Matthew 5:10 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake

Matthew 5:10 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Persecution is when people want to get rid of you for what you believe. Jesus says we are blessed when we are persecuted, not for what we believe but for righteousness sake. Jesus said earlier that righteousness was: the person who hungers and thirst for righteousness is the man who sees that sin and rebellion have separated him from God. He/she longs to get into right relationship of righteousness in the presence of God. When you are persecuted because you are becoming more like Christ, you will be happy.

The only way that you and I can be happy when we are persecuted is if we remember all that Jesus has said in the Beatitudes before this.
-Poor in spirit
-Mourn
-Meek
-Hunger and thirst for righteousness
-Merciful
-Pure in heart
-Peacemakers
-Persecuted for righteousness

All of these are building blocks for what God has done in us. Remember, the Beatitudes are not things you can just decide to do or be. God is the one who does the changing. These changes happen because of the Holy Spirit in us.

The result of being persecuted for righteousness sake is just like the first Beatitude. It ends with being with God in the Kingdom of Heaven. When we realize that we need Him and become poor in spirit, He will change us. When He changes us we will be like Him, and when we are like Him, we will be persecuted because God is righteousness.