Like Father, Like Son?

Transcription

1 The Beatitudes Blessed are the peacemakers The Beatitudes Like Father, Like Son? (Matthew 5:9) One of the outstanding qualities of the Bible is its freshness and vitality, the fact that it is always up to date and is applicable in any age. Was there ever a passage more needed by our age than this beatitude: Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God (Matthew 5:9)? Regardless of when this passage is studied, 1 strangers will be killing strangers, neighbors will be killing neighbors, brothers will be killing brothers, religious factions will be trying to destroy each other, and nations will be trying to eradicate other nations. 2 In the midst of hatred and strife, this beatitude comes as a refreshing breeze: Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. It has not always been readily apparent how some of the Beatitudes relate to happiness, but we have little trouble with this one. It is difficult to be happy in an atmosphere of animosity and turmoil, but happy are those who work at promoting peace. Think about it. Are happy people irritable, always ready to take offense, or eager to stir up strife? People such as these are miserable, and the only enjoyment they get is in making others miserable also. What about the gentle, the kindly, the affectionate, those who love peace, and those who do all they can to promote peace in their homes, in the church, and among their neighbors and friends? You know which group 1 Adapted from Don Humphrey, The Beatitudes (Burlington, Mass.: Eternity Press, 1969), Adapted from Robert Wells, Beatitudes Their Significance and Meaning ( com/~robertwells/beatitudes.html; Internet; accessed 29 April 2008). is happier. In the fruit of the Spirit, joy and peace are joined together and both are preceded by love (Galatians 5:22). Several questions about our text need to be answered. What is involved in being a peacemaker, and what does the term sons of God imply? In our study of the seventh beatitude, we will approach the text a little differently than we did with the previous beatitudes. We will first talk about the end of the verse (the promise): They shall be called sons of God. Then we will discuss the beginning of the verse (the requirement): Blessed are the peacemakers. This will allow us to conclude with an application of Matthew 5:9 to our day.... FOR THEY SHALL BE CALLED SONS OF GOD. As has been the case in all the Beatitudes, the primary source of the blessedness or happiness of peacemakers is found in the promise: For they shall be called sons of God. The KJV has for they shall be called the children of God, but the word translated children is the plural of the Greek word for son (ui o/ß, huios). The term is used here in a generic sense to refer to both males and females, both sons and daughters of God. 3 What a wonderful promise this is: to be called sons and daughters of God, to be sons and daughters of the King, to be sons and daughters of the Creator of the universe! The promise is exciting, but we need to un- 3 The phrases daughter of God and daughters of God are not found in the Bible. Perhaps the emphasis is on sons because, in ancient times, usually only sons were heirs. 1

2 derstand the implications in the phrase sons of God. Son of was a Hebrew expression meaning partaking of the nature of. Barnabas was called the Son of Encouragement (Acts 4:36) because it was his nature to encourage others. Sons of God implies those who partake of the nature of God. We have an expression: Like father, like son. That is our challenge as children of God (see Matthew 5:48). In our text the phrase sons of God specifically refers to those who partake of God s nature to be a peacemaker. The Divine Peacemaker According to Proverbs 6:16 19, there are six things which the Lo r d hates, yes, seven which are an abomination to Him. The seventh is one who spreads strife among brothers. God hates strife and loves peace. He is called the God of peace (Romans 15:33). He created a world which was filled with peace until sin brought disharmony and death. To restore peace, He sent His Son, His only begotten Son, into this sin-sick, turbulent world (see John 3:16). To appreciate how much God loves peace, we need only look at His Son, Jesus (see John 14:9). It was prophesied that Christ would be the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6). His birth was heralded with the phrase on earth peace among men (Luke 2:14). Shortly before He died, He told His disciples, Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you (John 14:27a). Through His death He brought peace both to Jews (those near) and to Gentiles (those far away) (Ephesians 2:16, 17; see Colossians 1:20). Imitating Our Father You and I are challenged to be like God and Jesus. Pursue peace with all men (Hebrews 12:14; see 2 Timothy 2:22);... pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another (Romans 14:19). If we pursue peace, we will be called sons of God. Hugo McCord wrote, By creation all men are sons of God (Gen. 6:2; Luke 3:38). But, snared by Satan, humans like some angels kept not their first estate (Jude 6) and have now properly and divinely been denominated children of the devil (John 8:44; Acts 13:10). 