Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
Peacemakers are those who love and cultivate peace, quieting anger, resentment and quarreling, forgiving wrongs, yielding rather than retaliating, and refusing gossip, talebearing, faultfinding and words that stir up strife and division. True peace is not made by human plans but is born of truth and harmony with God, received by renouncing sin and opening the heart to His love and grace through faith, which casts out evil passions and fills the soul with love. Whoever lives this way by word or holy example leads others to renounce sin and yield to God, restores rather than bruises character, and brings blessing in home, church and daily work. Such peacemakers reflect the Father who is a God of peace, partaking of the divine nature, so that Christ and heaven and the church recognize and call them the children of God, heirs of His kingdom of righteousness, peace and joy.
Setting and Wording
Christ spoke this blessing in His sermon recorded in Matthew 5 on a mountain, away from the turmoil of crowded cities, after His teaching and healing throughout Galilee had drawn crowds to Him. He gave it especially to His disciples, with them gathered in the inner circle close enough to remember His words and later share them, while the gathered multitude of Jews and Gentiles also listened. The character of His teaching there is to be studied together with His conflict with Satan and victory in the wilderness in Matthew 4. His plainly revealed teaching about the faithful and the blessings they may receive belongs to that mountain instruction, given as a call to heart-reformation.
It states one of the principles governing His kingdom of divine grace, rather than promises of earthly glory or political restoration. By opening His sermon on the mount with this and the other beatitudes, He disappointed the expectation of a great display of power and the believing Jews' hope to be freed from the yoke of bondage and reinstated in ancient glory. He designed the teaching for His disciples close about Him yet also to reach the hearts and consciences of the mixed crowd assembled, correcting false expectations of worldly greatness and showing His kingdom was not earthly glory.
The sermon opposed the self-righteous teachings of the scribes and Pharisees and overturned their judgments, so that people they might condemn as cursed are declared blessed by Christ and promised eternal rewards, with peacemakers among those who share those rewards as called children of God. It corrected their picture of God as a stern judge by revealing His compassion, mercy, love, and paternal care.
Matthew 5 reveals the truth about the laws of God's government and presents God's law as the standard whose claims must be investigated and whose commandments must not be disobeyed. It gives the human race His perfect standard of purity, righteousness, and love for practice and points to immortal life in God's paradise, repeating His Old Testament teaching calling for mercy, compassion, and love. It requires more than avoiding outward wrongdoing, and explains God's holy law so that oppression, injustice, and unjust business dealings that harm a neighbor are ruled out. Its perfect obedience would replace oppression and injustice with love, harmony, and joy reflecting God's character and the life of obedience He exemplified. It came from God and was spoken with divine authority, yet so simply that even a child can study it without being misled.
Christ lived out the lessons of the Sermon on the Mount in His deeds before He taught them, and this blessing is one of those Beatitudes to be considered for its meaning in each person's life.
The verse is full of deep meaning and value as a wonderful golden treasure of truth and instruction, holding some of the most precious lessons found anywhere. It lays out in figures the plan for revealing the likeness of the divine Lord and knowing the science of spiritual life through cooperation and union with Him, and is to be read, believed, studied above all light reading, written upon the tablets of the soul, and acted upon in daily life. Living by this teaching develops Christlike character and puts divine principles in the heart, giving understanding that is experimental knowledge of highest value when proved and tried and worked out in life and experience. Receiving these soul-saving truths with a humble spirit leads to conversion and the removal of rebuke for past wrongs, while living the teaching makes a deeper and more lasting impression than preaching alone, with modest, self-forgetful words spoken in cooperation with Him directed by the Holy Spirit to impress hearts. Where all kinds of temperaments and trial are met, being furnished with words of Scripture and repeating a timely verse instead of one's own words is a savor of life unto life, holding precious promises that shield from temptation and furnish reasons for faith in a manner that does not offend but glorifies God.
The Sermon on the Mount was presented as a call to Christian life and acceptance with God. Its blessings identify those who are truly blessed and righteous as seekers of the righteousness Christ alone can give, and they anticipate the rewards of the judgment. They are received by those who accept the conditions He gives, with instruction connected to guidance for meeting the trials of the last days.
On the Mount of Beatitudes His truths remove human-made distinctions and widen concern to include sinful, suffering people in distant regions everywhere. Its setting breaks down human divisions and calls followers to work in His way for others.
Meaning of Peacemaking
Peacemakers love and cultivate peace and contentment, seeking to quiet anger, resentment, faultfinding and the passions that lead to quarrels, and avoiding words and actions that needlessly stir up strife, enmity and conflict. Those who foster enmity and spread reports to provoke it are the opposite of peacemakers. Peacemaking refuses to think evil of a brother or sister and tell the fault to others, which saves church trials, bitterness and wrath. It obeys His direction to tell him his fault alone, refuses to encourage a tempted soul to tell grievances against a brother or friend, and refuses to hear or want words of censure and evil-speaking, telling such a one that this blessing in His Word is what is craved.
Peacemaking breaks up divisive words and prevents misunderstandings from producing unkindness, retaliation and strife. It refuses to join in strife of tongues, evil-speaking, idle, frivolous and malicious gossip, and carrying scandal and talebearing from family to family, and never repeats things heard to another's injury. Being a peacemaker means smoothing things over instead of living in strife and contention, and forgiving those who trespass. It means yielding to one another's wishes instead of insisting on one's own, and not retaliating when annoyed or threatened, but forgiving and passing over wrong because revenge is mean and cowardly. It answers provocation and conflict with praise and thanksgiving rather than accusation, faultfinding or murmuring, as He modeled by singing spiritual songs when tempted or confronted with animosity.
