Blessed Are The Peacemakers
Chris Patton
Matthew 5:9
July 30, 2023
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“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.” — Matthew 5:9
Introduction
- In verse 9, Jesus pronounces blessing upon peacemakers. In so doing, our Lord beckons every follower of His to become and to grow as a peacemaker.
- Peacemaker: A biblical peacemaker is someone who facilitates authentic relational unity and peace, rooted in the truth.
The Root Cause of Relational Unrest
- In order, to become effective biblical peacemakers it is critical that we first understand the Bible’s diagnosis of the root cause of a lack of peace in human relationships.
- All relational turmoil — from world wars to petty conflicts between husband and wife — it all originates in and is caused by disobedience to God — Adam’s disobedience and our own.
- Vertical conflict with God causes horizontal conflict with our fellow man. And this is the sad story of the human race – relational unrest and lack of peace – people at war, at enmity with and hostile to one another and the root cause is enmity with God.
The Solution to Relational Unrest: The Gospel
- Until our problem of rebellion against God is dealt with we have no hope for true relational peace with other human beings.
- Biblical peace is the cessation of all bitterness, resentment and hostility and the active presence of Christ-like love. This kind of peace in our relationships with others is simply not possible while we remain at enmity with and in rebellion against God.
For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another (Titus 3:3).
- This is why Jesus came into the world. He came first and primarily to solve our greater problem, the vertical one.
For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus — 1 Timothy 2:5
- A mediator is someone who brings two parties in conflict together and seeks to reconcile them. And this, God in Christ has done for us.
[13] But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. [14] For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility [15] by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, [16] and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. — Ephesians 2:13-16
- The good news of Ephesians 2 is, now that our vertical problem has been solved on a horizontal level we as redeemed people can enjoy deep abiding unity and authentic peace in our relationships with one another.
Peacemaking Fundamentals
- Disobedience, lack of submission to God produces the disintegration of human relationships. Thankfully, the opposite is true as well. The gospel and Christ’s redeeming work has made it possible for us to submit to Christ and obey Christ in how we relate to one another which tends to foster wonderful, God-glorifying relational unity, harmony and peace.
- When we yield to the flesh, when we don’t submit to the Lordship of Christ, to His Rule, to His Reign, To His Authority in how we relate–well that’s where marriage conflicts and quarrels in the church and other relational trouble we experience comes from.
- How do we live as biblical peacemakers? We must endeavor to submit to and obey God’s law with respect to how we relate to one another. And when we fail, we do well to repent quickly.
- God’s law, spoken through the mouth of our Lord Jesus stipulates “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind…..And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
- So Biblical Peacemaking 101. The way forward is simple to understand, not so easy to apply. Love your neighbor as yourself.
- We do this in part by forgiving others, making charitable judgments, and refusing to engage in gossip and slander.
- Its important that we remember that biblical peacemaking requires us at times to as the apostle Paul says, “speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:14).”
Questions for Discussion/Application
- Re-read Matthew 5:9. Having re-read the text and listened to the sermon, in summary, what is a peacemaker, biblically?
- What is the difference between making biblical peace with someone as opposed to settling for mere politeness and outward peace?
- What dangers do you see in us as believers settling for “counterfeit peace” in our relationships?
- How can (1) gossip and slander or (2) making sinful judgments, or (3) unforgiveness hinder a lack of peace in relationships?
- When we find ourselves in conflict with another person, what does it look like for us to do our part to seek to make peace and reconcile with the other individual?
- How personally do you want to grow in becoming more of a biblical peacemaker?
- Consider taking taking to pray, asking God to help us to grow in becoming true peacemakers.