Commands of Christ-12h
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Ice Breaker
For the past few days I have been thinking about how it seems to me, that the previous beatitudes lead to the 7th beatitude: Blessed are the Peacemakers.
I have come to the conclusion that if the previous 6 beatitudes are not in our lives, we should probably refrain from attempting to do any more than point people to peace with God.
So, we need:
To be poor in spirit - to recognize that we are nothing and God is everything — that as Jesus said in:
5 I am the vine, you are the branches; the one who remains in Me, and I in him bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.
Studies in the Sermon on the Mount Chapter Four: Blessed Are the Poor in Spirit (5:3)
This, of necessity, is the one which must come at the beginning for the good reason that there is no entry into the kingdom of heaven, or the kingdom of God, apart from it. There is no-one in the kingdom of God who is not poor in spirit. It is the fundamental characteristic of the Christian and of the citizen of the kingdom of heaven, and all the other characteristics are in a sense the result of this one.
To mourn sin — to take a completely different view of sin than the world does
To be meek (or gentle or humble) - can you imagine the destruction of the prideful person who purports to be a peacemaker?
Let ME tell YOU, if you would just be like I am … your marriage, your relation ship with your children
Who hunger and thirst for righteousness — who, in fact, prioritize seeking God Kingdom and righteousness
33 But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided to you.
The merciful
Jesus tells us in:
33 Should you not also have had mercy on your fellow slave, in the same way that I had mercy on you?’ 34 And his master, moved with anger, handed him over to the torturers until he would repay all that was owed him. 35 My heavenly Father will also do the same to you, if each of you does not forgive his brother from your heart.”
The pure in heart
These are the people who SEE God — not just in heaven, but in the present
If someone is going to step into your life, don’t you want them to “be on the mainline with Jesus?” To be receiving supernatural revelation and wisdom?
Let’s not give any excuses for not telling people of the peace that comes through relationship with Jesus.
At the same time let us refrain from meddling in people’s lives if we don’t have a lot of these beatitudes in evidence in our lives.
Pray for the person.
Ask the Lord to lead you to someone who CAN speak into their lives/relationships.
And then, here’s some extra:
Peacemaking leads to persecution — the 8th beatitude.
We will talk about THIS beatitude in a few weeks.
Lesson Introduction
So last week we started studying this beatitude.
We asked the question: For what are we seeking?
An absence of conflict?
Is that what is intended by this Greek word?
As we heard last week, Jay Younts says:
Thus, the goal for achieving peace cannot be the absence of conflict. Rather, for Christians, our goal must be to know Christ in the middle of the conflict. The Bible teaches that we are to return good for evil. Instead of eliminating conflict, the Christian overcomes conflict with the powerful force of good.
Of course, with this statement Younts is only talking about OUR peace. WE can be at peace with others even as they are NOT at peace with us.
17 Never repay evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all people. 18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all people.
But more probably this word, only used here, means to be a person who makes or maintains peace (the Greek word IS used to translate the Hebrew word shalom).
The first use of which is:
Genesis 15:13-15 (NASB) 13 God said to Abram, "Know for certain that your descendants will be strangers in a land that is not theirs, where they will be enslaved and oppressed four hundred years. 14 "But I will also judge the nation whom they will serve, and afterward they will come out with many possessions. 15 "As for you, you shall go to your fathers in peace; you will be buried at a good old age.
The “peace” (Shalom) of verse 15 stands in contrast with “enslavement and oppression” of Abraham’s descendents.
Helping us to understand that shalom: (Complete Biblical Library) would include contentment, prosperity, freedom from oppression by others and a sense of completion.
So, it would seem Jesus is telling us that He intends we make and maintain shalom with others.
Work for a cessation of conflict.
Work for continuous conflict-free relations with or between others.
Work for others’ prosperity, contentment and sense of completion.
But, if we are going to have peace with others I think we will have to have an absence of conflict — even if it means losing our rights to others.
5 I say this to your shame. Is it so, that there is not among you anyone wise who will be able to decide between his brothers and sisters, 6 but brother goes to law with brother, and that before unbelievers? 7 Actually, then, it is already a defeat for you, that you have lawsuits with one another. Why not rather suffer the wrong? Why not rather be defrauded?
Jesus also commanded (that’s what this study is about!)
38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39 “But I say to you, do not resist an evil person; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. 40 “If anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, let him have your coat also. 41 “Whoever forces you to go one mile, go with him two.
So we come to the Amplified version of this beatitude (I READ):
9 Blessed (enjoying enviable happiness, spiritually prosperous—with life-joy and satisfaction in God’s favor and salvation, regardless of their outward conditions) are the makers and maintainers of peace, for they shall be called the sons of God!
Again, I think D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones can be helpful:
Studies in the Sermon on the Mount (Chapter Eleven: Blessed Are the Peacemakers (5:9))
What is it, then, to be a peacemaker?
He is one about whom we can say two main things.
Passively, we can say that he is peaceable, for a quarrelsome person cannot be a peacemaker.
Then, actively, this person must be pacific, he must be one who makes peace actively.
He is not content to ‘let sleeping dogs lie’, he is not concerned about maintaining the status quo. He desires peace, and he does all he can to produce peace and to maintain it.
He is a man who actively sees that there should be peace between man and man, and group and group, and nation and nation.