Peacemaking seeks to harmonize with brethren rather than draw away, make a breach or widen it, think unkind thoughts, feel bitter, become easily excited, or say what helps divide the church. It is calm and guided by principle rather than feeling, keeping His Spirit and consecration, opening the heart for Him to control, and working and talking and thinking and planning to be one as He was one with the Father. It belongs with meekness, humility and wisdom from above, rejects envy, strife and a dictatorial spirit, and includes the unity of those who love God and keep His law and commandments, standing together on eternal truth and practicing truth so their harmony convinces the world that God sent His Son. Peacemakers allow no gainsaying and utter no words that stir human passions. They are circumspect and self-denying, bearing the cross, always gentle, patient and long-suffering toward others, especially those newly come to the faith, with the heart filled with His meekness and gentleness. They speak every word in wisdom, think and speak kindly of all as they wish to be spoken of, refuse to think or speak evil of one another, and walk wisely amid many temperaments to help and bless others.
A peacemaker is whoever by the quiet, unconscious influence of a holy life reveals His love, and whoever by word or deed leads another to renounce sin and yield the heart to God. Peacemakers are His missionaries who work with Him in restoring rather than bruising and mangling character or causing disunion, sharing light and wisdom with people in error, visiting the sick and afflicted, and patiently and kindly helping those who have gone wrong, which brings prosperity to the church.
Source of True Peace
True peace is born of truth and consists in harmony with God. Because sin sets people against God and against one another, it cannot be produced by human plans that do not reach the heart. Those who love His law have great peace, and His grace implanted in the heart casts out the evil passions that cause strife and dissension.
The peacemaker has renounced sin and opened the heart to His love. He has received heavenly peace grounded only in His grace reconciling the soul to God. That grace quiets human passion, subdues enmity, allays strife, and fills the soul with love.
Peacemakers have His grace abiding in the soul and His mind in them. They look to Him and draw nourishment from Him as branches from the living Vine, to bear the same kind of fruit as the parent stock in words, deportment, and actions. Through the Spirit they become a wellspring of life that refreshes all who come in contact with them. They claim the blessing in home, church, and business by walking in love with practical self-denial and self-sacrifice for others' happiness and prosperity.
Peacemaking comes from receiving Him by faith, for in Him is all sufficiency as the bread of life to satisfy every right craving and make the graces possible. It is received through the Holy Spirit, who fashions the person after His likeness in putting on the new man created in righteousness and true holiness. The person does not use the Holy Spirit, but the Holy Spirit uses the person. Being a peacemaker in this way means smoothing things over instead of living in strife and contention.
Peacemakers have His meek and lowly spirit, do not provoke quarrels or answer angrily, and bring happiness and peace to the home. Those who hold firmly to truth show its transforming effect by becoming kind, courteous, lovers of peace and makers of peace. They reveal the fruits of truth in words and character by advanced knowledge of Him and reception of His love for God and neighbor, with heaven's sunlight in daily life. That light reaches the deepest recesses of the soul to cleanse away all unlike His spirit and fills the heart with His pure attributes like fragrant flowers.
Peacemaking belongs with mercy and purity of heart and with unselfishness and holiness in walking as He walked. It bears the fruit of the Spirit in love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance, without vain glory, provoking, or envying. It keeps steadfast principle with no compromise of truth.
Called Children of God
Peacemakers are called children of God because they reflect the Father who is a God of peace, partaking of the divine nature and following Christ's example in cultivating peace and contentment. They seek to quiet anger, resentment, faultfinding and the passions that lead to quarrels, and they avoid words and actions that needlessly stir up strife, enmity and conflict. Those who foster enmity and spread reports to provoke it, and those who embrace worldly ways marked by jealousy and bitterness, are the opposite of peacemakers. Connected with Christ they live in harmony with heaven, and though they face tribulation in the world they have peace in Him.
Carrying the spirit of peace proves connection with heaven, for the sweet savor of Christ surrounds peacemakers and the fragrance of their life and loveliness of character show the world they have been with Jesus. For this the world recognizes them as His children, the church recognizes and calls them the children of God, and all the heavenly intelligences call them by that name. His Spirit is seen in their words and actions, and their holy life by its quiet, unconscious influence reveals His love and leads others by word or deed to renounce sin and yield the heart to God. They abide in Christ as branches in the living Vine and bear His fruit in words, deportment and actions, claiming the blessing in home, church and business by walking in love with practical self-denial and self-sacrifice for the happiness and prosperity of others rather than self. Such love does not deal in envy and evil surmising but sacrifices opinions and feelings, loves enemies, blesses cursers, does good to haters and prays for persecutors, becoming perfect as the Father in heaven is perfect, while true religion shows itself not in position but in a gentle spirit of kindness and peace in the home without trifling, cheap, fretting, faultfinding or harshly judging speech.
Ceasing to stir up strife belongs to this calling, which means refusing to encourage a tempted soul to tell grievances against a brother or friend and refusing to hear or want words of censure and evil-speaking. The one bringing such words is to be told that Christ the Counsellor has promised this blessing in His Word and that this blessing is what is craved. The Spirit of the Son abides in peacemakers and they have partaken of wisdom from above, so that their piety like a flower's fragrance breathes out unconsciously in face, word and action. Their speech, seasoned with grace and full of kindness and peace, sheds a heavenly influence that brings better impulses, and like Abigail when she met David to withhold him from shedding blood and avenging himself with his own hand, they soothe irritated feelings, prevent rash impulses, turn others from hasty purposes, and quell great evils by calm, well-directed wisdom.
