Blessed Are the Peacemakers (Matthew 5:9)

Here’s my sermon from this past Sunday. You can check out the audio and video here.

We’re continuing our walk through the book of Matthew. We’re here in what’s been known as the "Sermon on the Mount.” And it kicks off with these words that we see right here, in chapter 5, verses 3 through 12, that have been called the Beatitudes. And that term comes from the Latin word for “blessed.” And as I shared the day I introduced them, they have two main purposes. And the first is this: they describe the citizens of the kingdom of heaven. They show what followers of Jesus are meant to look like. Not just what the super-holy followers of Jesus are supposed to look like. But all of us. They give us a snapshot of what we’re meant to be. Not perfectly. But increasingly. Day by day. By His grace and for His glory alone.

This morning, we find ourselves on the seventh Beatitude. Pastor Jeff will conclude with the last one next week. But what we find today is that we’re called to be “peacemakers.” And here’s the question I want you to think about as we begin. Over the last several years, as you think about the church of Jesus here in America, and how we’ve lived before the world, when it comes to peace, when it comes to unity, have we led the way? Or maybe not? Over the past several years, we have lived in a period of serious discord. Of significant anxiety. And again, my question, put a different way: have we, the church, added to that angst? Have we stoked all of the anger? Or have we pointed the way out of it?

I’d say we all probably know the answer to those questions. And I’ll come back to that later. But today, I want us to consider. How does God want us to live, as His people, here in America today? And what would need to change for us to get to that place?

Leading the Way to Peace

Well, both of those answers are found here in this verse in Matthew. Let’s see a couple of things this verse make clear. And here’s the first: the blessed lead the way to peace. I want you to notice first at least a couple of things this verse DOESN’T say. It doesn’t say, “Blessed are the peace-lovers,” right? It’s one thing to say you like peace. It’s quite a different thing to work for it. We can say that we want to see war stop over in Ukraine. But it’s another thing to put our money where our mouth is. Or to intervene perhaps even more. Jesus here is saying the “blessed” see a lack of peace, and they do something about it.

Here’s another thing it doesn’t say: “blessed are the peace-keepers.” There’s a path we often take - the one of least resistance. Where we try to keep those around us happy. We say what people are wanting to hear. Or there’s a deep, unspoken war that’s taking place. But we don’t want to touch that. That’s far too much work. But Jesus says the “blessed” are willing to wade into the muck and do something about it.

Now these might be the Beatitudes in our world today:

“Blessed are the peace-fakers, for they will get love from both sides.”

“Blessed are those who don’t rock the boat, for they will have an easy, peasy life.”

Now living those ways is in no way enough. We’re not living up to what Jesus wants. They’re passive. But our Lord calls us to something active. This is our calling - to bring people together.

Everyone excels today at building fences. We’re all running to our corners, hurling rocks over those cedar planks at those on the other side. But Jesus calls us to take down those boards and build bridges. In order to bring people together.

Now if we’re followers of Jesus, it means that we now have peace with God. We don’t like to think this, but the Bible says that, apart from Christ, we were “enemies.” But we’ve been “reconciled to God by the death of His Son” (Romans 5:10). Through faith in Jesus, we’ve been declared righteous by God the Father. We’ve been justified. And now “we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” We’re not longer at war with God. We’re now His friends - if we believe - through what Jesus, His Son, has done.

Now, as the Apostle Paul puts it, in Colossians 3:15, we’re to “let the peace of Christ rule in (our) hearts.” And this peace we have with God, it’s meant to spill out around us. That’s our calling. But let’s think about where - the contexts. We’re to go out and make peace both here in His church and out in His world.

Now, if we’ve experienced that peace vertically - between us and God - we’re also meant to experience it horizontally - between one another in the body of Christ. Now the book of Ephesians, in the New Testament of our Bibles, lays out, with much glory, what God has done for us in the gospel. That we see in chapters one, two, and three. But there’s this shift in chapter four, where God through Paul shows us what that should all mean in our lives. And it starts out this way:

Eph. 4:1 I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called,

Eph. 4:2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love,

Eph. 4:3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Did you hear that? Be “eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” Don’t create it. Jesus did that. But maintain it. Help those around us experience the unity we’ve been given in Christ. When that’s strained or threatened, by His grace, in His strength, do what you can to pull people together. John Owen once said to picture us each as cuts of firewood. Peace is the cord that ties us together, that makes us one. Jesus picks us up and carries us home. God wants us to struggle to keep us all tied together.

