“Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” – Matthew 5:10 What does it mean to be persecuted for the sake of righteousness? In Matthew 5:10 the blessing of the kingdom of heaven is promised for those who are persecuted for righteousness sake, not to…

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God.” – Matthew 5:9 What does it mean to be a peacemaker? In a world that is ugly with violence and hate, Jesus calls us to be peacemakers. But, what did Jesus mean by peacemakers? A peace maker is someone who is constantly seeking…

“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” – Matthew 5:8 What does it mean to be pure of heart? The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines pure as “unmixed with any other matter”. For example, pure gold consists of no other element but gold.  So what is a pure heart? Much of the time…

“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.” – Matthew 5:7 What does it mean to be merciful? Mercy is God’s active empathy and compassion to those who are guilty and needy. Before our Holy God, we are all guilty, yet despite our guiltiness, God chooses to move toward us in this undeserving condition…