Being called the children of God comes by receiving Christ as Saviour, Redeemer and Prince of life, for to all who receive Him He gives power to become the sons of God. He spoke the blessing with clearness, power, fulness and abundant assurance as a treasure of goodness and encouragement, with His divine nature shining through His humanity from the inexhaustible store of richest treasures. The treasures of eternity were at His command, and the Father committed the riches of heaven to Him without bound in their disposal, so that He acted with the prerogative to bless as fountain of all goodness in the office of God with unlimited authority. Those who accept Him He acknowledges before the heavenly host, before unfallen worlds and before the fallen world as His peculiar treasure, breathing the breath of life into fallen humanity with a joy beyond hunger or thirst.
Peacemakers are publicly chosen to compose the royal family in the kingdom of heaven, becoming heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ, united with Him in service to share in His blessing, glory and honor. As subjects of the Father's kingdom, where the Father holds the scepter and righteousness, peace and joy with peace, rest, joy and love without misinterpretation form its atmosphere, they will shine forth as the sun, sit down with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and dwell in mansions prepared by Him who gave His life that they might be found heirs. Those who receive Christ as a personal Saviour and do His work and follow His way become members of the royal family, and those who do peacemaking as the work of the home shall be called children of God, meaning members with their children of the royal family, children of the heavenly King fitted for the courts above. There the father as priest and house-band keeps a clear mind to distinguish right from wrong and mistake from willful sin, the mother is not made a slave, the children trained from childhood do their part in little duties, and all speak pleasant words rather than cross, fretful words, so that angels never pass by such a household, though no one with a cross, fretful temper will ever enter heaven's gates.
The inheritance belongs to those submissive to God who wear the yoke with Christ, work in His lines, share as co-partners in His sufferings and toils for lost humanity, act as wise instructors of souls, and unite with God in being molded, submitting their wills to the divine will. They have been changed by following Christ and learning in His school to be meek and lowly of heart, opening the heart to His pure, holy, undefiled and guiltless attributes and letting the Holy Spirit expel, kill and crucify accusing, criticizing, envying, demeriting, misrepresenting and falsifying others, which cannot survive in heaven. They do not stir up strife or dwell on others' faults but humbly seek to serve God, and they will gain an abundant entrance into heaven. Those who carry an atmosphere of peace and love are noticed by heaven, will receive their reward, and will stand in the great day of the Lord, for recognition as God's children involves moral transformation through Christ and a life shaped by His character.
Kingdom Character and Blessing
Peacemaking is one of the virtues named as a mark of those who are blessed, and those who practice it will be called children of God. It belongs to the character of those identified as subjects of heaven's kingdom, holding out peace and joy like those of the heavenly world. It is a godly trait of character opposed to ambition and earthly passions, and part of the character required in that kingdom. This virtue, rather than status or earthly ambition, is what fits a person for Christ's kingdom.
Peacemakers stand together with the meek who inherit the earth, those who hunger and thirst after righteousness who shall be filled, the merciful who obtain mercy, and the pure in heart who see God, as the character fitting for heaven. They stand alongside the poor in spirit, the mourning, and the meek, in contrast with self-esteem that looks down on others, pointing to a humble, serving life as their example. The beatitudes are a greeting of blessing to the whole human family, showing the traits of character recognized and blessed in contrast with the ambitions honored by the world, and peacemaking is among these blessed traits. They turn attention from the world's self-satisfied and ambitious to those who need and receive light and love.
Turning from the ambitious favorites of the world to those they disowned, blessing is pronounced on all who receive light and life, opening refuge to the poor in spirit, the meek, the lowly, the sorrowful, the despised, and the persecuted. Blessing after blessing flowed like the gushing forth of a long-sealed current of rich life, every sentence a rich jewel from the treasure house of truth. Every virtue and every feature of Christian excellence is presented, adding one endowment after another until He looks on the possessor with delight. Today He is still ready to give abundantly, withholding nothing that is for good and longing to find channels ready to receive the blessings He has to bestow. Its promise is part of enduring teaching for every age and class, and reaching the character it describes is possible through faith and a life shaped by Him.
Those seeking to become ministers of righteousness are to study the character of those called blessed. Its timeless standard can be reached by living His life through faith. Peacemaking is one of the ways of life on which blessing is placed, and people are to show by it that they are God's children. It is part of the character set before disciples as they represent Him in work and life. Those who practice it give evidence they are God's children, and those who possess these qualities are counted blessed by God, Jesus, and the heavenly angels.
The blessedness is possessed here below in this life, bringing cheerfulness, peace, and joy into work. The blessing rests on the state of the heart regulating the life and character, and requires having the spirit of the law in the heart. Those who claim to be His children are taught to seek this blessing and place themselves among the peacemakers. A distinct blessing is pronounced on those who day by day accept and follow the teaching, receiving the Word into good and honest hearts. He Himself teaches the meaning of the divine beatitudes daily to everyone who follows and cooperates with Him, giving lived experience of it.
Living it forms a character without fault in the sight of a pure and holy God, deciding the future destiny of those He gave His life to save. It prepares a person to stand acquitted without spot or stain of character when the judgment sits and the books are opened, where every person is judged according to deeds done in this life. Angels love such people and minister to them in every phase of life.
Living as Peacemakers
Peacemaking is the work of the home, binding the whole household together with pleasant words rather than cross, fretful words. The father as priest and house-band keeps a clear mind to distinguish right from wrong and a mistake from willful sin, the mother is not made a slave, and children trained from childhood do their part and help in little duties. Such heavenly order and calm, patient discipline rather than anger, harsh words, or impatience brings heaven into family life. The angels never pass by such a household, but no one with a cross, fretful temper will ever enter heaven's gates. Peacemakers have the meek and lowly spirit of Christ, do not provoke quarrels or answer angrily, and their spirit brings happiness and peace to the home and blesses those around them.
