📖 Biblical Definition
The eighth Beatitude: "Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven" (Matt 5:10), expanded in vv 11-12 to include reviling and false-accusation "for my sake." The persecution must be for righteousness or for Christ; suffering for one's own sin earns no blessing. The reward is the kingdom — the same as the first Beatitude (poor-in-spirit), forming an inclusio.
📜 Webster 1828 Definition
Matt 5:10-12: blessing for suffering on account of righteousness or Christ.
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The eighth Beatitude: "Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven" (Matt 5:10), expanded in 5:11-12 ("Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven"). The qualifier matters: persecuted FOR righteousness (or for Christ's sake), not for one's own sin or stupidity. The reward is the kingdom of heaven — identical to the first Beatitude (poor-in-spirit) — forming an inclusio that frames the eight.
📖 Key Scripture
Matthew 5:10-12 — "Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven."
1 Peter 4:14-16 — "If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye... But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters. Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed."
2 Timothy 3:12 — "Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution."
⚠️ Modern Corruption
Cultural-Christian persecution-complex ("they're against me because I'm Christian") often misses the for-righteousness qualifier.
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The Beatitude blesses persecution FOR righteousness, not all persecution generally. Cultural-Christian persecution-complex sometimes assumes any opposition equals biblical persecution. Peter sharpens: don't suffer as a murderer, thief, evildoer, or busybody — suffer only as a Christian. The first three are deserved; the last is biblical.
Recover the qualifier: examine yourself. Are you suffering for Christ or for your own folly? Only the first is blessed. The first deserves rejoicing; the second deserves repentance.
🔗 Greek & Hebrew Roots
Greek dediōgmenoi heneken dikaiosynēs.
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['Greek', 'G1377', 'diōkō', 'to persecute']
['Greek', 'G1752', 'heneka', 'for the sake of']
['Greek', 'G1343', 'dikaiosynē', 'righteousness']
Usage
"Blessed when persecuted FOR righteousness."
"Not all opposition equals biblical persecution."
"Examine the qualifier."