Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the sons of God. (Matthew 5:9)
The text literally says that the peacemakers are called “the sons” (not “children”) of God. That would be important in a culture which made sharp distinctions between the rights and privileges of sons and daughters. Sons fared far better than daughters in terms of entitlements. But Christ says every peacemaker whether male or female will have the benefits and privileges of “sons” – no distinction will be made based on gender for the blessings given to peacemakers. All are elevated to the highest status in God’s eyes. Women in the kingdom will not experience any disadvantage based on their gender, nor will males have any privileges that females don’t have.
The blessing for peacemakers is based on 4 assumed truths:
1] God is the source of peace. If we as individuals or community want peace, we have to place our hope, faith, and desires in God
2] The enemy of peace is sinful selfishness. Our sinful passions cause disharmony and disunity (James 4:1-4). Satan endeavors to sow distrust in us by turning us against each other and selfishly serving our own interests and to our own benefit regardless of the effects on others. We so want more things in this world that we are willing to go to war for them, hoping to take them from those weaker than ourselves. But as St James warns, when we do so, we make not only others into our enemies, but we make God into our enemy.
3] God has chosen us humans to be His instruments of peace. This is counterintuitive to me since one thing humans seem to have a penchant for is going to war. “Might is right” and “the end justifies the means” are often on the minds of worldly leaders but they are not godly ideas in any sense of the word.
4] The blessing of peace is godlikeness, to be a son/child of God. Jesus does not say that peacemakers will be blessed with peace (nor even the absence of war), but that they will be God’s sons, which may mean they will be treated by the world the same way that Christ was treated. Peacemakers are those who will be persecuted for righteousness’ sake (Matthew 5:10-12).
Christians are to work for peace and be willing to suffer for it. Jesus does not say peace-lovers are blessed, but rather peacemakers. Peace will not just automatically happen, we have to strive for it with our energy, talents and wisdom (Luke 13:24; Hebrews 4:11).
Mark the blameless and behold the upright, for there is a future for the man of peace. (Psalm 37: 37)
A person of peace is one devoted to God, committed to doing good. Unlike them, “The wicked watches for the righteous and seeks to put him to death” (Psalm 37:32). This means if we are constantly watching others to find fault with them, we are doing what the Psalm says the wicked do. [In my mind, that is what many social media personalities and influencers do – watch their opponents to be able to jump on any little mistake they make. According to the Psalm, that is the work of the wicked. They have no intention of trying to find a way to peace with others.] When we remain faithful to Christ’s Gospel teachings, then we will look for the image of God in others and be people of peace. We may suffer for our choice, but we will be the children of God.
Abraham Lincoln, one said, “I would like it to be said of me, that I always pulled up a weed, and planted a flower where I thought a flower would grow.” As God’s people of peace, we are to do the same. Let us pull out the weeds of sin, enmity, jealousy, anger, hatred, distrust, gossip, deceit, instead planting the flowers of peace such as faithful devotion to the God of love, forgiveness, love and apologizing for our own errors.
Fraternized 