True religion is not position but a gentle spirit, kindness and peace, shown in the home by an atmosphere that brings happiness to the family, without trifling, cheap, fretting, faultfinding, or harshly judging speech, and by services of love and Christian courtesy. It is duty to cultivate gentleness and keep the peace of Christ in the heart, sowing seed that produces a harvest unto eternal life, while an unkind, fretful, faultfinding and harshly judging temper mars character. Suspicion and distrust, irritability at home while saving smiles for strangers, and repeating trials and complaints, drive out peace and make one a cloud instead of a light. Only practical Christlikeness makes a peacemaker in the home, in the church, in the neighborhood and in the world, and home religion is practical sanctification with character conformed to Christ's likeness. That character is gauged by how each family member does duty to associates, fulfilling duty to God in the first four commandments and duty to fellow men in the last six. Peacemakers are a treasure in the family and a blessing in the church; though tempted, their life hid with Him, they look to Him, pray for self-control, meekness, and peace, and receive the peace He gives.
A peacemaker cherishes His spirit, controls the temper, and gives up impulsive faultfinding and speech that creates confusion, becoming a help and blessing to the church and flourishing spiritually wherever they are. A faultfinding, self-exalting course that seeks to control others and creates confusion and distrust in the church is the opposite and needs humility and a changed heart. A combative spirit, harsh words, and stirring up strife must be changed to kindly, loving speech to family and church members to be counted among the peacemakers. One who cherishes Christ's spirit and seeks peace flourishes spiritually and blesses the church wherever they are, while impulsive faultfinding and speaking against fellow believers bring confusion and harm.
A peacemaker is transformed in character to create harmony and work for the prosperity and growth of the church instead of stirring up strife. This means crucifying self, putting self out of sight and hiding self in Him, learning His meekness and lowliness of heart, and laying down envy, jealousy, evil surmisings, and persistent insistence on one's own thoughts, plans, and ideas. Those claiming to believe truth and to save souls while wounding and bruising the cause by indiscretion, variance, emulation, and strife are not in harmony with His teaching, are weighed and found wanting, and will spread dissension like leaven until they receive a different spirit. Peacemaking stands against stirring up strife and tearing down confidence, reflecting His love with tenderness, trust, and faithfulness, and sincere, unselfish devotion to Him and soul-saving makes such Christians a light and faithful soldiers.
One who walks in the light, feels the value of souls, cultivates love for truth, loves the brethren, and is sanctified through truth can make peace rather than stir up strife. Such a person is qualified to teach truth, helps in labor for souls, and takes up church burdens at home, showing love in deeds and truth and stopping contention. The opposite stirrer-up of strife by a selfish course creates difficulties that call laborers away, overtaxes strength, and leaves undone work that could have been accomplished.
Peacemakers represent Him by holy example and help win others to accept Him as Saviour, living soberly and carefully in words and actions. Practicing this teaching is part of the work He calls for wherever offices and Christian centers are established, to be revealed in Christian service, and those who live it share in His labors and rewards. Where all temperaments and trials meet, being furnished with Scripture and repeating a timely verse instead of one's own words is a savor of life, shields from temptation, furnishes reasons for faith without offense, and glorifies God. Modest, self-forgetful words in cooperation with Him are directed by the Holy Spirit to impress hearts, making a deeper impression than preaching alone. Exhibiting in character the graces He pronounces blessed and putting them to practical use makes disciples lights of the world, with obedience making life pleasant and useful to others under His safe direction.
Christians are to live amid sin, strife, and disagreement as peacemakers, doing all in their power to advance God's work. Peacemaking includes putting away unkind criticism and working in harmony and unity with fellow believers. It is opposed to bickering and contention, seeking peace, love, and harmony rather than wounding others, and belongs with meekness, humility, and wisdom from above that rejects envy, strife, and a dictatorial spirit. Peacemaking is an attribute He delights to see expressed and that God values, measuring people by moral worth, not possessions. An idle person refusing God-given abilities loses opportunity to become fit for immortal life. When seeing others in trouble, difficulty, or enmity, it calls for speaking words of peace even when nothing else can be done, which may stop complaining and prove a blessing, and it belongs to the conduct believers must maintain in constant spiritual battle.
Failure to learn this lesson brings condemnation, because God cannot cooperate with those who disobey His teaching and think their own way better. The opposite of peacemaking is accusing, thinking and speaking evil, gathering trifles of evil, worrying, finding fault, using speech to destroy confidence, and standing fractious and faultfinding instead of bound in oneness with Him, which is the enemy's work. It is also the worldly way of jealousy and bitterness, the pompous, overbearing, dictatorial spirit, and the natural, unrenewed heart constantly irritated, marking objectionable features, calling attention to brethren's faults, and spreading surmising, suspicion, jealousy, evil-speaking, heartburnings, distrust, and roots of bitterness. Peacemaking belongs with mercy and purity of heart, bearing the fruit of the Spirit in love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance, without vain glory, provoking, or envying. Talebearers, surmisers of evil, and scatterers of dissension refuse to join out of strife of tongues, evil-speaking, idle, frivolous and malicious gossip, and carrying scandal from family to family in the peacemaker's way; grace and peace rest on peacemakers, while such talebearers are miserable strangers to happiness, bringing a twofold curse heavier on the speaker and reaping deadly fruits in their own souls.