We’re called to be “peacemakers” here among the local church. As you look around, and see brothers and sisters at odds, don’t do what’s so easy to do. Don’t walk away. Build bridges. Bring people together. And sure don’t do what’s so tragic and far too common and stir things up. Don’t gossip. Don’t vent. Don’t tear down one party and build another up. Don’t walk away and ignore a war. And don’t fuel one or start a clash yourself either.

And if you see disunity between yourself and another, hear the twin commands we find here in the book of Matthew. Chapter 18 tells us, if someone sins against us, we go to them and share our concern. We don’t go to others. We go straight to them. It’s only if they don’t respond well that we rope in others to help. But the point is, we’re trying to maintain peace. And that means not nursing our hurts and letting them turn into bitterness. But sharing those hurts and trying to work them out.

Now the same thing works in the other direction. Matthew 5, that we’ll get to soon, tells us this. If we think someone’s got an issue with us, we go directly to them, also. We don’t just continue to worship, and act like there’s not anything wrong. The unity of the body is at stake. The glory of Jesus is under threat. So we go to that brother and sister and ask, “Have I hurt you in some way? Are you and I ok?” And we seek to work it out. That’s what “peacemakers” do. They seek out those they’ve wronged. And those who have wronged them. And try to maintain peace.

But what happens if we look up, and see two of our brothers and sisters at odds? Would we really get involved in that? Well, today we’re told to mind our own business. But being “peacemakers” communicates the opposite of that. I love what Paul says to the Philippian church over in chapter 4 of that letter. He calls out two women in verse 2, named Eudodia and Syntyche. And then he asks a friend, who he calls a “true companion” in verse 3, to “help these women.” He says, “these women, who have labored side by side with me in the gospel together” - help them. Bring them together. Be a “peacemaker,” Paul says.

There’s another big way - that we seek to work for peace. Back to Ephesians again. In chapter 1 and the first part of chapter 2, God lays out the gospel, how we’re now one with Him in Christ. But in verse 11 of ch. 2, there’s this shift. Where He tells us how we’re now to be one together. He there talks about Jews and Gentiles - two groups that couldn’t imagine being in the same room back in that day. And Jesus says this: “For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility."

Now these words apply every bit as much to us today. Black and white. Rich and poor. Latino, Asian. Old and young. Citizen, immigrant. Together, we display the beauty of the image of God - as diverse people. And we also display the power of the gospel of God. As His work brings those folks together. “Peacemakers” want to see that glory in the midst of the family of God and are willing to pay the price to get it.   

Now that’s here in Karis, in the local church - or whatever family God might call us into. We’re to work for peace. But there’s also a place for this in the universal church. That’s all Christians in all times and places. Recently, 40-some churches came together here in our city, in peace. to serve our neighbors through “For Columbia.” And as it has been, now for several years, it was a beautiful picture of our unity in the gospel - of the peace we all have in Jesus. And we should look for ways to work together, to encourage one another. If we are rooted in who Jesus is, and what He has done, we’re on the same team. Love Columbia is another great example of how churches can come together in unity for Jesus.

And we should work to maintain that unity together. It’s so easy to get competitive - even in the church world. To look down on other churches right here in our city. To resent families of God down the street. People can walk in our doors who’ve left other churches - and not in a good way at all. And we can take them in with no questions asked. Or we can try to pluck people out of churches - acting like we’re the only ones who have things figured out.

But those kind of behaviors go against what Christ has done. They work against His prayer  - that we would “all be one,” just as our Triune God is one, so that the world would come believe in Jesus (John 17:21).

How do we care for people together - in a way that leads to unity in each local church - and in the church at large - the universal body of Christ? We have to ask those questions. And have that move us into action. That’s what “peacemakers” do.   

Now that’s in the church. But there’s another context. What about out in the world? In the city around us? We’re called to pursue peace there, as well. Now here’s the most basic way that we’re “peacemakers.” If people around us are separated from God - if they’re at war with Him - our most basic charge is to guide them into that peace. Over in 2 Corinthians 5:20, Paul puts it this way: “Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making His appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.”

This is our responsibility to share the gospel. We go around, calling out to people, “Be reconciled to God.” We don’t want our neighbors and friends and coworkers to be at odds with God, under His wrath - now and forever. So we share the good news we have. We call people into this peace.