4 4 Hugo McCord, Happiness Guaranteed (Murfreesboro, Tenn.: Dehoff Publications, 1956), 51. McCord s quotations are from the KJV. If, however, we are peacemakers, we will be called sons of God. Who will call us sons of God? Sometimes other people will. When we assist two brothers in being reconciled or we help to restore peace in a home, those involved are often grateful. We must understand, however, that such is not always the case. Efforts to restore peace are sometimes not appreciated. Police officers often say that the most dangerous situations they handle on a daily basis are domestic disputes. For example, if the police try to restrain a man who is beating his wife, both the husband and the wife may turn on the officers. In the same way, a good-intentioned effort on our part to restore peace may be looked upon as interference. Further, if we refuse to take sides in a dispute, people on both sides may start attacking us. That is why I say that, if we are peacemakers, occasionally people will call us sons of God but not always. Who, then, will call peacemakers sons of God? God will. He will acknowledge those who promote peace as His children. Of course, being a peacemaker is not all that God requires to be designated as His child. Jesus was not saying that if we work hard at restoring harmony in the world, we are automatically children of God. We cannot be children of God without being in the family of God and, to be in the family, we must be born into it: born of water and the Spirit (see John 3:3, 5) in our obedience to the truth (see 1 Peter 1:22). This obedience includes faith and trust in Jesus, as well as baptism. Paul wrote, For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ (Galatians 3:26, 27; emphasis mine). When we come to the Lord in humble obedience, God adds us to His church (Acts 2:47; KJV), which is His household (see 1 Timothy 3:15; family ; McCord). We cannot be sons and daughters of God unless we do what He has asked us to do in order to become Christians. Even if we are born again and are God s children, we are not behaving as sons of God until we partake of His nature and become peacemakers. When will peacemakers be called sons of God? Let me once more suggest that there is partial fulfillment in this life and ultimate fulfillment in the life to come. Regarding this life, Paul 2

3 told Christians, Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts (Galatians 4:6; emphasis mine). 5 In a sense we are already sons of God but the process of being called sons will not be complete until we are in heaven with our Father. Paul wrote of the glory that is to be revealed and our waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons (Romans 8:18, 23; see also v. 19). 6 When Jesus spoke of the state of God s people in heaven, He said that they will not die anymore because they are like angels, and are sons of God (Luke 20:36). Regardless of whether we are talking about the here or the hereafter, it is difficult to imagine a more exciting promise: God will acknowledge us as His children, as His sons and daughters! BLESSED ARE THE PEACEMAKERS.... Having seen the promise, we should be even more desirous of fulfilling the requirement to be peacemakers. What is involved in being a peacemaker? The word peacemaker is translated from ei rhnopoio/ß (eirenopoios), which combines the word for peace (ei rh/nh, eirene) with a word that means to make (poie w, poieo). This combination is seldom found in the New Testament, 7 but the word for peace (eirene) is found more than eighty times. 8 Eirene refers to harmonious relationships and the sense of rest and contentment that comes as a result. The corresponding Hebrew word is MwølDv(shalom). 9 Regarding shalom, William Barclay wrote, In Hebrew peace is never only a negative state; it never means only the absence of trouble; in Hebrew peace always means everything which 5 See also 1 John 3:1, 2, which uses the plural form of te knon (teknon, child ). 6 In a sense we have already been adopted and called sons (Romans 8:15), and in another sense the adoption is not complete until we are in heaven (v. 23). See the discussion on this in Living by Hope, in Romans, 6, Truth for Today (March 2006): This is the only place where the specific Greek word in Matthew 5:9 is found in the New Testament; but the verb form of the word is found in Colossians 1:20, and the Greek words for make and peace are used in James 3:18. 