Matthew 5:9 - Blessed Are The Peacemakers.
Matthew 5:9 (KJV) Blessed are the
peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of
God.
Matthew 5:9 (NLT) God blesses those who work
for peace, for they will be called the children
of God.
INTRODUCTION
Peacemakers. The Hebrew equivalent of the
Greek eirene, is shalom, meaning
completeness, soundness, prosperity,
condition of well-being, peace. [SDA Bible
Commentary]
Peacemakers Those who actively work to bring
about peace and reconciliation where there is
hatred and enmity. [Holmans Bible Dictionary]
COMMENTARY PEARL
Christ is "the Prince of Peace" (Isaiah
9:6), and it is His mission to restore to earth
and heaven the peace that sin has broken. "Being
justified by faith, we have peace with God through our
Lord Jesus Christ." Romans 5:1. Whoever consents
to renounce sin and open his heart to the love
of Christ, becomes a partaker of this heavenly
peace. There is no other ground of peace than
this. The grace of Christ received into the heart,
subdues enmity; it allays strife and fills the soul
with love. He who is at peace with God and his
fellow men cannot be made miserable. Envy will not
be in his heart; evil surmisings will find no
room there; hatred cannot exist. The heart that
is in harmony with God is a partaker of the
peace of heaven and will diffuse its blessed
influence on all around. The spirit of peace will rest
like dew upon hearts weary and troubled with
worldly strife. Christ's followers are sent to the
world with the message of peace. Whoever, by the
quiet, unconscious influence of a holy life, shall
reveal the love of Christ; whoever, by word or
deed, shall lead another to renounce sin and yield
his heart to God, is a peacemaker. MB27-28
COMMENTARY
You long for it. We all do. It's that
state of peace, wholeness, contentment, and
completion - a sense that everything is right in your
world. We spend much of our lives trying to arrange
it, plan for it, pay for it, and pursue it
however else we can. Why? Because this Hebrew
concept of shalom - a word we often translate as
"peace - is what we were made for. We were created
for fullness of life.
That's essentially what Jesus was talking
about when He promised abundant life, and it's at
the heart of what He's talking about here. Yes,
peacemakers help reduce conflict and bring people
together, but the bigger concept of shalom is surely
behind this Beatitude. Blessed are those who make
shalom, who seek restoration and wholeness in their
lives, the lives of others, and the world at large.
Shalom is a Kingdom pursuit because it's in the
heart of the King. He wants us all to be well.
Most of us understand that instinctively.
We know the world is not as it should be, and
neither are our own lives. We desperately long for
the satisfaction and fullness of a restored,
abundant life. And we're pretty good about seeking it
for ourselves. But Jesus' blessing goes beyond
ourselves. The true seekers of shalom, the peacemakers
who will be happy, are those who have a global
focus. They pray for God's Kingdom of shalom to
come here on earth, just as it is in heaven. They
seek the Kingdom culture everywhere.
Shalom is the prevailing climate in God's
Kingdom. People who thrive on conflict,
contentiousness, criticism, cynicism, angst, and all other
anti-shalom attitudes can't experience it. But if we are
among those who seek it - if we are true
peacemakers of this world who cultivate wholeness,
harmony, and abundance - we will be blessed, entirely
happy, and called the children of God.
Shalom-makers partner with God to transform lives and
advance the Kingdom culture. We reflect the heart of
our Father so thoroughly that we become vessels
of His shalom everywhere. [The One Year Heaven
On Earth Devotional by Chris Tiegreen]
A Different Kind of Peacemaker
In the past four thousand years on our
planet, there have been less than 300 years without
a major war somewhere. Someone has even
described peace as that glorious moment in history
when everyone stops to reload.
Were a people in constant conflict.
James wrote, Where do wars and fights come from
among you? Do they not come from your desires for
pleasure that war in your members? (James 4:1
NKJV).
Jesus said, Blessed are the
peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God
(Matthew 5:9 NKJV).
This is something that most everyone
would applaud. Yes, blessed are the
peacemakers, we say. Lets work for peace. Lets
march for peace.
However, Jesus wasnt really talking
about world peace here, though we all want world
peace.
