by setting up an unattainable ideal, but to direct us toward the life God desires.
Verses 10–12 form the last and longest of the Beatitudes. The Beatitudes describe the virtues of those ready for the kingdom and its rewards. The word “beatitude” comes from “blessed,” meaning happy, fortunate, or congratulations, as Bock notes. These are not entrance requirements but gifts from God, who supplies both the virtues and the rewards. All the Beatitudes are countercultural, but the last one is the most shocking. The world does not value poverty, sorrow, meekness, or hunger, but who would persecute the merciful, the pure, and the peacemaking children of God? Yet, it is often those who most resemble Jesus who are treated the worst. Barton and Swindoll remind us that this should not surprise us, because Satan opposes God and those who live for Him. Jesus, the perfect example of the Beatitudes, was persecuted, and we can expect the same.
Like the first Beatitude, the last one includes the promise of the kingdom of heaven. Verse 10 says, “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Thomas Constable defines the kingdom of heaven as “God’s rule over His people on earth.” God has always ruled from heaven, but His earthly reign was disrupted in the Garden of Eden, when Adam and Eve rebelled against Him. The promised Son of David will restore that rule when He returns to the earth. Until then, the righteous will be persecuted, but not without the assurance that the kingdom is theirs.
Jesus expands this Beatitude in verses 11–12. “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake.” Jesus makes this Beatitude personal by adding personal pronouns. “Blessed are those” becomes “Blessed are you.” “Who are persecuted” becomes “When they persecute you.” “For righteousness’ sake” becomes “for My sake.” We are blessed when we suffer for His sake, not our own. How do we know the difference? Compare yourself to the previous Beatitudes. Ask, “Is my suffering the result of true righteousness or self righteousness? Am I suffering because I am Christlike or because I am being obnoxious?”
Jesus Himself was reviled, persecuted, and falsely accused for being righteous. The Jewish leaders persecuted Him. Matthew 26:67–68 says, “Then they spat in His face and beat Him; and others struck Him with the palms of their hands, saying, ‘Prophesy to us, Christ! Who is the one who struck You?’” The Roman soldiers mocked and abused Him. Matthew 27:27-31 records how they stripped Him, placed a scarlet robe on Him, twisted a crown of thorns onto His head, mocked Him, spat on Him, struck Him, and then led Him away to be crucified. Even the common people joined in. Matthew 27:39–40 says, “And those who passed by blasphemed Him, wagging their heads and saying, ‘You who destroy the temple and build it in three days, save Yourself! If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross.’” Peter tells us that Jesus did not revile those who reviled Him or threaten those who persecuted Him, but “committed Himself to Him who judges righteously” (1 Peter 2:23).
Jesus practiced what He preached in verse 12: “Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” Jesus Himself modeled this command, enduring the cross “for the joy that was set before Him” (Hebrews 12:2). Verse 3 tells us to “consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls.” Jesus does not promise an immediate reward, and that makes it easy to grow weary and discouraged. It is vitally important that we trust the Lord and keep our eyes on the prize. As Paul said, our present sufferings “are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us” (Romans 8:18). While the rewards are in the future, God’s approval and assurance are present realities; therefore, we can “rejoice and be exceedingly glad.”
We honor Jesus by living as He teaches us to live. He died for us; let us live for Him, even if we are persecuted for it.
Citations:
Barton, B. B. (1996). Matthew. Tyndale House Publishers.
Bock, D. L., & Sprankle, T. D. (2025). Matthew: A Commentary for Biblical Preaching and Teaching. Kregel Ministry.
Constable, T. (2003). Tom Constable’s Expository Notes on the Bible. Galaxie Software.
Swindoll, C. R. (2020). Matthew 1–15 (Vol. 1A). Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.