Peacemakers are those who love and cultivate peace, quieting anger, resentment and quarreling, forgiving wrongs, yielding rather than retaliating, and refusing gossip, talebearing, faultfinding and words that stir up strife and division.
True peace is not made by human plans but is born of truth and harmony with God, received by renouncing sin and opening the heart to His love and grace through faith, which casts out evil passions and fills the soul with love.
Whoever lives this way by word or holy example leads others to renounce sin and yield to God, restores rather than bruises character, and brings blessing in home, church and daily work.
Such peacemakers reflect the Father who is a God of peace, partaking of the divine nature, so that Christ and heaven and the church recognize and call them the children of God, heirs of His kingdom of righteousness, peace and joy.
Setting and Wording
Christ spoke this blessing in His sermon recorded in Matthew 5 on a mountain, away from the turmoil of crowded cities, after His teaching and healing throughout Galilee had drawn crowds to Him. He gave it especially to His disciples, with them gathered in the inner circle close enough to remember His words and later share them, while the gathered multitude of Jews and Gentiles also listened. The character of His teaching there is to be studied together with His conflict with Satan and victory in the wilderness in Matthew 4. His plainly revealed teaching about the faithful and the blessings they may receive belongs to that mountain instruction, given as a call to heart-reformation.
It states one of the principles governing His kingdom of divine grace, rather than promises of earthly glory or political restoration. By opening His sermon on the mount with this and the other beatitudes, He disappointed the expectation of a great display of power and the believing Jews' hope to be freed from the yoke of bondage and reinstated in ancient glory. He designed the teaching for His disciples close about Him yet also to reach the hearts and consciences of the mixed crowd assembled, correcting false expectations of worldly greatness and showing His kingdom was not earthly glory.
The sermon opposed the self-righteous teachings of the scribes and Pharisees and overturned their judgments, so that people they might condemn as cursed are declared blessed by Christ and promised eternal rewards, with peacemakers among those who share those rewards as called children of God. It corrected their picture of God as a stern judge by revealing His compassion, mercy, love, and paternal care.
Matthew 5 reveals the truth about the laws of God's government and presents God's law as the standard whose claims must be investigated and whose commandments must not be disobeyed. It gives the human race His perfect standard of purity, righteousness, and love for practice and points to immortal life in God's paradise, repeating His Old Testament teaching calling for mercy, compassion, and love. It requires more than avoiding outward wrongdoing, and explains God's holy law so that oppression, injustice, and unjust business dealings that harm a neighbor are ruled out. Its perfect obedience would replace oppression and injustice with love, harmony, and joy reflecting God's character and the life of obedience He exemplified. It came from God and was spoken with divine authority, yet so simply that even a child can study it without being misled.
Christ lived out the lessons of the Sermon on the Mount in His deeds before He taught them, and this blessing is one of those Beatitudes to be considered for its meaning in each person's life.
The verse is full of deep meaning and value as a wonderful golden treasure of truth and instruction, holding some of the most precious lessons found anywhere. It lays out in figures the plan for revealing the likeness of the divine Lord and knowing the science of spiritual life through cooperation and union with Him, and is to be read, believed, studied above all light reading, written upon the tablets of the soul, and acted upon in daily life. Living by this teaching develops Christlike character and puts divine principles in the heart, giving understanding that is experimental knowledge of highest value when proved and tried and worked out in life and experience. Receiving these soul-saving truths with a humble spirit leads to conversion and the removal of rebuke for past wrongs, while living the teaching makes a deeper and more lasting impression than preaching alone, with modest, self-forgetful words spoken in cooperation with Him directed by the Holy Spirit to impress hearts. Where all kinds of temperaments and trial are met, being furnished with words of Scripture and repeating a timely verse instead of one's own words is a savor of life unto life, holding precious promises that shield from temptation and furnish reasons for faith in a manner that does not offend but glorifies God.
The Sermon on the Mount was presented as a call to Christian life and acceptance with God. Its blessings identify those who are truly blessed and righteous as seekers of the righteousness Christ alone can give, and they anticipate the rewards of the judgment. They are received by those who accept the conditions He gives, with instruction connected to guidance for meeting the trials of the last days.
On the Mount of Beatitudes His truths remove human-made distinctions and widen concern to include sinful, suffering people in distant regions everywhere. Its setting breaks down human divisions and calls followers to work in His way for others.
Meaning of Peacemaking
Peacemakers love and cultivate peace and contentment, seeking to quiet anger, resentment, faultfinding and the passions that lead to quarrels, and avoiding words and actions that needlessly stir up strife, enmity and conflict. Those who foster enmity and spread reports to provoke it are the opposite of peacemakers. Peacemaking refuses to think evil of a brother or sister and tell the fault to others, which saves church trials, bitterness and wrath. It obeys His direction to tell him his fault alone, refuses to encourage a tempted soul to tell grievances against a brother or friend, and refuses to hear or want words of censure and evil-speaking, telling such a one that this blessing in His Word is what is craved.
Peacemaking breaks up divisive words and prevents misunderstandings from producing unkindness, retaliation and strife. It refuses to join in strife of tongues, evil-speaking, idle, frivolous and malicious gossip, and carrying scandal and talebearing from family to family, and never repeats things heard to another's injury. Being a peacemaker means smoothing things over instead of living in strife and contention, and forgiving those who trespass. It means yielding to one another's wishes instead of insisting on one's own, and not retaliating when annoyed or threatened, but forgiving and passing over wrong because revenge is mean and cowardly. It answers provocation and conflict with praise and thanksgiving rather than accusation, faultfinding or murmuring, as He modeled by singing spiritual songs when tempted or confronted with animosity.