All around us people are doing whatever they can to find a “peaceful, easy feeling.” Relationships, substances, experiences, possessions. We lurch in different directions, sometimes many in the same day, trying to get a feeling of serenity, of tranquility in our souls.

But as we said many times last week, as Augustine put it, our hearts are restless until they find their rest in Jesus. Before we can feel this subjective, inner peace we so much want in our souls, we have to find the objective peace that flows downward - from our God through Christ. That has to be our message - where we start - or we’re no “peacemakers” at all.

But beyond that, as we go out into our world, are we the type of people that bring people together? Or do we end up pushing people apart? Do you help the factions that are tearing apart your office come together? Or do you stoke the fires? Do you add to the gossip? In your classrooms, on your athletic teams, do you try to help people reach common ground? Or are you someone who makes things worse? Or do you avoid any scent of conflict altogether?

I think of my wife, who at her workplace can get staff to understand patients and their families. And those patients and families to appreciate the staff. She walks right into the fray and helps coworkers end their fighting. I’ve seen her walk into PTA after PTA and lead them out of dysfunction into health.

Here are the Beatitudes that most of us live by today:

“Blessed are the war-mongers, for they shall have the most followers.”

“Blessed are those who stir up trouble, because they will be called 

influencers.”

Again, I don’t know that we’ve ever been more divided in this country in my lifetime, and I’ve now lived a half a century. None of us I think expected a global pandemic to hit us like we’ve seen the past couple of years. But I don’t really think many of us would be that surprised if we saw in our days another civil war. But as we do life out in our city, as we share our lives with others online, are we “peacemakers?” Or something else? Do we build fences? Or do we tear them down and make them into bridges?

But I think this passage even tells us something deeper. A passage that’s been so important to us - way back to the early days - has been Jeremiah 29:4-7. God’s people find themselves yanked out of their Promised Land and dragged into enemy territory in Babylon. And if there was anytime that they’d think they could check out - and just try to survive - you’d think it would be then. But the Lord tells them to rather invest themselves and really try to thrive.

Listen to what he says through Jeremiah in verse 7: “But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the LORD on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.” Here’s what he says. Plant roots, first of all. And second, do good. He says, “seek the welfare of the city.” And that word for welfare is actually a rich Hebrew word.

You’ve perhaps heard it. It’s the word shalom. And it’s often translated peace. It’s in the background of this Greek word here in Matthew. But it talks about something much deeper. Here’s how Tim Keller describes it:

“The webbing together of God and man with all creation to create universal flourishing and wholeness. In Psalm 102, God has made the world like a garment with billions of entities interwoven to make up the beauty of all that is created. Sin has come in and torn a hole in the fabric.” (Tim Keller)

Catch that image. The fabric of God’s creation - torn by the fall. And seeking shalom, making peace, is trying to mend it once again. We see the brokenness - between us and God, between us and one another - even between us and His creation - and try to bring it into repair. At the deepest level, that’s what “peacemakers” do. And it’s that brokenness that’s underneath all of those wars, that’s behind all that division. And it’s what the gospel of Jesus comes to undo. And what His Spirit is all about working to fix. He’s using us - in our churches, out in our cities - to bring it about. As we more and more become “peacemakers” for Him. The blessed lead the way to peace.

Looking Like Our Father

But there’s a second thing we need to see in this verse. The blessed look like their heavenly Father. Isn’t that what it says? “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.” Well, what does that mean?

Here’s the even greater news of the gospel. When we become Christians it’s not just that we’re not at war with God anymore. It’s not just that we become His friends. He brings us, those who once were enemies, and welcomes us into His home. We become a part of His family.

We’re his sons and daughters by His grace. We saw this, so beautifully, when we went through Galatians. In chapter 3, verse 26, it says, “For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith.” This is what we’re rescued into.

But you might wonder, especially if you’re a woman, “Why does it just talk about sons?” Well, sons are those in that day who got the inheritance. In Christ’s church, though, that goes to women with the men. But there may be something else going on here. D.A. Carson says the emphasis here is less about our position than our character. If we go around and seek to make peace, it’ll be said that we look like our Dad. This is what our salvation does.

