KeysOf the Kingdom

Godly Character for a Godless World

Less is More

Off With Their Heads

Matthew 5:10-12

Off With Their HeadsMatthew 5:10–1210“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11“Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

With Many Persecutions

• We are persecuted because of righteousness– Persecution carries several connotations, including

physical violence, social injustice, and several others.• We are persecuted because of Jesus– The persecutions being implied here have to do with

verbal persecution.– Reviling is a form of verbally hating what someone

represents.– Lying or bearing false witness implies giving false

impressions of Christian beliefs or practices.

The Rewards System

• Jesus promises a reward in heaven for every believer. This reward is not specifically given, but it may speak to being with God for eternity.

• We join a great cloud of believers who have also been persecuted, and their paths of leadership help us to endure the persectuion in our generation.

Key of the Kingdom

• We can rejoice when we are persecuted not because we enjoy it, but because it brings us closer to our reward, an eternity with God!

• Persecution takes many forms, but trust in the Lord is the one weapon that can combat persecution.

• The Lord will provide grace amidst persecution, as He has done for others in the past.