BLESSED ARE THE PEACEMAKERS
MATTHEW 5:9
“Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.”
“Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.”
Introduction:
The Scriptures link two of the Beatitudes together, pureness of heart and peaceableness of heart, James 3:17, “But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.” Paul tells us in Hebrews 12:14, “Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:”
Here in this passage the Lord joins the two together, pure in heart and peacemakers, as if there could be no purity where there is not a study of peace.
I. PROMOTERS OF PEACE MUST BE LOVERS OF PEACE
A. Christians must be “peaceable-minded.”
1. Peaceableness of spirit is a jewel of great price, 1 Peter 3:4, “But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.”
2. Believers are said to be Christ’s sheep, who are peaceable creatures, John 10:27, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:”
3. They are Christ’s doves, therefore they must be without impudence (rudeness), Song of Solomon, 2:14, “O my dove, that art in the clefts of the rock, in the secret places of the stairs, let me see thy countenance, let me hear thy voice; for sweet is thy voice, and thy countenance is comely.”
B. There is a four-fold peace that we must consider:
1. The peace of the house, peace in families, Ephesians 4:3, “Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”
2. The peace of the House of God, the Church, 1 Corinthians 1:10, “Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.” One bad member endangers the whole congregation, 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13, “And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; 13And to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. And be at peace among yourselves.”
3. There is political peace, peace in the city and country.
a. Peace is the best blessing of a nation, Psalm 147:14, “He maketh peace in thy borders, and filleth thee with the finest of the wheat.”
b. The godly man “enters into peace” when he dies, Isaiah 57:1-2, “The righteous perisheth, and no man layeth it to heart: and merciful men are taken away, none considering that the righteous is taken away from the evil to come. 2He shall enter into peace: they shall rest in their beds, each one walking in his uprightness.” But while he lives peace must enter into him.
II. GOD’S PEOPLE ARE CALLED UNTO PEACE
A. God’s people are commanded to seek peace, Psalm 34:14, “Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.”
B. It is a change that the Grace of God has made in the Believer.
1. The briar has changed into the myrtle tree, Isaiah 55:13, “Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree: and it shall be to the LORD for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.”
2. The lion-like fierceness has turned into a lamb-like gentleness, Isaiah 11:6-9, “The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. 7And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. 8And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice’ den. 9They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.”
III. PEACEABLENESS IS THE CHARACTER OF THE SAINT
A. He should be of a peaceable disposition, Romans 12:18, “If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.”
1. A peaceable spirit is honorable, Proverbs 20:3a, “It is an honour for a man to cease from strife:”
2. A peaceable spirit is highly prudential, James 3:17, “But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.”
3. A peaceable spirit brings peace with it, Proverbs 11:17, “The merciful man doeth good to his own soul: but he that is cruel troubleth his own flesh.”
B. Christ shed His blood for peace, Colossians 1:20, “And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.”
C. Take heed to inward hindrances to peace.
1. Self-love, 2 Timothy 3:2, “For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,” Philippians 2:21, “For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ’s.”
2. Pride, Proverbs 28:25, “He that is of a proud heart stirreth up strife: but he that putteth his trust in the LORD shall be made fat.”
3. Envy, 1 Timothy 6:4, “He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings,” Proverbs 27:4, “Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous; but who is able to stand before envy?”
4. Credulity, Proverbs 14:15, “The simple believeth every word: but the prudent man looketh well to his going.”