Blessed Are the Peacemakers, For They Will Be Called Children of God
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“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” Matthew 5:9 (NIV)
Now we come to the seventh of the eight beatitudes that Jesus said would be characteristic of kingdom living people. Citizens of the kingdom of God are not just peaceable, but they are more intentional, they are “peacemakers.” They not only pursue peace in their own lives but strive to reconcile others who are at odds. Paul calls this “the ministry of reconciliation” to which kingdom citizens have been called. In 2 Corinthians 5:16-20 (NIV) he writes, “So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And He has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making His appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.” Peacemakers are ministers of reconciliation with the only message of reconciliation that can bring peace between sinful people and a holy God. As peacemakers, we are called ambassadors for Christ! An ambassador is the representative of one king in the court of another. As “Christ’s ambassadors” we live in a fallen world as citizens of the Kingdom of God to bring a message of reconciliation that brings peace of heart and peace of mind to troubled souls. What a profound purpose this gives every child of God. No wonder Jesus said, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.”
It’s interesting to note the order of each beatitude Jesus gave at the beginning of His Sermon on the Mount. The sixth beatitude described the pure in heart that would see God. First comes purity and then peace. You can never really have peace apart from purity. And before purity came poverty of spirit. We had to recognize just how spiritually bankrupt we really were before we could enter the kingdom of God. One hymn writer described it like this in a verse, “Nothing in my hand I bring, simply to Thy cross I cling.” Only through Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross could my sin debt be paid and give me access to the kingdom of God. Poverty of spirit enables me to mourn with tears of brokenness that I may be comforted. It breaks my stubborn will and empowers me with meekness and creates in me a hunger and thirst for righteousness. Remembering what God in His mercy did for me in Christ makes me merciful to others. And with a pure heart, I can be a peacemaker.
James describes peacemakers like this in James 3:17-18 (NIV). He says, “But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.” And Paul adds, “So then let us pursue the things which tend to peace, and things whereby one shall build up another.” in Romans 14:19 (Darby) How do you pursue the things that bring peace? Jesus answers that later in his Sermon on the Mount in verses 43-47 when He says, “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?” Matthew 5:43-47 (NIV)
Peacemakers live intentionally. They build bridges over racial divides and social unrest. They demonstrate the love of God in practical ways that bring reconciliation and peace. Anyone can be a troublemaker. Peacemakers are called the children of God. They take on the nature of their Savior who is called The Prince of Peace!