10Flourishing are the ones persecuted on account of righteousness because the kingdom of heaven is theirs. 11Flourishing are you whenever people revile and slander22 and speak all kinds of evil things against you on account of me. 12Rejoice and be glad because your reward is great in heaven. In this same way people slandered the prophets who came before you. These verses make up the justly famous Beatitudes. This striking and memorable series of nine makarios statements (macarisms) is intentional