Blessed are the Peace Makers
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Blessed are the Peace Makers
Blessed are the Peace Makers
9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
The word peacemakers does not imply pacifism, unlike later sections of the sermon. It does not refer to those who do not fight, but those who actively bring conflict to an end.
“Hill notes that peacemakers is a rarely used word in the period, and that it was most commonly used to refer to Roman Emperors who had brought peace”
One after the other, the Beatitudes tell us that the blessings of eternity will be given only to those who have become new creatures.
For example, “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. . . . Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. . . . Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the sons of God.”
If we don’t obtain mercy, we receive judgment.
If we don’t see God, we are not in heaven.
If we aren’t called the sons of God, we are outside the family.
These are all descriptions of final salvation, and it is promised only to the merciful, the pure in heart, and the peacemakers.
Intro
The memory of the Maccabees was vivid in the minds of the Jewish people throughout the time of Jesus’ earthly ministry. The very sight of Roman soldiers was a painful reminder that, under the Maccabees (in the second century BC), the Jews had ruled their own kingdom.
Many, like the zealots, hoped for a military uprising to end Roman rule. This included men like Simon the Zealot, one of Jesus’ disciples. But from the beginning of His ministry, Jesus demonstrated that He had a different mission. He had come to fulfill the ancient prophecy that He would be called the “Prince of Peace” ().
Peace was central to Jesus’ life and ministry. Announcing His birth, the angelic choir declared,
“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased”().
Jesus would tell His disciples, “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you” ().
And He gave them His Word “so that in Me you may have peace” ().
The message of peace was central to the Gospel.
Paul taught that peace was a fruit of the Holy Spirit ().
Believers also could experience God’s peace as they prayed about everything and let their requests be made known to God.
As they practiced the truths of the Gospel, they were promised that “the God of peace” would be with them ().
Today, God still promises blessings to those who are passionate about seeking Him and serving Him. He gives favor to those who want to be instruments of His peace. This means a quest to bring reconciliation to families…heal sick bodies…restore those who are worried…and offer peace with God to all who are troubled.
I “What does ‘blessed are the peacemakers’ mean?"
I “What does ‘blessed are the peacemakers’ mean?"
33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
john
Broadly Speaking
Broadly Speaking
Jesus laid down His life to make peace between God and sinners, and when we can carry that message of peace to others, we are peacemakers.
God delights in those who reconcile others to Himself—those who bring the gospel are “beautiful” ().
7 How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; That bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; That saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!
God “reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation” ().
18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
So what did Jesus mean by peacemaker? A working definition of a peacemaker is someone who is actively seeking to reconcile people to God and to one another. Let’s look closely at the word peacemaker. Easily we can see that this compound word is comprised of two very common words: “peace” and “maker.”
It is important to remember that peace in the Bible is always based on justice and righteousness. Where justice prevails and righteousness rules, there you will also have peace. But without those two virtues, lasting peace is not possible.
The word make in the term “peacemakers” comes from the Greek verb that means “to do” or “to make.” It is a word bursting with energy. It mandates action and initiative. Someone has to drag the combatants to the table and give them a reason to put down their arms. Notice Jesus did not say “Blessed are the peacewishers or the peacehopers or the peacedreamers or the peacelovers or the peacetalkers.” Peace must be made. Peace never happens by chance. A peacemaker is never passive. They always take the initiative. They are up and doing.
So when these two words are taken together, “peace” and “maker,” it describes one who actively pursues peace. The peacemaker pursues more than the absence of conflict; they don’t avoid strife (in fact, sometimes, peacemaking will create strife); they aren’t merely seeking to appease the warring parties;
God “reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation” (). Those who bring reconciliation to broken relationships are carrying on the work of Jesus, the Prince of Peace. Those who give of themselves as Jesus did in order that others may know God are called "blessed." There is no real peace apart from a relationship with God (). What may masquerade as worldly peace is merely a temporary lull in chaos (). True peace is found only in a restored relationship with God. “‘There is no peace,’ says the LORD, ‘for the wicked’” ().
Those who bring reconciliation to broken relationships are carrying on the work of Jesus, the Prince of Peace.
Those who give of themselves as Jesus did in order that others may know God are called "blessed."
There is no real peace apart from a relationship with God ()
1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
Only children of God can bring the peace of knowing God to others.
A person must have a real relationship with God before he or she can help someone else know God. Those who witness for Christ, share their faith with their friends, and serve others in the name of Christ are the ambassadors for peace this verse identifies (see also ).
Those who bring the wonderful message of God's peace to the world are "peacemakers," and Jesus calls them the "children of God."
