Persecution Is a Gift — Matthew 5:10-12
Jun 22, 2026 174
Persecution… is a gift from God!
Verse of the Day
Matthew chapter 5, verses 10 to 12.
“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” (ESV)
Jesus isn’t describing a fringe experience for a few unlucky followers. He’s describing the normal pattern for those who belong to him.
Notice how he shifts from “blessed are those” to “blessed are you.” This is personal. And it’s not if persecution comes… It’s when.
Why does persecution come? Sometimes opposition comes because Christians are jerks. That’s not what Jesus is talking about. In Matthew 5, he says it comes for two reasons. In verse 10, it comes because of righteousness, that is, for doing the right thing. In verse 11, it comes simply because we belong to Jesus.
Twice, Jesus says you are BLESSED if you’re persecuted. More than that, he doesn’t just say to endure it. In verse 12, he says to REJOICE in it!
Persecution isn’t a sign that God has abandoned you. It’s a sign that you belong to him.
The good news is… Jesus walked this road first. He lived perfectly, suffered unjustly, died in our place, and rose from the grave, securing the kingdom of heaven for everyone who trusts in him. For Jesus, suffering came before glory, death came before resurrection, and the cross came before the crown. That’s the pattern for those who follow him.
I love ministries like Open Doors, which serve persecuted Christians around the world. They are a gift to the global church, sharing stories of faith under fire, helping us pray for our persecuted brothers and sisters, and inspiring all believers to stand firm when opposition comes.
Like and share so others can see Jesus clearly.