Blessed Are the Peacemakers

Matthew 5:9

Blessed are the peacemakers,

For they shall be called sons of God.

Each beatitude so far has outlined that it is imperative that, in order to inherit the kingdom of heaven, in order to see God, believers cannot act like unbelievers. There must be a change of attitude, a change in actions, and a change in person. Jesus makes this clear in Matthew 5:20, “For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.”

The beatitudes are not optional. They are not merely suggestions on how to make society better. On the contrary, Jesus is outlining the path to heaven. There’s a lot at stake. Get on that pathway to heaven and stay on it. Then you will be called sons of God.

Sons of God are peacemakers. Jesus isn’t saying that all peacemakers are sons of God. There are many that aren’t. But to see how to become sons of God we can see some New Testament passages.

Look at John 1:12 and Galatians 3:26. Both indicate we become sons of God through faith, by trusting in Christ for forgiveness.

It is also evident from the Old Testament that being a peacemaker is reflecting the character of God Himself. Our heavenly Father is a ‘God of peace’ (Romans 16:20; 1 Thessalonians 5:23; Hebrews 13:20). We also know that heaven is a place of peace (Luke 19:38).  And finally we know that God is a peacemaker.

“God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation” (2 Corinthians 5:19). By the blood of the cross God made peace (Colossians 1:20).

Therefore God’s children are peace-loving and peace-making too. We are given a new nature, an image of God (1 John 3:9). So if He is a peacemaker, His children will be too.

We don’t earn the title of sons of God. We owe it to the grace of God (John 1:13), to the new birth (1 John 5:1), and to the faith we have been given by the Spirit (Galatians 3:2). The fruit of the Spirit is peace (Galatians 5:22), and those who bear fruit are called sons of God.

Matthew 5:9 says we can show that we are sons of God by showing that we are peacemakers. This means making peace where there is none. Jesus further explains this in Matthew 5:43-45. Here too we are promised the reward of being sons of God:

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven.”

Here, if we are to be sons of God, we must love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us. Pray so there might be unity. Greet him when you meet him (Matthew 5:47). Build a bridge to your enemies. Repair the ruptures between you and them. Do it with a longing for peace and not a hypocritical politeness to cover your feelings of enmity.

Don’t be discouraged if you don’t succeed. A peacemaker is not always a peace-achiever. Romans 12:18, “If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.” If possible. As much as depends on you.

Now why does the Sermon on the Mount focus on individual peacemaking between people, when there are seemingly more significant issues such as world wars, persecutions and terrorisms?

The point of this beatitude is that everyone must become a new person if you want to see God, if you want to have eternal life. Without a peacemaking person you cannot be called a son of God. That is a more significant issue than wars and terrorism. The eternal salvation of a soul is more important than the temporal situation of a nation or region on earth. Jesus says so.

Blessed are those who greet their enemies with love, pray for them, and make peace with them. For they shall be called sons of God, and they shall inherit eternal life.

See the full series on The Beatitudes here.