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Matthew 5:10-12 is the text for this sermon entitled, "The Eighth Beatitude: The Persecuted."

This blessing is a reminder that the Christian life is not an easy one. Primary reference to the context of this persecution is within God’s covenant people: religious leaders against the prophets; religious leaders against Jesus; religious leaders against Jesus’ followers. This is important because we tend to think only of persecution from pagans toward Christians.

Curtis discusses what format our current-world persecutions can take, and points out that regardless of the earthly motivations of our persecutors, we are actually experiencing this suffering because of Christ. The reward for enduring the slings and arrows hurled against us is that we possess the kingdom of heaven - a present-tense blessing!