The Beatitudes, Part 2

Matthew 5:7-12: “Blessed are the merciful, because they will receive mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, because they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, because they will be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, because theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven. In fact, that is how they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” Jesus’ saints have been forgiven much, and so filled with faith are willing to show mercy and forgiveness to others. Believers have pure hearts, not because we have never done anything wrong, or even because we have fixed all that by having a really strong faith. Instead, our consciences are clean or pure because they have been washed in the blood of Jesus through his Word and his Baptism and his Holy Supper. The children of God imitate Jesus by making peace—not merely a worldly peace, but the peace we have with God because of Jesus’ sacrifice. It is the peace of forgiveness. Persecution must be suffered by Christians. Lies and complaints will be lodged against you because the world is on the Devil’s side. But Jesus repeats this promise, so that you can have comfort in the face of persecution. The saints of God have always been persecuted this way, and those holy men and women and children have gone into heaven ahead of you, where they wait to rejoice with you in the inheritance you share, because you are made by God into his saints, his children.