Matt. 5:10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

1. Overview of first 7 Beatitudes (v.3-9)
   a. Looking at these as a whole, from one perspective, we can see a description of the Christian life from new birth to effective minister of the Gospel
2. Blessed are the persecuted (v.10-11)
   a. A new angle – no longer focused on your relationship with Jesus and things within your control, but now on other’s response to your walk with Him
   b. The big question: why is this persecution happening? The why matters:
   Because of
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   Because of
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   c. What persecution isn’t:
   Suffering and hardship can be because of:
   •
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   •
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   •
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3. The appropriate response to persecution (v.12, and more)
   a. Matt 5:12 -
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   and be
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   b. Matt 5:44 -
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   and
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   c. 1 Peter 3:9 -
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   with
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   d. Continue to live in the manner that brought on the persecution