And here’s what we know about Him. He’s a “God of peace.” This is what our New Testaments call our Father - again and again. And as we’ve seen, He’s a God who makes peace Himself. And that peace comes at great cost. Right? The life of His Son. As Colossians 1:20 puts it, Jesus “reconcile(s) to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.” This is what we know about our God.

And God, as He works in our lives, makes us look like Him. And we’re “called sons of God.” By our Lord Himself. And out in the world. People don’t have to ask, “Who’s your daddy?” They know the answer.

They see Him in our faces. They hear Him in our speech. They feel Him in our hugs. We bear His image - as redeemed humans, but as children of our Father.

As it’s put elsewhere, likely on your next page, in chapter 5, in verses 43 through 45, we’re called to love our enemies and pray for our persecutors. Why’s that? What’s the result of that? “So that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven.” And then there’s this line about God shining His sun and sending His rain on both the just and the unjust. What’s that saying? God’s good to His enemies Himself. So if we love those who hate us, we’ll show we belong to Him. We’ll look like Him. And we’ll be called His sons.

Well, how does this come about? If we go around making peace, it’s because we’ve been flooded with that peace ourselves. We’ve found peace with God. Through Jesus His Son. That war with Him is over. And now we have that inner, subjective peace within us. It reigns in our hearts. And with that, we’re also more and more freed from pride. Why do we find ourselves in fight? And why do we often avoid conflict? Because of our sinful desires. Because we’re thinking about ourselves.

You may remember last week, this graphic I put up on the screen. How Martyn Lloyd-Jones argued these verses fit together. Those who are “meek,” are those ready to make peace. What keeps us from peace is pride. A love of self. It’s what turns us into war-makers. We fight for our honor. It’s what makes us peace-keepers. We fear making anyone mad. Our God makes us less and less about ourselves and more and more about others. More and more “meek.” And more and more about “peace.”

And with that, more and more ready to suffer. Peace comes at a cost. Yes, it cost Him His Son. And it costs us our lives, too. To go out and make peace - here in our church and out in the world - it often costs us those peaceful, easy feelings. It leads to hurt and anxiety and fear. It makes people mad. It’s often understood. We’ll get into this more as we gather next week. But if we’re going to look like our Father, that’s our path - just as much.

It’s NBA playoff time. There may be no player in the history of the league more known for his temper and erratic behavior than the man formerly known as Ron Artest. He won a championship in 2010 with the Lakers. He was even named an all-star back in 2004. But he’s known far more for all the technical fouls and for starting the biggest brawl in NBA history, what’s been called “The Malice at the Palace” - where he started a massive fight with the opposing team and then ended up going up into the crowd and brawling with fans. Well, in 2011 he changed his name - to Metta World Peace. And he may have calmed down slightly due to aging. But largely he kept up his same, fighting behavior. Perhaps, though, he took on that title, hoping he could rise up to the name.

Sadly, sometimes that’s how I think the world views us. We may be called children of peace, but we don’t live up to it at all. But here’s where the hope is found. God gives us that title, and then grows us into it. Like children, we mature - day by day, little by little - until suddenly, we look in the mirror, and we see our Dad.       

Where the Rubber Hits the Road

Before I close here are just a few thoughts about application. First, think about  out in the world.

Who are those around you who don’t know Jesus as Lord? Do you really believe that there’s peace only found in God? How can you guide them to that peace?

Think about the spaces in which God has placed you. Maybe at your workplace. Perhaps an organization you’re a part of. Where is the lack of shalom? What’s broken? How can you be an agent of peace - and bring people together?

Think about how you talk about issues - out in our divided world. How can you not contribute to the fighting, but instead, bring people together? As I said, what a divided time we find ourselves in! As you interact out in our streets, as you log-in and communicate online, how can you be peace-maker?

And not a peace-keeper! Sometimes we have to speak truth. Pursuing justice will ruffle feathers. And, oh, I wish I had more time to get into that.

But certainly not a war-maker. We have enough of those. And Christians may need to repent more than anyone - especially online - for that. Jesus calls us to something so much greater!

Second, think about what’s around you in the body of Christ? There again has been so much division over the past few years. How can you be one who brings people together? And doesn’t push people apart? Who around you is different from you? How can you get to know them? And tear down a fence and build a bridge?

And think about another church that’s here in our in town. How can you actively pray for them? In what way might you be able to serve them? How might you celebrate what God’s doing in their midst? And be thankful that His body is so rich and diverse?

