Mat 5:10-12, Rom 12:1-2, Eph 5:10, Phili 4:18 | ESV | STEP | Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness ’ sake , for theirs is the kingdom of heaven .

a 2 Tim. 2:12; James 5:11; 1 Pet. 3:14

b[See ver. 3 above]

c Heb. 11:26; 1 Pet. 4:14

d John 15:21

e Acts 5:41; Rom. 5:3; 2 Cor. 12:10; Col. 1:11, 24; Heb. 10:34; James 1:2; 1 Pet. 4:13

fSee ch. 21:35

g 1 Cor. 1:10; 2 Cor. 10:1; Eph. 4:1

i ch. 6:13, 16, 19; [Ps. 50:13, 14; 1 Cor. 6:20]; See 1 Pet. 2:5

j Heb. 10:20

l 1 Pet. 1:14; [1 John 2:15]

n Titus 3:5; [Ps. 51:10; 2 Cor. 4:16; Eph. 4:23; Col. 3:10]

o Eph. 5:10; 1 Thess. 4:3

q 1 Thess. 2:4; 5:21

r ch. 2:25

sSee Gen. 8:21

t Heb. 13:16

Matthew 5:10-12

10 ^a“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for ^btheirs is the kingdom of heaven.

11 ^c“Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely ^don my account. 12 ^eRejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for ^fso they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Romans 12:1-2

A Living Sacrifice

1 ^gI appeal to you therefore, brothers, ^{▼▼Or brothers and sisters} by the mercies of God, ⁱto present your bodies ^jas a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. ^{▼▼Or your rational service} 2 ^lDo not be conformed to this world, ^{▼▼Greek age} but be transformed by ⁿthe renewal of your mind, that by testing you may ^odiscern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. ^{▼▼Or what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God}

Ephesians 5:10

10 and ^qtry to discern what is pleasing to the Lord.

Philippians 4:18

18 I have received full payment, and more. I am well supplied, ^rhaving received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, ^sa fragrant offering, ^ta sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God.