Obviously, therefore, I think we can argue that he is a man who is finally and ultimately concerned about the fact that all men should be at peace with God.
There, essentially, is the peacemaker, both passively and actively, negatively and positively pacific, one who not only does not make trouble, but who goes out of his way to produce peace.
So we come to your homework:
From what you know about Jesus’ life, in what ways was He a peacemaker? In what ways did He stir things up? For what purpose did He say and do those things—for the sake of argument or for some greater purpose? Explain.
The peacemaking He accomplished was between us and God:
That was His priority:
1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we also have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we celebrate in hope of the glory of God.
27 Peace I leave you, My peace I give you; not as the world gives, do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, nor fearful.
32 Behold, an hour is coming, and has already come, for you to be scattered, each to his own home, and to leave Me alone; and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me. 33 These things I have spoken to you so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”
Bringing us into peace did NOT lead to Jesus being at peace with the people around Him.
Many people hated Him (and were NOT at peace with Him):
Scribes, lawyers and Pharisees
Crowds of people
Herod
Pilate
Moneychangers
So, when it comes to Jesus giving us an example of making peace between people:
34 “Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.
13 Now someone in the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the family inheritance with me.” 14 But He said to him, “You there—who appointed Me a judge or arbitrator over the two of you?” 15 But He said to them, “Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed; for not even when one is affluent does his life consist of his possessions.”
What reward did Jesus promise those making peace? Why?
They will be called sons of God.
Oh, look! Another instance where WE are called God’s sons and daughters — but only Jesus is the Beloved Son of God.
In other words, believers are like Jesus Himself when they seek to bring others to peace with their Father, and one day He will openly acknowledge such persons as His sons and daughters.
Like Jesus Himself.
One day? Now?
Why?
The ministry of peacemaking involves resolving conflict by making prompt apologies and acts of restitution, refusing to seek revenge, and humbly serving and loving one’s enemies.
The promise that peacemakers will be called sons of God probably means that Jesus’ authentic disciples emulate God by undertaking the ministry of reconciliation. Thus at the final judgment they shall be accepted as the sons (and daughters) of God.
Read Romans 12:9-21
9 Love must be free of hypocrisy. Detest what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor, 11 not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; 12 rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer, 13 contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality. 14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. 16 Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation. 17 Never repay evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all people. 18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all people. 19 Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written: “Vengeance is mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. 20 “But if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
How does this passage help you understand the application of Jesus’ words in Matthew 5:9?
(Write on white Board)
Peace comes when we love without hypocrisy.
It definitely does NOT bring peace when we abhor evil and cling to what is good.
Peace DOES come:
When we are devoted to one another.
Give preference to others.
Honor others.
Considering verse 18 in context of the passage, what is your God-given responsibility in relationships?
Doing everything we just listed.
And: Watch our mouths.
A characteristic of old people is they speak their minds.
Is that a good thing when it comes to being a peacemaker?
Sometimes being a peacemaker means keeping our “traps” shut.
Isn’t it interesting that our mouth is referred to as a “trap?”
Why do you think that is?
19 When there are many words, transgression is unavoidable, But he who restrains his lips is wise.
12 It is foolish to belittle one’s neighbor; a sensible person keeps quiet.
So, I think NOT gossiping will help to keep peace.
Jesus gave us an example:
21 For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps, 22 who committed no sin, nor was any deceit found in His mouth; 23 and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously;
Thinking in terms of God’s kingdom, what do you think is the point of exhibiting these peacemaker behaviors in relationships?
We are to love others and pursue peace—inside and outside the church family—no matter what has happened. Paul’s teaching is challenging, but it is God’s Word that Christians of all times and cultures need to obey. God loved us when we were His enemies and made us into His friends (Rom. 5:10; Col. 1:21). Believers are like their heavenly Father when they act the same way (Matt. 5:44-45). When we do, we are spiritual peacemakers and sons of God, demonstrating the priority of God’s righteousness over our own rightness.
Again Lloyd-Jones:
Studies in the Sermon on the Mount Chapter Eleven: Blessed Are the Peacemakers (5:9)
But this blessed God of peace has not, I say it with reverence, ‘stood upon His dignity’; He has come, He has done something. God has made peace. He has humbled Himself in His Son to produce it. That is why the peacemakers are ‘children of God’. What they do is to repeat what God has done. If God stood upon His rights and dignity, upon His Person, every one of us, and the whole of mankind, would be consigned to hell and absolute perdition. It is because God is a ‘God of peace’ that He sent His Son, and thus provided a way of salvation for us. To be a peacemaker is to be like God, and like the Son of God. He is called, you will remember, ‘the Prince of Peace’, and you know what He did as the Prince of Peace. Though He counted it not robbery to be equal with God, He humbled Himself. There was no need for Him to come. He came deliberately because He is the Prince of Peace.
Application
Help your group identify how the truths from the Scripture passage apply directly to their lives.
Are there some relationships where making peace is a genuine struggle for you? Why?
Is the promise of God acknowledging the way you carry out His ministry of reconciliation worth whatever it is you have to give up to bring peace in those situations? Why?
How are we doing as a group at being peacemakers? How can we do better?
Brother Jay is leading the Bible study the next 2 Wednesdays — if he can get through the material?
After he finishes I will pick up with the last beatitude which I think will work fine coming after the teaching of Bro. Jay.
Pray