A parent that bring peace with God to his child by leading them to the Lord
A co-worker that describes the peace with God through salvation in Christ
17 And the way of peace have they not known:
A child of God should be an active peace maker
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.”
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.”
II Peacemakers Have a New Heart
II Peacemakers Have a New Heart
24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.
A peacemaker is someone that has made peace with God though salvation in Jesus Christ.
1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
A peacemaker is someone that has made peace with God though salvation in Jesus Christ.
One after the other, the Beatitudes tell us that the blessings of eternity will be given only to those who have become new creatures.
One after the other, the Beatitudes tell us that the blessings of eternity will be given only to those who have become new creatures.
If we don’t obtain mercy, we receive judgment.
If we don’t see God, we are not in heaven.
If we aren’t called the sons of God, we are outside the family.
These are all descriptions of final salvation, and it is promised only to the merciful, the pure in heart, and the peacemakers.
John Piper - Thus, the Beatitudes are like long spikes holding down the lid of the coffin on the false teaching that says if you just believe in Jesus, then you will go to heaven — whether or not you are merciful, or pure in heart, or a peacemaker.
From beginning to end, the Sermon on the Mount cries out, “Get yourself a new heart! Become a new person! The river of judgment is at the door!”
You recall the words of verse 20: “Unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven” ().
At the very end of the sermon in , the Lord calls out over the crowds,
26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:
In other words, a life of disobedience to the Beatitudes and to the Sermon on the Mount will not stand in the judgment no matter what we believe.
III Peacemakers seek Peace with Others
III Peacemakers seek Peace with Others
I was convicted this past week that I have probably not treated this dimension of the Beatitudes with as much earnestness and seriousness as I should, and that the care that I have for your eternal good has not shown itself as genuinely as it must. My conscience was pricked in reading an old book by Horatius Bonar to pastors in which he said,
Our words are feeble, even when sound and true; our looks are careless, even when our words are weighty; and our tones betray the apathy which both words and looks disguise. (Words to Winners of Souls, 55)
“Jesus cries from beginning to end, ‘Get yourself a new heart.’”
12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
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I want to impress upon your consciences this morning with as much earnestness as I can that Jesus is not making optional suggestions in the Beatitudes, and this sermon is not a series of suggestions on how to make the world better. On the contrary, Jesus is describing the pathway to heaven, and this sermon is a message from God to urge you to get on that pathway and stay on that pathway so that you can be called sons of God at the last judgment.
That is what is at stake this morning. If you are on the narrow path, which leads to life, my purpose is to help you stay on it. And if you are still in the broad way that leads to destruction, my purpose is to direct you to the path of life.
True Children Resemble Their Father
Whn Jesus says, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the sons of God,” he is not telling us how to become a son of God.
Its not how to but what you are .....
Video - a recient convert talked about her life before Christ as a 3rd person or a stranger.
That right a peace maker is a new child ....
Rather, Jesus is simply saying that sons of God are, in fact, peacemakers.
People who are peacemakers will be recognized as the sons of God at the judgment and welcomed into the Father’s house.
Jesus Made Peace
Jesus Made Peace
Jesus says in that people who have become sons of God have the character of their heavenly Father.
We know from Scripture that the heavenly Father is a “God of peace” (; ; ), that heaven is a world of peace (), and most important of all, that God is a peacemaker (; ).
20 And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.
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.
1 thess
“God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them” (). “He made peace by the blood of the cross” ().
Even though by nature we are rebels against God, have committed high treason against him, and are worthy to be eternally court-marshaled and hanged by the neck until dead, nevertheless, God has sacrificed his own Son and now declares amnesty free and clear to any who will lay down their arms of independence and come home to faith.
As children we should be like out father ....
So in a since if God reconciled us rebels to him … and we are to be like him should we not seek to reconcile with others?
So in a since if God reconciled us rebels to him … and we are to be like him should we not seek to reconcile with others?
32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.
23 Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; 24 Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift. 25 Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison. 26 Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing.
Peacemaking is a divine work. God is the author of peace.
What he loves, they love.
What he loves, they love.
What he pursues, they pursue. You can know his children by whether they are willing to make sacrifices for peace the way God did.
By the sovereign work of God’s grace, rebel human beings are born again, and brought from rebellion to faith, and made into children of God. We were given a new nature, after the image of our heavenly Father ().
I
He paid an enormous price for us to experience peace. In fact, the very same word, peacemakers, which is used of us in this Beatitude, is applied by the apostle Paul to what God has done through Christ so that we could be at peace with God.
The Spirit of God Is the Spirit of Peace
The messianic predictions were that he would be the “Prince of Peace” ().
