C. S. Lewis’ reaction to the Sermon on the Mount stated, “As to ‘caring for’ the Sermon on the Mount, if ‘caring for’ here means ‘liking’ or enjoying, I suppose no one ‘cares for’ it. Who can like being knocked flat on his face by a sledgehammer? I can hardly imagine a more deadly spiritual condition than that of a man who can read that passage with tranquil pleasure.” Certainly, in consideration of this beatitude and promise of persecution, this observation is profoundly true.

1. “Blessed are the Persecuted...”

2. 8th in a series of studies on the
Sermon on the Mount

3. Poor in Spirit
Mourn
Meek
Hunger for Righteousness
Merciful
Pure in Heart
Peacemakers
Persecuted for Righteousness
OUTWARD
OurCondition
BeforeGod
OurCharacter
BeforeOthers

4. 1. Every Christian should expect to be
persecuted for righteousness’ sake.
2. There is an equal reward in heaven for any
suffering for righteousness’ sake we go
through on earth.
TRUE 2 Timothy 3:12; Philippians 1:29
FALSE Romans 8:18; Luke 16:19-31
“Blessed are the persecuted...”

5. 3. Just as Jesus, the Son of God, was separated
from God, the Father, on the cross, we
experience similar separation when we suffer
for righteousness sake.
FALSE? Romans 8:35-39; Philippians 3:8, 10
“Blessed are the persecuted...”

6. 4. Whenever Christians suffer at the hands of
non-Christians, they are being persecuted for
righteousness’ sake.
FALSE 1 Peter 2:20; 4:14
“Blessed are the persecuted...”
5. I should expect persecution from those who
call themselves “Christians”.
True John 11:49-50; 16:2-3

7. 732
6
1 And seeing the multitudes,
He went up on a mountain, and when He was
seated His disciples came to Him. 2 Then He
opened His mouth and taught them, saying:

8. 3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for
theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
732
6

9. 732
6
4 “Blessed are those who mourn,
for they shall be comforted.”

10. 732
6
5 “Blessed are the meek, for they
shall inherit the earth.”

11. 732
6
6 “Blessed are those who hunger and
thirst for righteousness, for they shall
be filled.”

12. 732
6
7 “Blessed are the merciful, for
they shall obtain mercy.”

13. 732
6
8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for
they shall see God.”

14. 732
6
9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for
they shall be called the sons of God.”

15. 732
6
10 “Blessed are those who are
persecuted for righteousness’
sake, for theirs is the kingdom
of heaven.”

16. https://www.opendoorsusa.org/christian-persecution/
According to The Pew Research Center, over 75% of the
world's population lives in areas with severe religious
restrictions (many of these people are Christians). Also,
according to the U.S. Department of State, Christians in
more than 60 countries face persecution from their
governments or surrounding neighbors simply because of
their belief in Jesus Christ.
Each Month

17. 10 Great Persecutions Against The Church
A.D. 100 to A.D. 314
The “Age of Martyrs”
μάρτυς (mártys) = “witness”

18. 2 Timothy 3:12 Yes, and all who desire to live
godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.
1 John 3:13 Do not marvel, my brethren, if the
world hates you.
1 Peter 4:12 Beloved, do not think it strange
concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as
though some strange thing happened to you;

19. John 15:18–20 “If the world hates you, you
know that it hated Me before it hated you. 19 If
you were of the world, the world would love its
own. Yet because you are not of the world, but
I chose you out of the world, therefore the
world hates you. 20 Remember the word that I
said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his
master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also
persecute you.”

20. 2. Greek: διώκω (diōkō) = pursue, persecute
chase, seek after, harass, persecution,
respond antagonistically
1. Latin: persecutio (per – “through” + sequel –
“follow”) = start a legal action, hunt down

21. “Being a Christian is less
about cautiously
avoiding sin than about
courageously and
actively doing God’s will.”
Dietrich Bonhoeffer

22. Defined:
Greek: (δικαιοσύνη) dikaiosynē
Romans 14:17 for the kingdom of God is
not eating and drinking, but righteousness
and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

23. Matthew 6:33 But seek first the kingdom of
God and His righteousness, and all these things
shall be added to you.

24. • The Poor in Spirit
• Those who Mourn
• The Meek
• Those who Hunger & Thirst for Righteousness
• The Merciful
• The Pure in Heart
• The Peacemakers

25. John 3:19–20 And this is the condemnation,
that the light has come into the world, and men
loved darkness rather than light, because their
deeds were evil. 20 For everyone practicing evil
hates the light and does not come to the light,
lest his deeds should be exposed.
1 John 3:8 He who sins is of the devil, for the
devil has sinned from the beginning. For this
purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He
might destroy the works of the devil.

26. μάρτυς (mártys) = “witness”
“Before Jesus leads His disciples into
suffering, humiliation, disgrace, and
disdain, He summons them and shows
Himself to them as the Lord in God’s glory.”
Dietrich Bonhoeffer
John 16:8-11 And when He has come, He will
convict the world of sin, and of righteousness,
and of judgment:

27. John 15:21-27 But all these things they will do to
you for My name’s sake, because they do not
know Him who sent Me. 22 If I had not come and
spoken to them, they would have no sin, but now
they have no excuse for their sin. 23 He who hates
Me hates My Father also. 24 If I had not done
among them the works which no one else did,
they would have no sin; but now they have seen
and also hated both Me and My Father.

28. John 15:21-27 26 “But when the Helper comes,
whom I shall send to you from the Father, the
Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He
will testify of Me. 27 And you also will bear
witness, because you have been with Me from
the beginning.

29. A. That you are chosen of God
John 15:19 If you were of the world,
the world would love its own. Yet
because you are not of the world, but
I chose you out of the world, therefore
the world hates you.

30. B. That Christ’s character is recognized in you
2 Corinthians 4:8–11 We are hard-pressed on every
side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in
despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down,
but not destroyed—10 always carrying about in the
body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of
Jesus also may be manifested in our body. 11 For we
who live are always delivered to death for Jesus’
sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in
our mortal flesh.

31. C. That you are a threat to Satan’s kingdom
Acts 4:17 But so that it spreads no
further among the people, let us severely
threaten them, that from now on they
speak to no man in this name.”

32. D. That you are not conforming to the
world’s system
John 17:14 I have given them Your
word; and the world has hated them
because they are not of the world, just
as I am not of the world.

33. E. That you have brought conviction to
those who persecute you (Acts 7:54)
Acts 7:54 When they heard these things
they were cut to the heart, and they
gnashed at him with their teeth.

34. H. To the Martyred:

35. ‫י‬ ֵ‫ר‬ ְׁ‫ש‬ ַ‫א‬ = “deeply happy or
blessed”
(ʾašrê)Hebrew:
(makarios)Greek: Μακάριοι = root – “great”;
“happy, blissful, fortunate”

36. A. To the Afflicted:
1. Gain a deeper understanding of God
and his word (Psa. 119:71)
2. Develop stronger character (Rom. 5:3;
Jas. 1:2-4)
3. Attain a clear perspective (2 Cor. 4:17-18)
4. Enlarge ministry (2 Cor. 1:3-4)

37. James 5:10–11 My brethren, take the
prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord,
as an example of suffering and patience. 11
Indeed we count them blessed who endure.

38. James 5:10–11 My brethren, take the
prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord,
as an example of suffering and patience. 11
Indeed we count them blessed who endure.

39. “Blessed are those who are Persecuted...”
Part 2

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