This document provides an overview of a study on the Sermon on the Mount, specifically focusing on the passage "Blessed are the Persecuted." It examines different Greek and Latin words used to describe ways Christians may be ridiculed, mocked, scorned, vilified or railed against for their faith. The study encourages responding wisely to such persecution by finding joy, as Jesus and the prophets did, and by flourishing through difficult times, as the righteous are said to do.

1. “Blessed are the Persecuted...”

2. 9th in a series of studies on the
Sermon on the Mount

3. Poor in Spirit
Mourn
Meek
Hunger for Righteousness
Merciful
Pure in Heart
Peacemakers
Persecuted for Righteousness
OUTWARD
OurCondition
BeforeGod
OurCharacter
BeforeOthers

4. 1. Whenever people refile us and speak evil
against us, we should rejoice because God
will bless us.
For what credit is it if, when you are beaten
for your faults, you take it patiently? But
when you do good and suffer, if you take it
patiently, this is commendable before God.
FALSE 1 Peter 2:20
“Blessed are the persecuted...”

5. 2. A person who tells the truth cannot be guilty
of reviling.
FALSE Psalm 64:6-8
“Blessed are the persecuted...”
6 They devise iniquities: “We have perfected a
shrewd scheme.” Both the inward thought and the
heart of man are deep. 7 But God shall shoot at
them with an arrow; Suddenly they shall be
wounded. 8 So He will make them stumble over
their own tongue; All who see them shall flee away.

6. 3. The most painful reviling will come from long-
standing enemies.
12 For it is not an enemy who reproaches me;
Then I could bear it. Nor is it one who hates me
who has exalted himself against me; Then I could
hide from him. 13 But it was you, a man my
equal, my companion and my acquaintance. 14
We took sweet counsel together, and walked to
the house of God in the throng.
FALSE Psalm 55:12-14
“Blessed are the persecuted...”

7. 4. The best way to respond to reviling is to
ignore it.
FALSE Psalm 55:16
“Blessed are the persecuted...”
16 As for me, I will call upon God, and the LORD
shall save me.

8. 5. We are responsible to protect our reputation
when attacked.
FALSE? Philippians 2:7
“Blessed are the persecuted...”
7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking
the form of a bondservant, and coming in the
likeness of men.

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1 And seeing the multitudes,
He went up on a mountain, and when He was
seated His disciples came to Him. 2 Then He
opened His mouth and taught them, saying:

10. 3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for
theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
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6
4 “Blessed are those who mourn,
for they shall be comforted.”

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5 “Blessed are the meek, for they
shall inherit the earth.”

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6 “Blessed are those who hunger and
thirst for righteousness, for they shall
be filled.”

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7 “Blessed are the merciful, for
they shall obtain mercy.”

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8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for
they shall see God.”

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9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for
they shall be called the sons of God.”

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10 “Blessed are those who are
persecuted for righteousness’ sake,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

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11 “Blessed are you when they
revile and persecute you, and
say all kinds of evil against you
falsely for My sake. 12 Rejoice
and be exceedingly glad, for
great is your reward in heaven,
for so they persecuted the
prophets who were before you.

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11 “Blessed am I when they revile
and persecute me, and say all
kinds of evil against me falsely
for Christ’s sake. 12 I will rejoice
and be exceedingly glad, for
great is my reward in heaven, for
so they persecuted the prophets
who were before me.

20. Acts 1:8
But you shall receive power
when the Holy Spirit has come
upon you; and you shall be
witnesses to Me in Jerusalem,
and in all Judea and Samaria,
and to the end of the earth.”
Μάρτυρος (mártyros) = “witnesses”

21. A. “for your faults” (1 Pet. 2:20)
For what credit is it
if, when you are
beaten for your
faults, you take it
patiently?

22. B. “for righteousness sake” (10)
C. “for My sake” (11)
Blessed are those who are persecuted
for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the
kingdom of heaven.
“Blessed are you when they revile and
persecute you, and say all kinds of evil
against you falsely for My sake.