8 James M. Tolle, The Beatitudes (Fullerton, Calif.: Tolle Publications, 1966), W. E. Vine, Merrill F. Unger, and William White, Jr., Vine s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words (Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1985), 464. makes for a man s highest good. In the east when one man says to another, Salaam which is the same word he does not mean that he wishes for the other man only the absence of evil things; he wishes for him the presence of all good things. 10 The word peace is indispensable in the term peacemaker, but do not overlook the word maker. The seventh beatitude is unique. The emphasis in most of the Beatitudes is on attitude, while the emphasis in a few is on attitude plus action; but this beatitude focuses on action. The right attitude is assumed, but in our text God s promise is for those who actively pursue peace. The Lord did not promise to bless peace-lovers (though such is commendable) or peace-talkers (which is sometimes needed), but peacemakers. God has not promised to bless those who believe in peace at any price. Some are considered peaceful and peace-loving because they avoid trouble at all costs. Instead of facing potential trouble and dealing with it, they ignore it and hope that it will go away on its own. It usually does not, and they end up instead with a bigger problem than they started with. In this regard God has definitely not promised to bless those for whom peace is a higher priority than being faithful to Him and His Word. James wrote that the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable (James 3:17; emphasis mine). In working for peace, we must understand the necessity of thinking long term. When our daughter Cindy was a little girl, she had a number of health problems and had to take a lot of medicine. Oh, she hated that medicine! It is still painful to remember how we had to hold her little body tightly and force the medicine into her mouth (usually spilling half of it). Peace at any price would have dictated that we not give her the medicine because there was no peace in our home during medicine-taking time. However, we took the long view because we wanted her to be healthy. 11 Likewise, for peace that honors the Lord, we must focus on the future. We have to face problems and deal with them even when it is unpleasant to do so. My brother 10 William Barclay, The Gospel of Matthew, vol. 1, The Daily Study Bible Series (Philadelphia: Westminster Press, 1958), A similar illustration is that of giving a child an injection to prevent or cure disease. I do not know of any child who likes to get a shot! 3

4 Coy commented that a peacemaker will engage in conflict if necessary, but he will not delight in it. 12 Even in rebuking error, a peacemaker s love will be evident to all (see Ephesians 4:15). The Lord s bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will (2 Timothy 2:24 26). That should give us some idea of what is not meant by the word peacemaker, but what does it mean? When we hear the term, a variety of scenes may come to mind: 13 a mother settling an argument between her children, a teacher breaking up a scuffle on the school ground, men and women sitting around a table at an international peace conference. All this is impor tant, but I want to begin our discussion of the positive side of peacemaking with something more basic. 12 Coy D. Roper, correspondence, 13 September Adapt this idea to fit the situation where you live. Peace with God Peace in the world must begin with peace in the heart, and peace in the heart begins with peace with God. Isaiah wrote, There is no peace, says my God, for the wicked (Isaiah 57:21). To have peace with God, we must surrender our will to His (see 2 Chronicles 30:8). Instead of trusting in ourselves, we must trust in Jesus and do His will. Paul said, Having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 5:1). Then and only then will the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, guard our hearts and minds (see Philippians 4:7). Next, in order to be peacemakers, we must be concerned about more than personal peace with God; we must also strive to help others to be reconciled to God (see 2 Corinthians 5:18, 20). I have no objection to most efforts to bring about peace, but any such effort which does not change hearts will not produce lasting results. It is like putting a tiny bandage on a huge, gaping wound. 14 It is possible to have a cessation of hostilities without having peace. A husband and wife may halt their verbal attacks, but there is no real peace in their home if an antagonistic atmosphere remains. To have outward peace, there must first be inward peace. To have lasting peace within and without, people must surrender their hearts and lives to God. As individuals draw closer to the Lord, they will also draw closer to one another. 