Think about a relationship that you know is broken. Someone you’re hurt by. Or maybe feels hurt by you. Or a couple of members you know are at odds. How can you hear God’s word and be a “peacemaker” for Him? Over the years, I’ve seen God work over and over. And I’ve been thankful we’ve largely had a culture of peace. What can you do to help us maintain that?

Picture a husband and wife, battling in divorce court. A frightened child is there, taking it all in, overflowing with tears. She grabs her mom’s hand and begins pulling her to the center. And then grabs her dad’s and does the same. Until they’re holding hands. And snapped out of their stupor. That, friends, is what the Lord calls us to do.

Hear how John Piper has put it:

“God is a peace-loving God, and a peacemaking God. The whole history of redemption, climaxing in the death and resurrection of Jesus, is God’s strategy to bring about a just and lasting peace between rebel man and himself, and then between man and his fellow man. God’s children have the character of their Father. What he loves, they love. What he pursues, they pursue. You can know his children by whether they are willing to make sacrifices for peace the way God did.” (John Piper)

Our King, His Kingdom

Back when I kicked off our series through Matthew, I laid out our theme: Our King, His Kingdom. And I tried to make the case that we so easily follow after other kings and end up building other kingdoms. But what is our King known for? For peace, right?

He’s called the “Prince of Peace” in Isaiah 9:6. When those angels sung to those shepherds, back at His birth, they rang out, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom He is pleased” (Luke 2:14). Before His death on the cross, Christ told His disciples, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.” And following His resurrection from the dead, He greeted those same followers with the familiar Jewish greeting, “Peace to you!” (Luke 24:36). Or as the door of the new bagel place downtown reads, “Shalom, y’all!” Peter, the apostle, and the rest of the early church, came preaching the “good news of peace through Jesus Christ” (Acts 10:36). Jesus, our King, again, brings us peace.

And what is His kingdom like? That greeting, “peace to you,” expresses the hope of God’s people through the ages, yes, the hope of perfect shalom. This hope that one day the brokenness brought about by the fall will be repaired. And all will be made right once again. That is what the new heavens and new earth, His kingdom, will be known for - perfect peace. When Jesus will “judge the nations,” and we’ll “beat (our) swords into plowshares” and our “spears into pruning hooks.” And when “nation shall not lift up sword against nation” and we’ll not “learn war anymore” (Isaiah 2:4). When these images from Isaiah 11 come to pass:

Is. 11:6  The wolf shall dwell with the lamb,

and the leopard shall lie down with the young goat,

and the calf and the lion and the fattened calf together;

and a little child shall lead them.

Is. 11:7 The cow and the bear shall graze;

their young shall lie down together;

and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.

Is. 11:8 The nursing child shall play over the hole of the cobra,

and the weaned child shall put his hand on the adder’s den.

Is. 11:9 They shall not hurt or destroy

in all my holy mountain;

for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD

as the waters cover the sea.

That’s the Kingdom we look forward to, Karis. And that’s what our King has died to bring. So the question is: is that - is He - what we’re all about? And as I started out this morning, have we moved people toward that peace or away from it?

Again, too much, as of late, I don’t think we’ve been about those things. And we’ve all failed in so many ways. But back at the beginning, I reminded you of one purpose of these Beatitudes.

They first describe the citizens of the kingdom of heaven. But I think there’s another important thing they’re meant to do. Second, they drive us to the King of heaven.

They show us we’re all “poor in Spirit.” And move us to “hunger and thirst for Him.” They tell us just how far short we fall. And just how much we need a Savior. We then run to Him for help. And He begins to work these Beatitudes in us. No, we’re not been the “peacemakers” we should be. But we know the “Prince of peace,” the One who brought us peace with God. The One who changes war-makers and peace-keepers into “peacemakers.” His Father has made us His own. And He’s refashioning us into His Son’s image.

As I asked at the start, how does God want us to live, as His people, here in America today? And what would need to change for us to get to that place? As “peacemakers,” as we’ve seen here. How do we get there? By realizing more and more each day, that He’s made peace with us. And we’re now called His “sons.” And just how incredibly “blessed” we are.

Here’s my main point for today: Those who sacrifice to bring God’s shalom experience the fullness of His favor, because they bear the image of their heavenly Father. Let’s trust Him, Karis - to do His work in us and through us. Let’s pray.