In context this verse primarily means,
Blessed are those who have seen themselves as they
really are: Sinners without a Savior, humble and
meek, hungering and thirsting after righteousness.
Blessed are those who have a single focus on God and
want others to come into the same relationship
with Him because theyre bringing the message
of the Prince of Peace.
The Bible says, How beautiful are the
feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, who
bring glad tidings of good things! (Romans
10:15 NKJV).
Yet know this: peacemakers are often
troublemakers. For example, maybe youre the only
Christian in your family. But then one day you became
a Christian and wrecked it all. You ruined
everything. Your family was in a dark place, you just
turned on the light, and everyone noticed it.
Just hang in there and keep following the
Lord. Pretty soon another family member will come
to Christ and then another. And before you know
it, youll be a Christian family because
Christ intervened.
A happy or blessed person will be a
peacemaker. [Greg Laurie from Harvest Ministries;
https://www.harvestdaily.com]
PRACTICAL APPLICATION
When I think of peacemakers, I think of
ambassadors and diplomats. I'm neither. In fact, on a
recent trip to babysit our three grandchildren, I
struggled to negotiate whose turn it was to pick a
story or which child got to play with a special
toy.
But Jesus spoke of peace in a different
way: "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give
you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do
not let your hearts be troubled and do not be
afraid" (John 14:27, NIV).
He calls me to notice the troubled and
fearful hearts around me and bring people the true
source of peace: Himself. The world will continue
to be full of conflict until His return, and if
I focus on that, I can grow discouraged.
Conflict and tension can arise between countries but
also in my interpersonal relationships. As I
learned while babysitting, making peace can be an
exhausting effort. Yet I can still offer comfort and
hope to people - at home or in the world - who
are wounded. I can seek justice for those who
are oppressed and remind others that Jesus
offers peace the world cannot give.
In fact, sometimes I need to speak peace
to my own troubled thoughts and remind myself
to look to Jesus. Today I want to walk in His
peace that surpasses understanding, ready to share
it with others. Sharon Hinck
Faith Step: Do you have a friend who
needs peace - from her own anxiety or a difficult
relationship? Find a way to be a loving presence and
reflect the peace of Christ today. [Mornings With
Jesus 2022 Devotional by Guideposts and
Zondervan]
LINK FOR FURTHER STUDY ON THIS PASSAGE
Matthew 5:9 - What Is A Peacemaker.
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2005/20051024-1030.html
YOUR COMMENTS
If anyone has a paraphrase, commentary or
testimony on this passage of Scripture, either
personal or otherwise, I would be interested in
hearing from you. Thanks in advance and let's keep
uplifting Jesus that all might be drawn to Him. Fred
Gibbs
LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT
Most Important Decision in Life:
http://www.youtube.com/embed/WGnEuGwvXqU?rel=0
A Man without Equal by Bill Bright:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NiVa7UoruIo
Steps to Peace by Billy Graham:
https://stepstopeace.org/
Seeking God Made Real:
http://vimeo.com/31489782
Prayer Made Real:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tc8VdMV26VE
LINKS FOR BIBLE STUDIES
Lifting Up Jesus Bible Studies:
http://www.liftingupjesus.net/
Amazing Facts Bible Studies:
http://www.amazingfacts.org/bible-study/bible-study-guides.aspx
Voice of Prophecy Discover Bible Study
Guides:
https://www.voiceofprophecy.com/study/discover
Glow Tract Video Bible Studies:
http://www.bibleresearch.info/
LINKS FOR BIBLE PROPHECY SEMINARS
Unlocking Bible Prophecies by Cami Oetman of
Adventist World Radio: https://www.awr.org/bible
Panorama of Prophecy with Pastor Doug
Batchelor: https://www.panoramaofprophecy.com/
Hope Awakens by John Bradshaw of IIW:
https://itiswritten.tv/programs/hope-awakens
Prophecies Decoded by Pastor Ron Clouzet:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1A435C5373550657
Islam and Christianity in Prophecy, The
Third and Final Conflict by Tim Roosenberg:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gHSJB-fuHLU&list=PLWhQIHGTHlkaGg5Cwe3NDzWtFX8vNSpsE
