“Blessed are you when people hate you because you follow me, believe me, and put your faith in me. Blessed are you when people cast you out of assemblies because of me. If they hate me, they will also hate you. If they obey my teaching, they will obey yours also.

“Blessed are you when people insult you and speak falsely against you, and make all manner of evil accusations against you because you hold to my teaching. You will be handed over to the local councils and be reviled in places of worship. Yes, I tell you, they will put you out of the holy places and forbid you to return. In fact, the time is coming when anyone who kills you will think they are offering a service to God.

“Blessed are you when they reject you and when they call you evil because of my words. Rejoice in that day. Leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For in the very same way this is how they treated the prophets when they spoke my Father’s words.”

Luke 6:21-23, John 15:19–20, Matthew 5:11, Matthew 10:16–17, John 16:2