Peacemaking seeks to harmonize with brethren rather than draw away, make a breach or widen it, think unkind thoughts, feel bitter, become easily excited, or say what helps divide the church. It is calm and guided by principle rather than feeling, keeping His Spirit and consecration, opening the heart for Him to control, and working and talking and thinking and planning to be one as He was one with the Father. It belongs with meekness, humility and wisdom from above, rejects envy, strife and a dictatorial spirit, and includes the unity of those who love God and keep His law and commandments, standing together on eternal truth and practicing truth so their harmony convinces the world that God sent His Son. Peacemakers allow no gainsaying and utter no words that stir human passions. They are circumspect and self-denying, bearing the cross, always gentle, patient and long-suffering toward others, especially those newly come to the faith, with the heart filled with His meekness and gentleness. They speak every word in wisdom, think and speak kindly of all as they wish to be spoken of, refuse to think or speak evil of one another, and walk wisely amid many temperaments to help and bless others.
A peacemaker is whoever by the quiet, unconscious influence of a holy life reveals His love, and whoever by word or deed leads another to renounce sin and yield the heart to God. Peacemakers are His missionaries who work with Him in restoring rather than bruising and mangling character or causing disunion, sharing light and wisdom with people in error, visiting the sick and afflicted, and patiently and kindly helping those who have gone wrong, which brings prosperity to the church.
Source of True Peace
True peace is born of truth and consists in harmony with God. Because sin sets people against God and against one another, it cannot be produced by human plans that do not reach the heart. Those who love His law have great peace, and His grace implanted in the heart casts out the evil passions that cause strife and dissension.
The peacemaker has renounced sin and opened the heart to His love. He has received heavenly peace grounded only in His grace reconciling the soul to God. That grace quiets human passion, subdues enmity, allays strife, and fills the soul with love.
Peacemakers have His grace abiding in the soul and His mind in them. They look to Him and draw nourishment from Him as branches from the living Vine, to bear the same kind of fruit as the parent stock in words, deportment, and actions. Through the Spirit they become a wellspring of life that refreshes all who come in contact with them. They claim the blessing in home, church, and business by walking in love with practical self-denial and self-sacrifice for others' happiness and prosperity.
Peacemaking comes from receiving Him by faith, for in Him is all sufficiency as the bread of life to satisfy every right craving and make the graces possible. It is received through the Holy Spirit, who fashions the person after His likeness in putting on the new man created in righteousness and true holiness. The person does not use the Holy Spirit, but the Holy Spirit uses the person. Being a peacemaker in this way means smoothing things over instead of living in strife and contention.
Peacemakers have His meek and lowly spirit, do not provoke quarrels or answer angrily, and bring happiness and peace to the home. Those who hold firmly to truth show its transforming effect by becoming kind, courteous, lovers of peace and makers of peace. They reveal the fruits of truth in words and character by advanced knowledge of Him and reception of His love for God and neighbor, with heaven's sunlight in daily life. That light reaches the deepest recesses of the soul to cleanse away all unlike His spirit and fills the heart with His pure attributes like fragrant flowers.
Peacemaking belongs with mercy and purity of heart and with unselfishness and holiness in walking as He walked. It bears the fruit of the Spirit in love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance, without vain glory, provoking, or envying. It keeps steadfast principle with no compromise of truth.
Called Children of God
Peacemakers are called children of God because they reflect the Father who is a God of peace, partaking of the divine nature and following Christ's example in cultivating peace and contentment. They seek to quiet anger, resentment, faultfinding and the passions that lead to quarrels, and they avoid words and actions that needlessly stir up strife, enmity and conflict. Those who foster enmity and spread reports to provoke it, and those who embrace worldly ways marked by jealousy and bitterness, are the opposite of peacemakers. Connected with Christ they live in harmony with heaven, and though they face tribulation in the world they have peace in Him.
Carrying the spirit of peace proves connection with heaven, for the sweet savor of Christ surrounds peacemakers and the fragrance of their life and loveliness of character show the world they have been with Jesus. For this the world recognizes them as His children, the church recognizes and calls them the children of God, and all the heavenly intelligences call them by that name. His Spirit is seen in their words and actions, and their holy life by its quiet, unconscious influence reveals His love and leads others by word or deed to renounce sin and yield the heart to God. They abide in Christ as branches in the living Vine and bear His fruit in words, deportment and actions, claiming the blessing in home, church and business by walking in love with practical self-denial and self-sacrifice for the happiness and prosperity of others rather than self. Such love does not deal in envy and evil surmising but sacrifices opinions and feelings, loves enemies, blesses cursers, does good to haters and prays for persecutors, becoming perfect as the Father in heaven is perfect, while true religion shows itself not in position but in a gentle spirit of kindness and peace in the home without trifling, cheap, fretting, faultfinding or harshly judging speech.
Ceasing to stir up strife belongs to this calling, which means refusing to encourage a tempted soul to tell grievances against a brother or friend and refusing to hear or want words of censure and evil-speaking. The one bringing such words is to be told that Christ the Counsellor has promised this blessing in His Word and that this blessing is what is craved. The Spirit of the Son abides in peacemakers and they have partaken of wisdom from above, so that their piety like a flower's fragrance breathes out unconsciously in face, word and action. Their speech, seasoned with grace and full of kindness and peace, sheds a heavenly influence that brings better impulses, and like Abigail when she met David to withhold him from shedding blood and avenging himself with his own hand, they soothe irritated feelings, prevent rash impulses, turn others from hasty purposes, and quell great evils by calm, well-directed wisdom.
