Bible Strands
Matthew 5:10
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Jesus addresses his disciples and the crowd on the mountainside during the Sermon on the Mount, positioned between the blessing on peacemakers (v. 9) and the warning about personal persecution (v. 11).
The words — Δεδιωγμένοι (dediōgmenoi), a perfect passive participle, carries the sense of "having been driven" with the result still in force — a sustained state, not a single event. Ἑνεκεν (heneken) is a strong causal preposition, "on account of," tighter than the simpler διά.
The thread — The same pattern — suffering for righteousness yielding an eternal reward — runs through James 1:12 (perseverance under trial → crown of life), 1 Peter 3:13 (zealous for good → who can harm you?), and 2 Corinthians 4:17 (light affliction → eternal weight of glory).
Why it lands — It tells the reader that choosing righteousness will draw opposition, and that the appropriate response is not surprise or self-pity but the settled expectation of the kingdom.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Cross-references
- James 1:12 Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him.
- 1 Peter 3:13 Who can harm you if you are zealous for what is good?
- 2 Corinthians 4:17 For our light and momentary affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory that is far beyond comparison.
- Matthew 5:3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
- James 1:2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, when you encounter trials of many kinds,
- Luke 6:22 Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil because of the Son of Man.
- 2 Timothy 2:12 if we endure, we will also reign with Him; if we deny Him, He will also deny us;
- 2 Corinthians 4:8 We are hard pressed on all sides, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair;
- Luke 21:12 But before all this, they will seize you and persecute you. On account of My name they will deliver you to the synagogues and prisons, and they will bring you before kings and governors.
- Philippians 1:28 without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a clear sign of their destruction but of your salvation, and it is from God.