Matthew 5:10
What does Matthew 5:10 mean?
A plain-English look at Matthew 5:10 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Matthew 5:10 means
Jesus proclaims a special blessing on those who suffer persecution for the sake of righteousness. This persecution isn't for personal wrongdoing, but for upholding God's standards and living according to His will. Such suffering demonstrates a commitment to Christ above worldly approval. Their blessedness is profound: "theirs is the kingdom of heaven." This echoes the first Beatitude, emphasizing that those aligned with God's righteous purposes, even through suffering, are truly heirs of His eternal reign.
Matthew 5:10 in context
Matthew 5 — The Beatitudes
Jesus opens his Sermon on the Mount with eight pronouncements that turn the world's value system upside down. Blessing belongs not to the proud and self-sufficient but to the poor in spirit, those who mourn, the meek, the hungry for righteousness, the merciful, the pure in heart, the peacemakers, and the persecuted. In a few sentences he sketches the character of the citizens of the kingdom of heaven, and then calls them salt of the earth and light of the world.
- Kingdom ethics
- Inner righteousness
- True blessedness
- Light and salt
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Blessed are they that have been persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Blessed are they that have been persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Happy are those who are attacked on account of righteousness: for the kingdom of heaven will be theirs.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862`Happy those persecuted for righteousness' sake--because theirs is the reign of the heavens.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Blessed are they that suffer persecution for justice' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890Blessed they who are persecuted on account of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of the heavens.
Context
This Beatitude addresses the inevitable consequence of living out the previous Kingdom characteristics in a fallen world. It directly follows peacemaking, acknowledging that living righteously and striving for peace often provoke opposition. This verse transitions into a more personal and direct address about persecution in the following two verses.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Revelation 2:10
Fear not the things which thou art about to suffer: behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days. Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee the crown of life.
- Luke 6:22
Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man’s sake.
- Acts 8:1
And Saul was consenting unto his death. And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church which was in Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judæa and Samaria, except the apostles.
- 2 Timothy 3:11
persecutions, sufferings; what things befell me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: and out of them all the Lord delivered me.
- 1 John 3:12
not as Cain was of the evil one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his works were evil, and his brother’s righteous.
- Luke 6:20
And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said, Blessedare ye poor: for yours is the kingdom of God.
Sermon ideas from Matthew 5:10
Angles a pastor or small-group leader might preach or teach from this passage, drawn from the chapter's main themes.
What Matthew 5:10 teaches us about kingdom ethics
What Matthew 5:10 teaches us about inner righteousness
What Matthew 5:10 teaches us about true blessedness
What Matthew 5:10 teaches us about light and salt
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