Being called the children of God comes by receiving Christ as Saviour, Redeemer and Prince of life, for to all who receive Him He gives power to become the sons of God. He spoke the blessing with clearness, power, fulness and abundant assurance as a treasure of goodness and encouragement, with His divine nature shining through His humanity from the inexhaustible store of richest treasures. The treasures of eternity were at His command, and the Father committed the riches of heaven to Him without bound in their disposal, so that He acted with the prerogative to bless as fountain of all goodness in the office of God with unlimited authority. Those who accept Him He acknowledges before the heavenly host, before unfallen worlds and before the fallen world as His peculiar treasure, breathing the breath of life into fallen humanity with a joy beyond hunger or thirst.
Peacemakers are publicly chosen to compose the royal family in the kingdom of heaven, becoming heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ, united with Him in service to share in His blessing, glory and honor. As subjects of the Father's kingdom, where the Father holds the scepter and righteousness, peace and joy with peace, rest, joy and love without misinterpretation form its atmosphere, they will shine forth as the sun, sit down with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and dwell in mansions prepared by Him who gave His life that they might be found heirs. Those who receive Christ as a personal Saviour and do His work and follow His way become members of the royal family, and those who do peacemaking as the work of the home shall be called children of God, meaning members with their children of the royal family, children of the heavenly King fitted for the courts above. There the father as priest and house-band keeps a clear mind to distinguish right from wrong and mistake from willful sin, the mother is not made a slave, the children trained from childhood do their part in little duties, and all speak pleasant words rather than cross, fretful words, so that angels never pass by such a household, though no one with a cross, fretful temper will ever enter heaven's gates.
The inheritance belongs to those submissive to God who wear the yoke with Christ, work in His lines, share as co-partners in His sufferings and toils for lost humanity, act as wise instructors of souls, and unite with God in being molded, submitting their wills to the divine will. They have been changed by following Christ and learning in His school to be meek and lowly of heart, opening the heart to His pure, holy, undefiled and guiltless attributes and letting the Holy Spirit expel, kill and crucify accusing, criticizing, envying, demeriting, misrepresenting and falsifying others, which cannot survive in heaven. They do not stir up strife or dwell on others' faults but humbly seek to serve God, and they will gain an abundant entrance into heaven. Those who carry an atmosphere of peace and love are noticed by heaven, will receive their reward, and will stand in the great day of the Lord, for recognition as God's children involves moral transformation through Christ and a life shaped by His character.
Kingdom Character and Blessing
Peacemaking is one of the virtues named as a mark of those who are blessed, and those who practice it will be called children of God. It belongs to the character of those identified as subjects of heaven's kingdom, holding out peace and joy like those of the heavenly world. It is a godly trait of character opposed to ambition and earthly passions, and part of the character required in that kingdom. This virtue, rather than status or earthly ambition, is what fits a person for Christ's kingdom.
Peacemakers stand together with the meek who inherit the earth, those who hunger and thirst after righteousness who shall be filled, the merciful who obtain mercy, and the pure in heart who see God, as the character fitting for heaven. They stand alongside the poor in spirit, the mourning, and the meek, in contrast with self-esteem that looks down on others, pointing to a humble, serving life as their example. The beatitudes are a greeting of blessing to the whole human family, showing the traits of character recognized and blessed in contrast with the ambitions honored by the world, and peacemaking is among these blessed traits. They turn attention from the world's self-satisfied and ambitious to those who need and receive light and love.
Turning from the ambitious favorites of the world to those they disowned, blessing is pronounced on all who receive light and life, opening refuge to the poor in spirit, the meek, the lowly, the sorrowful, the despised, and the persecuted. Blessing after blessing flowed like the gushing forth of a long-sealed current of rich life, every sentence a rich jewel from the treasure house of truth. Every virtue and every feature of Christian excellence is presented, adding one endowment after another until He looks on the possessor with delight. Today He is still ready to give abundantly, withholding nothing that is for good and longing to find channels ready to receive the blessings He has to bestow. Its promise is part of enduring teaching for every age and class, and reaching the character it describes is possible through faith and a life shaped by Him.
Those seeking to become ministers of righteousness are to study the character of those called blessed. Its timeless standard can be reached by living His life through faith. Peacemaking is one of the ways of life on which blessing is placed, and people are to show by it that they are God's children. It is part of the character set before disciples as they represent Him in work and life. Those who practice it give evidence they are God's children, and those who possess these qualities are counted blessed by God, Jesus, and the heavenly angels.
The blessedness is possessed here below in this life, bringing cheerfulness, peace, and joy into work. The blessing rests on the state of the heart regulating the life and character, and requires having the spirit of the law in the heart. Those who claim to be His children are taught to seek this blessing and place themselves among the peacemakers. A distinct blessing is pronounced on those who day by day accept and follow the teaching, receiving the Word into good and honest hearts. He Himself teaches the meaning of the divine beatitudes daily to everyone who follows and cooperates with Him, giving lived experience of it.
Living it forms a character without fault in the sight of a pure and holy God, deciding the future destiny of those He gave His life to save. It prepares a person to stand acquitted without spot or stain of character when the judgment sits and the books are opened, where every person is judged according to deeds done in this life. Angels love such people and minister to them in every phase of life.
Living as Peacemakers
Peacemaking is the work of the home, binding the whole household together with pleasant words rather than cross, fretful words. The father as priest and house-band keeps a clear mind to distinguish right from wrong and a mistake from willful sin, the mother is not made a slave, and children trained from childhood do their part and help in little duties. Such heavenly order and calm, patient discipline rather than anger, harsh words, or impatience brings heaven into family life. The angels never pass by such a household, but no one with a cross, fretful temper will ever enter heaven's gates. Peacemakers have the meek and lowly spirit of Christ, do not provoke quarrels or answer angrily, and their spirit brings happiness and peace to the home and blesses those around them.
