Why Will Christians Be Persecuted? Matthew 5:10-12 (KJV) | Sermon on the Mount Pt 4

Why will Christians be persecuted? Matthew 5:10-12 (KJV): "Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."
Sermon on the Mount Pt 4, hosted by Matt Hepner and TopLobsta.

The last Beatitude is day-one stuff. Matt reads Matthew 5:10-12, where Jesus moves from "blessed are they" to "blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you... for great is your reward in heaven." Jesus told people the cost up front: "which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost" (Luke 14:28).

The early church lived it. The apostles were beaten and departed "rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name" (Acts 5:41). James was killed with the sword and Peter slept between two soldiers (Acts 12). Paul and Silas were beaten, and at midnight they "prayed, and sang praises unto God" (Acts 16:25), and the Philippian jailer believed. Peter says "think it not strange concerning the fiery trial" (1 Peter 4:12), and Paul says "all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution" (2 Timothy 3:12).

Also covered: "count it all joy" (James 1:2), the patience of Job (James 5:11), "he that shall endure unto the end" (Matthew 24:13), "tribulation worketh patience" (Romans 5:3), Deuteronomy 8, treasures and rewards in heaven, taking up the cross (Matthew 16:24), the chief rooms (Luke 14), every man's work tried by fire (1 Corinthians 3), and "Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?" (Acts 9:4).

Questions answered
- What does "Blessed are they which are persecuted" mean? (4:09)
- Why did Jesus tell us to count the cost? (6:45)
- How did the early church respond to persecution? (20:13)
- What is the fiery trial in 1 Peter 4? (25:20)
- Will all that live godly suffer persecution? (1:16:18)
- What is our reward in heaven? (1:33:34)

Previous: Sermon on the Mount Pt 3: https://youtu.be/MYRDwjZiRmY
Next: Sermon on the Mount Pt 5: https://youtu.be/9ImyBU5cT7M
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Chapters
0:00 Matthew 5, Verses 10-12: Opening
0:30 Persecution Is Day One Stuff
4:09 Reading Matthew 5, Verses 10-12
4:54 Great Is Your Reward in Heaven
6:45 Count the Cost (Luke 14, Verses 25-33)
8:54 Build a Tower
12:16 The Early Church in Acts 5
18:47 Theudas, Judas and Gamaliel
20:13 Counted Worthy to Suffer Shame
21:08 Back to Matthew 5
25:20 The Fiery Trial (1 Peter 4)
29:42 1 Peter 3, Verses 8-17
32:01 The Kindness and Severity of God
33:36 James Killed With the Sword (Acts 12)
37:28 Peter Sleeping Between Two Soldiers
41:16 Rhoda
42:50 Lydia (Acts 16, Verse 14)
44:40 A Spirit of Divination
49:12 Paul and Silas Beaten
51:16 Praying at Midnight
55:09 The Philippian Jailer
57:55 I'm a Roman Citizen
59:04 Forbidden of the Holy Ghost
1:02:46 Count It All Joy (James 1, Verses 1-4)
1:04:05 The Patience of Job (James 5, Verses 7-11)
1:08:14 Matthew 24, Verses 1-13
1:13:08 Perilous Times (2 Timothy 3)
1:16:18 All That Will Live Godly
1:18:34 Tribulation Worketh Patience (Romans 5)
1:21:00 Grandmother Lois (2 Timothy 1)
1:26:48 Deuteronomy 8
1:33:34 Back to Matthew 5, Verses 11-12
1:36:08 Rewards for Alms, Prayer and Fasting (Matthew 6)
1:42:43 Treasures in Heaven
1:48:03 Take Up His Cross (Matthew 16, Verse 24)
1:49:05 The Chief Rooms (Luke 14, Verses 7-14)
1:52:52 Every Man's Work (1 Corinthians 3)
1:56:24 Saul, Why Persecutest Thou Me? (Acts 9)

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