15 In the ancient world, there was an immense gulf between Jews and Gentiles that could be bridged only through Jesus. Consider this passage from Ephesians 2: But now in Christ Jesus you [Gentiles] who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups [Jews and Gentiles] into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall [the law of Moses], by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances [the law of Moses], so that in Himself He might make the two [Jews and Gentiles] into one new man, thus establishing peace, and might reconcile them both [Jews and Gentiles] in one body [the church, Ephesians 1:22, 23] to God through the cross, by it having put to death the enmity. And He came and preached peace to you who were far away [Gentiles], and peace to those who were near [the Jews] (vv ). Even as Jesus bridged the gulf between Jews and Gentiles, so He can bridge the gulf between warring factions today if they will come to Him and surrender to His will. Helping others to come to the Lord is important to a peacemaker. Peace with Others Having personal peace with God and encouraging others to be reconciled to God is of first importance. However, this is not all that is involved in being a peacemaker. Being at peace with God should encourage us to do our best to live at peace with others. Jesus told His followers to be at peace with one another (Mark 9:50). Paul wrote, Finally, brethren,... live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you (2 Corinthians 13:11). 14 An expression used in the US is putting a Band-Aid on the problem. 15 As an example, think of the apostle Paul, the master Philemon, and the slave Onesimus all being beloved brethren (see Philemon 1, 16; Colossians 4:9; 2 Peter 3:15). 4

5 In Romans 14:19 Paul used a phrase that fascinates me: So then we pursue the things which make for peace (emphasis mine). Paul did not explain what he meant by the things which make for peace ; he expected his readers to know what he had in mind. If you made a list of things which make for peace and things which break the peace, what would you include in your list? 16 Your list might include factors like these: 17 Loving others makes for peace, while an uncaring attitude breaks the peace. Being kind to others makes for peace, while harshness breaks the peace. Helping others makes for peace, while ignoring the needs of others breaks the peace. Following the Golden Rule (Matthew 7:12) makes for peace, while giving little thought to how we treat others breaks the peace. Having a strong desire for harmony makes for peace, while having a quarrelsome disposition invariably breaks the peace. Being lovable and approachable makes for peace, while being unreceptive toward others discourages peace. Having the courage to go to others when we offend or are offended (see Matthew 5:23, 24; 18:15) promotes peace, while failing to do so encourages estrangement. Returning good for evil (see Romans 12:20, 21) makes for peace, while seeking revenge destroys all hope of peace. We are to strive to be friends even with our adversaries (see Matthew 5:25; Proverbs 16:7). 18 As we make our lists, perhaps at the top should be the quality of being more concerned about others than self. One of Jesus most difficult sayings is this: If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his 16 If you use this lesson in a class setting, this would be a good discussion question. 17 There is a chapter on Follow After Things Which Make for Peace in Leroy Brownlow s Some Do s and Don ts for the Christian (Fort Worth, Tex.: Leroy Brownlow Publications, 1951), This is the attitude that truly makes us sons of God. Matthew 5:43 45 has been called the best commentary on Matthew 5:9. The word sons in Matthew 5:45 is from the same Greek word as sons in Matthew 5:9. cross and follow Me (Matthew 16:24; emphasis mine). D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones wrote, The explanation of all our troubles is human lust, greed, selfishness, self-centeredness.... We look at everything as it affects us.... How is this affecting me? What is this doing to me? Now that is the spirit that always leads to quarrels, misunderstandings and disputes, and it is a negation of being a peacemaker. 