True religion is not position but a gentle spirit, kindness and peace, shown in the home by an atmosphere that brings happiness to the family, without trifling, cheap, fretting, faultfinding, or harshly judging speech, and by services of love and Christian courtesy. It is duty to cultivate gentleness and keep the peace of Christ in the heart, sowing seed that produces a harvest unto eternal life, while an unkind, fretful, faultfinding and harshly judging temper mars character. Suspicion and distrust, irritability at home while saving smiles for strangers, and repeating trials and complaints, drive out peace and make one a cloud instead of a light. Only practical Christlikeness makes a peacemaker in the home, in the church, in the neighborhood and in the world, and home religion is practical sanctification with character conformed to Christ's likeness. That character is gauged by how each family member does duty to associates, fulfilling duty to God in the first four commandments and duty to fellow men in the last six. Peacemakers are a treasure in the family and a blessing in the church; though tempted, their life hid with Him, they look to Him, pray for self-control, meekness, and peace, and receive the peace He gives.
A peacemaker cherishes His spirit, controls the temper, and gives up impulsive faultfinding and speech that creates confusion, becoming a help and blessing to the church and flourishing spiritually wherever they are. A faultfinding, self-exalting course that seeks to control others and creates confusion and distrust in the church is the opposite and needs humility and a changed heart. A combative spirit, harsh words, and stirring up strife must be changed to kindly, loving speech to family and church members to be counted among the peacemakers. One who cherishes Christ's spirit and seeks peace flourishes spiritually and blesses the church wherever they are, while impulsive faultfinding and speaking against fellow believers bring confusion and harm.
A peacemaker is transformed in character to create harmony and work for the prosperity and growth of the church instead of stirring up strife. This means crucifying self, putting self out of sight and hiding self in Him, learning His meekness and lowliness of heart, and laying down envy, jealousy, evil surmisings, and persistent insistence on one's own thoughts, plans, and ideas. Those claiming to believe truth and to save souls while wounding and bruising the cause by indiscretion, variance, emulation, and strife are not in harmony with His teaching, are weighed and found wanting, and will spread dissension like leaven until they receive a different spirit. Peacemaking stands against stirring up strife and tearing down confidence, reflecting His love with tenderness, trust, and faithfulness, and sincere, unselfish devotion to Him and soul-saving makes such Christians a light and faithful soldiers.
One who walks in the light, feels the value of souls, cultivates love for truth, loves the brethren, and is sanctified through truth can make peace rather than stir up strife. Such a person is qualified to teach truth, helps in labor for souls, and takes up church burdens at home, showing love in deeds and truth and stopping contention. The opposite stirrer-up of strife by a selfish course creates difficulties that call laborers away, overtaxes strength, and leaves undone work that could have been accomplished.
Peacemakers represent Him by holy example and help win others to accept Him as Saviour, living soberly and carefully in words and actions. Practicing this teaching is part of the work He calls for wherever offices and Christian centers are established, to be revealed in Christian service, and those who live it share in His labors and rewards. Where all temperaments and trials meet, being furnished with Scripture and repeating a timely verse instead of one's own words is a savor of life, shields from temptation, furnishes reasons for faith without offense, and glorifies God. Modest, self-forgetful words in cooperation with Him are directed by the Holy Spirit to impress hearts, making a deeper impression than preaching alone. Exhibiting in character the graces He pronounces blessed and putting them to practical use makes disciples lights of the world, with obedience making life pleasant and useful to others under His safe direction.
Christians are to live amid sin, strife, and disagreement as peacemakers, doing all in their power to advance God's work. Peacemaking includes putting away unkind criticism and working in harmony and unity with fellow believers. It is opposed to bickering and contention, seeking peace, love, and harmony rather than wounding others, and belongs with meekness, humility, and wisdom from above that rejects envy, strife, and a dictatorial spirit. Peacemaking is an attribute He delights to see expressed and that God values, measuring people by moral worth, not possessions. An idle person refusing God-given abilities loses opportunity to become fit for immortal life. When seeing others in trouble, difficulty, or enmity, it calls for speaking words of peace even when nothing else can be done, which may stop complaining and prove a blessing, and it belongs to the conduct believers must maintain in constant spiritual battle.
Failure to learn this lesson brings condemnation, because God cannot cooperate with those who disobey His teaching and think their own way better. The opposite of peacemaking is accusing, thinking and speaking evil, gathering trifles of evil, worrying, finding fault, using speech to destroy confidence, and standing fractious and faultfinding instead of bound in oneness with Him, which is the enemy's work. It is also the worldly way of jealousy and bitterness, the pompous, overbearing, dictatorial spirit, and the natural, unrenewed heart constantly irritated, marking objectionable features, calling attention to brethren's faults, and spreading surmising, suspicion, jealousy, evil-speaking, heartburnings, distrust, and roots of bitterness. Peacemaking belongs with mercy and purity of heart, bearing the fruit of the Spirit in love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance, without vain glory, provoking, or envying. Talebearers, surmisers of evil, and scatterers of dissension refuse to join out of strife of tongues, evil-speaking, idle, frivolous and malicious gossip, and carrying scandal from family to family in the peacemaker's way; grace and peace rest on peacemakers, while such talebearers are miserable strangers to happiness, bringing a twofold curse heavier on the speaker and reaping deadly fruits in their own souls.