23. John 15:20–24 Remember the word that I said
to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’
If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute
you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours
also. 21 But all these things they will do to you for
My name’s sake, because they do not know Him
who sent Me. 22 If I had not come and spoken to
them, they would have no sin, but now they have
no excuse for their sin. 23 He who hates Me hates
My Father also. 24 If I had not done among them
the works which no one else did, they would
have no sin; but now they have seen and also
hated both Me and My Father.

24. “We must learn to regard
people less in the light of what
they do or omit to do, and more
in the light of what they suffer.”
― Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Letters and Papers from Prison
“When Christ calls a man,
he bids him come and die.”
― Dietrich Bonhoeffer, The Cost of Discipleship

25. First they came for the
communists and I did not
speak out because I was not a
communist.
Then they came for the trade
unionists and I did not speak
out because I was not a trade
unionist.
Then they came for the Jews and I did not
speak out because I was not a Jew.
Finally, they came for me and there was no
one left to speak out.
Martin Niemöller

26. “revile”
“say all manner of evil against you falsely”
“persecute”
ὀνειδίζω (oneidizō)= Insult, denounce,
reprimand, reproach
διώκω (diōkō)= pursue, press
forward
πᾶς (pas) = all kinds, every type
πονηρός (ponēros) = wickedness, corrupt
ψεύδομαι (pseudomai) = lie, deceive by lying

27. RIDICULE
Latin: ridiculum = joke, jest; to sneer, tease,
make fun of, belittle

28. Respond Wisely to Ridicule (Jn. 8:48,49, 51-53)
48 Then the Jews answered and said to Him,
“Do we not say rightly that You are a
Samaritan and have a demon?” 49 Jesus
answered, “I do not have a demon; but I
honor My Father, and you dishonor Me.”

29. Respond Wisely to Ridicule (Jn. 8:48,49, 51-53)
52 Then the Jews said to Him, “Now we know
that You have a demon! Abraham is dead,
and the prophets; and You say, ‘If anyone
keeps My word he shall never taste death.’ 53
Are You greater than our father Abraham,
who is dead? And the prophets are dead. Who
do You make Yourself out to be?”

30. MOCKING
French: mocquer = to deride, make fun of in
a derisive cruel way, to scoff

31. Respond Wisely to Mocking (Mt. 27:29-31)
29 When they had twisted a crown of thorns,
they put it on His head, and a reed in His
right hand. And they bowed the knee before
Him and mocked Him, saying, “Hail, King of
the Jews!” 30 Then they spat on Him, and
took the reed and struck Him on the head. 31
And when they had mocked Him, they took
the robe off Him, put His own clothes on
Him, and led Him away to be crucified.

32. SCORN
Latin: escarnire = to despise, to look down on

33. Respond Wisely to Scorn (Mt. 9:18,19,23-26)
18 While He spoke these things to them,
behold, a ruler came and worshiped Him,
saying, “My daughter has just died, but come
and lay Your hand on her and she will live.” 19
So Jesus arose and followed him, and so did
His disciples. 23 When Jesus came into the
ruler’s house, and saw the flute players and
the noisy crowd wailing,

34. Respond Wisely to Scorn (Mt. 9:18-26)
24 He said to them, “Make room, for the girl is
not dead, but sleeping.” And they laughed
Him to scorn. 25 But when the crowd was put
outside, He went in and took her by the hand,
and the girl arose. 26 And the report of this
went out into all that land.

35. VILIFYING
Latin: vilis = vile + facere = to make; to discredit
or disgrace
to judge &
condemn
falsely

36. Respond Wisely to Vilifying (Jn. 18:29-30)
29 Pilate then went out to them and said,
“What accusation do you bring against this
Man?” 30 They answered and said to him,
“If He were not an evildoer, we would not
have delivered Him up to you.”

37. RAILING
Latin: ragulare = to bray, to roar; to use
abusive language; to hurl profane insults

38. Respond Wisely to Railing (Mk. 15:29-30)
29 And those who passed by blasphemed
(railed on) Him, wagging their heads and
saying, “Aha! You who destroy the temple
and build it in three days, 30 save Yourself,
and come down from the cross!”

39. Matthew 5:12 Rejoice and be exceedingly
glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for
so they persecuted the prophets who were
before you.

40. Psalm 92:12
The righteous
shall flourish
like a palm tree

41. You Are The Salt of the Earth
Frank Brunner, teaching

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