To put it another way, as Paul says in , “because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, ‘Abba! Father!’” He also says in , “For all who are led by the Spirit of God are the sons of God.” Being led by the Spirit always includes bearing the fruit of the Spirit. And the fruit of the Spirit is peace.
The angels announced his birth by singing, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth (B) to people He favors!” ().
Jesus’ persistent word of absolution to sinners was, “Go in peace!” Just before he was crucified, Jesus’ last will and testament was, “Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Your heart must not be troubled or fearful” ().
When the Lord returned after the resurrection, his first word to the disciples was “Shalom.” "Peace to you!" ().
The life of Jesus was saturated with his mission to bring the peace of God and to initiate the healing relationships of peace with God.
So you see why it must be so — the children of God must be peacemakers. It is by the Spirit of God that we are made children of God, and the Spirit of God is the Spirit of peace. If we are not peacemakers, we don’t have the Spirit of Christ.
So we do not earn or merit the privilege to be called sons of God, rather we owe our new birth to the sovereign grace of God (). We owe our faith to the impulses of the new birth () and receive the Holy Spirit by the exercise of this faith (). The fruit of this Spirit is peace (), and those who bear the fruit of peace are the sons of God.
He paid an enormous price for us to experience peace. In fact, the very same word, peacemakers, which is used of us in this Beatitude, is applied by the apostle Paul to what God has done through Christ so that we could be at peace with God. Through Christ God was pleased “. . . to reconcile everything to Himself by making peace through the blood of His cross” (). Furthermore, the apostle Paul informed us that Jesus “. . . might create in Himself one new man from the two, resulting in peace” (). Jesus saw the gravity of our problem and he refused to sweep it under the rug or stick his head in the sand. Only a drastic solution would suffice, so he “made peace” by shedding his blood on the cross. Christ is our supreme example in bringing peace in our hearts, our relationships, our church, our nation, and our world.
Our whole salvation, from beginning to end, is all of grace — therein lies our hope and joy and freedom. But our final salvation is not unconditional. We must be peacemakers. Therein lies the earnestness and great seriousness with which we must deal with these Beatitudes, and seek the grace of God in our lives.
Push For Peace
43 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. 44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; 45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
The promise of sonship in the second half of the points us to for our main insight. Both of these texts describe how we can show ourselves to be sons of God.
The promise of sonship in the second half of the points us to for our main insight. Both of these texts describe how we can show ourselves to be sons of God.
We show ourselves to be peacemakers by reconciling with others.....
Notice verse 45: “So that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven.” The thought is the same as in . There, we must be peacemakers to be called sons of God. Here, we must love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us if we would be sons of God.
“If our Father is a peacemaker, then his children will be peacemakers too.”
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So probably Jesus thinks of peacemaking as all the acts of love by which we try to overcome the enmity between us and other people. And if we ask for specifics, he gives two examples:
First, pray for those who persecute you ().
Pray what? The next chapter tells us. In –10Jesus says, “Pray like this.” Pray that you and your enemy would hallow God’s name. Pray that God’s kingdom be acknowledged in your life and his life. Pray that you and he would do God’s will the way the angels do it in heaven. In other words, pray for conversion and sanctification. The basis of peace is purity. Pray for yours and pray for his, that there might be peace.
Peacemaking tries to build bridges to people — it does not want the animosity to remain.
It wants reconciliation. It wants harmony. And so it tries to show what may be the only courtesy the enemy will tolerate, namely, a greeting. The peacemaker looks the enemy right in the eye and says, “Good morning, John.” And he says it with a longing for peace in his heart, not with a phony gloss of politeness to cover his anger.
So we pray and we take whatever practical initiatives we can to make peace beginning with something as simple as a greeting. But we do not always succeed. And I want to make sure you don’t equate peacemaking with peace-achieving. A peacemaker longs for peace, and works for peace, and sacrifices for peace. But the attainment of peace may not come.
is very important at this point. There Paul says, “If possible, so far as it depends upon you, live peaceably with all.” That is the goal of a peacemaker: “If possible, so far as it depends on you . . . “ Don’t let the rupture in the relationship be your fault.
IV Peacemakers Sometimes Fail
IV Peacemakers Sometimes Fail
18 For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it. 19 For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you.
18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.
Yet, this raises a tough question: Is it your fault when the stand that you take is causing the division? If you have alienated someone and brought down their anger upon your head because you have done or said what is right, have you ceased to be a peacemaker?
18 For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it. 19 For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you.
Now, Paul would not have said that if he meant for the genuine Christians to compromise the truth in order to prevent divisions at all cost.
Jesus said in ,
34 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.
In other words, you must love peace and work for peace.
You must pray for your enemies, and do good to them, and greet them, and long for the barriers between you to be overcome.
