Have you ever heard the cynical phrase, "No good deed goes unpunished"?This seems like a relevant comment as we read the final Beatitude in Matthew5:10. Why would someone who demonstrates the qualities of verses 3-9 bepersecuted in verse 10? The simple response is that the sinful flesh does notlike the righteousness of God. When individuals, or rulers of this world, believethe righteousness of God is a threat to their own ambitions, they will persecutebelievers. Yet, there is another response to these beatitudes, the response offaith as people discover God anew (verse 16). Genuinely living out our faith willelicit both of these responses from others. Is this positive response worth therisk of persecution?