Peacemakers

Matt 5: 9 Blessed 3107 are the peacemakers: 1518 for 3754 they 846 shall be called 2564 5701 the children 5207 of God 2316 [1]

Peacemakers-- 40.4 εἰρηνοποιέω: to cause a state of peace or reconciliation between persons—‘to make peace, to make things right.’ εἰρηνοποιήσας διὰ τοῦ αἵματος τοῦ σταυροῦ αὐτοῦ ‘(God) made things right between himself and people through (his Son’s) death on the cross’ Col 1.20. εἰρηνοποιέω is closely related in meaning to the series in 40.1 in that the making of peace or reestablishing peace between persons is a distinctive feature of reconciliation, but the focus in εἰρηνοποιέω seems to be upon the resulting state rather than upon the process.

[2]

Peace (Webster’s)—A sense of quiet or tranquility, freedom from disturbance or agitation

5:9 A blessing is pronounced on the peacemakers: they shall be called sons of God. Notice that the Lord is not speaking about people with a peaceful disposition or those who love peace. He is referring to those who actively intervene to make peace. The natural approach is to watch strife from the sidelines. The divine approach is to take positive action toward creating peace, even if it means taking abuse and invective.

Peacemakers are called sons of God. This is not how they become sons of God—that can only happen by receiving Jesus Christ as Savior (John 1:12). By making peace, believers manifest themselves as sons of God, and God will one day acknowledge them as people who bear the family likeness.

[3]

in Hebrew peace always means everything which makes for a man’s highest good..[4]

The peace which the Bible calls blessed does not come from the evasion of issues; it comes from facing them, dealing with them, and conquering them. What this beatitude demands is not the passive acceptance of things because we are afraid of the trouble of doing anything about them, but the active facing of things, and the making of peace, even when the way to peace is through struggle.[5]

What is peculiar about this word is that it this is the only time in the Bible that it is used so I am going to look at the word peace for our study

First of all let me put forth a biblical warning:

Prov 26:17 17 He that passeth by, and meddlethg with strife belonging not to him, is like one that taketh a dog by the ears. [6]

If you have ever been in this predicament with a bad dog, you know that you are in a losing proposition. You cannot turn loose and you cannot continue to hold on. You will be bit either way and when we meddle we will be hurt either way because we cannot get loose

There is a time to make peace and there is a time to mind your own business!!!

A good rule of thumb is that if you don’t know what they are arguing about it is best to stay out of it

And secondly the best rule is if they do not ask for your help then don’t try and give it!!!

This verse is not saying that we should be actively pursuing the position of the world’s peacemaker because we will have no more success than the United Nations.

What it is saying is that when you are involved or asked for your help than pursue peace and not division and strife.

There is a root of pride in the person who always thinks that they have an answer for everyone else’s problems and most of the time they think that they are humble.

The first step in being a peacemaker is to know the peace that passeth our understanding,

Which is peace with God in all of our circumstances.

John 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace.[7]

Peace-- one” once, “rest” once, and “quietness” once. 1 a state of national tranquillity. 1a exemption from the rage and havoc of war. 2 peace between individuals, i.e. harmony, concord. 3 security, safety, prosperity, felicity, (because peace and harmony make and keep things safe and prosperous). 4 of the Messiah’s peace. 4a the way that leads to peace (salvation). 5 of Christianity, the tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and content with its earthly lot, of whatsoever sort that is. 6 the blessed state of devout and upright men after death.

[8]

If you are constantly agitated and contentious how then can you promote peace, look at your own heart and actions

If you really want to know look at your actions in your own home, are you contentious with your wife, children, husband, mother, father. Are you always arguing agitated, mad or pouting, then do you really think you can be a peacemaker?

Is there constant division in your home even if you are still together?

Where is the Peace of God in that?

Why if you are a peacemaker, do you not suffer the wrong of your spouse, of your children, of your parents and show them the mercy of God? This will devastate their heart more than any stinging rebuke or winning the word war ever will.

This will cause them to cry out to God quicker then anything you can do. Why you say?

Think about it, they will see their actions which are totally not like Christ and then they will see your actions which are like Christ’s and can you not see the total contrast in that?

God will show them themselves when they see the Lord, not when you win the argument.

Peace is also one of the fruits of the Spirit of God

Heb13: 20 Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenantb, 21 Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, workingc in you that which is well pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.[9]

1Thess 5:23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ[10]

God is a God of peace in his work not of contention, intimidation, bullying, agitating.

James 3:18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.

[11]

Heb12:14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord[12]

Eph. 6:15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; [13]

Now we could go on and on, but just a few brief comments and I think you will get the overall picture.