But you must never abandon your allegiance to me and my word, no matter how much animosity it brings down on your head.
You are not guilty; you are not in the wrong if your life of obedience and your message of love and truth elicit hostility from some and affirmation from others.
You may do all you can do to reconcile and restore a relationship and all it brings is anger and turmoil. That does not mean you are not a peacemaker ...
Illustration -
I have has more than I care to remember people that have left this church angry with me over a position I took on marriage, sexual promiscuity etc....
I did it with love
It prayed
Somtimes I cried
But they left
Does that make me not a peacemaker? absolutely not
18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.
Are you a peacemaker?
Do you have a new heart?
Do you activity try to bring peace with God and men?
Do you try to bring peace between yourself and others?
Perhaps it’s just this warning that Jesus wants to sound when the very next Beatitude says, “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake.” In other words, righteousness must not be compromised in order to make peace with your persecutors. When Jesus pronounces a blessing on you for being persecuted for the sake of righteousness, he clearly subordinates the goal of peace to the goal of righteousness.
says, “The wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable.” First pure, then peaceable — not the other way around. And that is the order we have in the Beatitudes also. First, “Blessed are the pure in heart,” then, “Blessed are the peacemakers.” Purity takes precedence over peace. Purity is the basis of biblical peace. Purity may not be compromised in order to make peace.
Jesus Cares About Your Soul
Now I want to close by dealing with one more question that a message like this would raise for some people today. Why, in view of the world situation, does this message on peacemaking confine itself to the personal dimensions of prayer and greetings and individual reconciliation? Aren’t these personal issues insignificant in comparison with the issues of nuclear war, military budgets, arms talks in Geneva, apartheid in South Africa, civil wars in Central America, religious oppression in Romania and Russia, and international terrorism?
“Purity is the basis of biblical peace.”
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Before we answer that question, let’s ask another one. Was Jesus unaware that the iron hand of the Roman Empire rested on the tiny land of the Jews without their consent? Was he aware that Archelaus slaughtered three-thousand Jews at a Passover celebration? Was he aware that the Roman soldiers could conscript any Jew they chose to carry their baggage? Was he aware that Pilate had his soldiers bludgeon a crowd of Jews protesting his stealing from the temple treasury? Was he aware that Pilate massacred Jews on the temple ground and mixed their blood with their sacrifices they were offering?
When Jesus spoke of enemies, why did he confine himself to prayer and personal greetings and blessings and individual deeds of generosity and kindness? Why didn’t he talk about the issues of national humiliation, and Roman oppression, and political corruption, and the unbridled militarism of his day? Was he utterly out of touch with the big issues of his day?
Social Injustice Demands Personal Repentance
No, there is a better explanation for why he preaches the way he does. In some people confronted Jesus with one of Pilate’s atrocities. Here’s the way he responded:
There were some present at that very time who told him of the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And he answered them, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way? No, I tell you; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.”
He took a major social outrage of injustice and turned it into a demand for personal, individual repentance. “Unless you repent you will all likewise perish!” That’s what he always did. Why did he do this? Because for Jesus the eternal destiny of a human soul is a weightier matter, a bigger issue, than the temporal destiny of a nation.
If you come to Jesus with a question about the justice of taxes to Tiberias Caesar, he will turn it into a personal command aimed right at your own heart: “You give to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and to God the things that are God’s” ().
If you come to Jesus with a complaint about the injustice of your brother who will not divide the inheritance with you, he will turn it into a warning to your own conscience, “Man, who made me a judge or arbitrator over you? . . . Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions” ().
Righteousness Is a Weighty Matter
Now let’s go back to the question: Why does a message on peacemaking from the Sermon on the Mount focus on the individual issues of prayer and greetings and personal reconciliation? Aren’t these personal issues insignificant in comparison with the issues of nuclear war, military budgets, arms talks in Geneva, apartheid in South Africa, civil wars in Central America, religious oppression in Romania and Russia, and international terrorism?
The answer is no, because the point of these personal issues in the Sermon on the Mount is to make crystal clear that every individual within the hearing of my voice must become a new creature if you are to have eternal life. You must have a new heart. Without a merciful, pure, peacemaking heart you cannot be called a son of God at the judgment day. And that is the truly weighty matter in the world today. Is the Son of Man confined in his views of the world, is he out of touch with the real issues of life because he regards the eternal salvation of your soul as a weightier matter than the temporal destiny of any nation on earth?
Blessed are you peacemakers who pray for your enemies and greet your opponents with love and sacrifice like your heavenly Father for the reconciliation of people to God and to each other, for you will be called sons of God and inherit eternal life in the kingdom of your Father.