This final beatitude does not say “Blessed are those who are persecuted because they are objectionable or because they pursue some faux religious cause.” The blessing is restricted to those who are persecuted for righteousness. The blessing comes to those who are determined to live like Jesus. This final beatitude is like a test for all the others. If Christians never experience any persecution it may be acceptable to then ask if we are displaying any righteousness at all in our lives. We live in a sinful world. If we really exhibit genuine righteousness it can only be assumed that that righteousness would condemn people by implication. Jesus made this clear when he says, “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first.” (John 15:18) Paul says, “Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted…” (2 Timothy 3:12) The expansion of the beatitude in verse 11 helps us understand it even more. First, it broadens persecution to insults and spoken malice, not just physical abuse. Second, it shows us that a righteous life is lived in imitation of Jesus. We cannot say we follow Jesus and not practice the righteousness that Jesus calls us to. Third, it gives us great hope that we can rejoice in that suffering because we are like our Savior in our persecution. We can rejoice because the suffering under persecution shows us that we are living righteously and we can triumphantly claim that the kingdom of heaven is ours when we live like this.