We have seen that God is a God of peace and we know from the scripture that Christ came to bring peace between us and the Father

We have also seen that the fruit of righteousness which must be sown to bring forth more fruit is sown in peace not in contention or in warfare

Also we are to have our feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace and we know that the term feet is symbolic of our daily walk

Finally we see that we are to follow peace with all men not just those we like or agree with. It says all men, remember that it also says live peaceably with all men as much as is in you

Remember the definition of peace—not to be agitated or disturbed

Let us consider this agitation for a minute--- why are we agitated at others when they are not civil towards us, why do we get all disturbed and agitated? If we get very upset because our children or our employees or our congregation does not do as we ask, even though it is their duty, is it not because we really do not trust God’s leading us? If we really believe that God arranges or allows all of our circumstances then why do we get upset at where He is leading. Even though we are wronged, disobeyed, maligned and talked about are we not to handle the situations in a peaceful manner, not returning wrong for wrong.

1 Cor. 6:7-8 Law--- to pronounce judgment, to subject to censure. 5b1 of those who act the part of judges or arbiters in matters of common life, or pass judgment on the deeds and words of others.[14]

Also why are we so agitated when others do not believe like we do? Why do we become so agitated?

Is it not time to cry out to God for help that we might walk in peace.

They shall be called the children of God

To call---- to refer to the proper name of something, to attribute to

Why do we assign proper names to people?

So we know who they are.

Does not say who called them, just that they shall be called

This is where the testimony of the believer becomes active to those with whom he has contact with.

It is when others call you a child of God that the effectiveness of Christ’s life is being witnessed by others, no matter how limited their understanding of Christianity.

It will take time and years for this to be seen in a consistent and steady way

This is not how they become sons of God—that can only happen by receiving Jesus Christ as Savior (John 1:12). By making peace, believers manifest themselves as sons of God, and God will one day acknowledge them as people who bear the family likeness. [15]

Think about the gloriousness of this statement; children of God; we are children of WHO!

Peace in your own heart before you can be of assistance to others—only by pride cometh contention

Also we are to help by bringing peace between the lost and God by pointing them to Christ

The making of peace is sometimes a thankless office, and it is the lot of him who parts a fray, to have blows on both sides; yet it is a good office, and we must be forward to it.[16]

----

[1]The Holy Bible : King James Version. 1995 . Logos Research Systems, Inc.: Oak Harbor, WA

[2]Louw, J. P., & Nida, E. A. 1996, c1989. Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament : Based on semantic domains (electronic ed. of the 2nd edition.) . United Bible societies: New York

[3]MacDonald, W., & Farstad, A. 1997, c1995. Believer's Bible Commentary : Old and New Testaments (electronic ed.) . Thomas Nelson: Nashville

[4]The Gospel of Matthew : Volume. 2000, c1975 (W. Barclay, lecturer in the University of Glasgow, Ed.). The Daily study Bible series, Rev. ed. The Westminster Press: Philadelphia

[5]The Gospel of Matthew : Volume. 2000, c1975 (W. Barclay, lecturer in the University of Glasgow, Ed.). The Daily study Bible series, Rev. ed. The Westminster Press: Philadelphia

g meddleth: or, is enraged

[6]The Holy Bible : King James Version. 1995 . Logos Research Systems, Inc.: Oak Harbor, WA

[7]The Holy Bible : King James Version. 1995 . Logos Research Systems, Inc.: Oak Harbor, WA

[8]Strong, J. 1996. The exhaustive concordance of the Bible : Showing every word of the test of the common English version of the canonical books, and every occurence of each word in regular order. (electronic ed.) . Woodside Bible Fellowship.: Ontario

b covenant: or, testament

c working: or, doing

[9]The Holy Bible : King James Version. 1995 . Logos Research Systems, Inc.: Oak Harbor, WA

[10]The Holy Bible : King James Version. 1995 . Logos Research Systems, Inc.: Oak Harbor, WA

[11]The Holy Bible : King James Version. 1995 . Logos Research Systems, Inc.: Oak Harbor, WA

[12]The Holy Bible : King James Version. 1995 . Logos Research Systems, Inc.: Oak Harbor, WA

[13]The Holy Bible : King James Version. 1995 . Logos Research Systems, Inc.: Oak Harbor, WA

[14]Strong, J. 1996. The exhaustive concordance of the Bible : Showing every word of the test of the common English version of the canonical books, and every occurence of each word in regular order. (electronic ed.) . Woodside Bible Fellowship.: Ontario

[15]MacDonald, W., & Farstad, A. 1997, c1995. Believer's Bible Commentary : Old and New Testaments (electronic ed.) . Thomas Nelson: Nashville

[16]Henry, M. 1996, c1991. Matthew Henry's commentary on the whole Bible : Complete and unabridged in one volume . Hendrickson: Peabody