19 When peace is shattered and discord occurs, if you can get to the heart of the problem, invariably you will find one or more individuals concerned primarily about self. Maybe they think they did not receive what they deserved, or maybe they are just determined to have their own way. There are many biblical illustrations of the importance of unselfishness in being peacemakers. For example, Abraham told his nephew Lot, Please let there be no strife between you and me, nor between my herdsmen and your herdsmen, for we are brothers (Genesis 13:8). He then gave Lot his choice of the land (vv. 9 12) even though the right of first choice was his own. Other examples could be given: Isaac, who loved peace more than property 20 (see Genesis 26:17 22), and Jonathan, who unselfishly tried to make peace between his friend David and his father Saul (see 1 Samuel 18:1; 19:2 6; 20:30 33). However, the definitive example of an unselfish peacemaker is Jesus. In Colossians 1:20 Paul noted that Jesus made peace through the blood of His cross. Made peace is from the verb form of the word for peacemaker. In this statement Paul affirmed that Jesus was a peacemaker. As a peacemaker, rather than insisting on His rights, He gave up those rights to come to earth (see Philippians 2:5 8) to bring peace between God and man and between man and man. 21 To bring about peace, Jesus was willing even to be nailed to a cross. He is the ultimate peacemaker, the unselfish peacemaker. Even if we have all the qualities discussed and do our best to live at peace with others, some will still refuse to be at peace with us. In Romans 19 D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, Studies in the Sermon on the Mount, vol. 1 (Grand Rapids, Mich.: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1959), 119, McCord, Man is used here in the generic sense. 5

6 12:18 we read, If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men (emphasis mine). It is impossible to be at peace with everyone. We can only control one-half of a relationship our half. However, let us do all we can to be at peace with all men. Regarding peace with others, one more area should be mentioned. A peacemaker not only does his best to live at peace with others, but he also promotes peace between quarreling factions. We may think of Moses trying to separate his fellow Hebrews who were fighting (Exodus 2:13, 14) or Paul s urging two sisters in the church to live in harmony (Philippians 4:2). If time permitted, we could discuss the need for peace in the home (see Proverbs 15:17), in the church (see 1 Thessalonians 5:13), in society, and in the world. We could make an additional list of qualities required to promote peace among others, including the need for tact and wisdom (see Proverbs 25:11; James 1:5). In some situations the greatest contribution we can make to peace is to keep our mouths closed. 22 Solomon wrote, For lack of wood the fire goes out, and where there is no whisperer, contention quiets down (Proverbs 26:20). There is also a need for patience (see 1 Thessalonians 5:14) and even strength and courage (see 2 Corinthians 5:6; Ephesians 6:10). US Senator Hubert Humphrey once said, Negotiations between conflicting parties is like crossing a river by walking on slippery rocks.... It s risky, but it s the only way to get across. 23 Whether we are talking about peace with God or peace with others, we need to understand that neither is possible without the Lord s help. Those who are naturally peaceful need God s help in learning to deal with problems instead of trying to avoid them. Those who are naturally quarrelsome need divine insight to see how important peace is. As noted earlier, peace is part of the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22). It is only as we allow God s Spirit and His Word (Ephesians 6:17) to dominate our lives that we have peace with God and can find peace with others. God, forgive us our failure to be peaceloving and peace-making. Forgive us the selfcenteredness that has obstructed peace. Bestow on us Your mercy so we may have peace of mind and heart. Then help us determine to be peacemakers. Give us strength and patience and love so we might pursue peace with all men. In the name of Your Son, Jesus. Amen. CONCLUSION Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. The opposite would be Cursed are the troublemakers, for they shall be called sons of Satan. 24 Are you a peacemaker? Are you a son or daughter of God? Are you enjoying peace with God and with others? If not, turn to Jesus Christ in faith and obedience. Notes In the conclusion of this lesson, you will want to remind your listeners of the need to be born into God s family (the church) so they can be called children of God. You may also want to encourage any Christians who have been troublemakers instead of peacemakers to be restored. The need for peacemakers is so great, and the scope of the topic so vast, that you will need to limit your application, focusing on the specific needs of the congregation and the area where you work. David Roper 22 You are not a true friend when you tell your friend something unkind that was said about him by someone else (Lloyd-Jones, 124). Amen! 23 Quoted in Robert Schuller, The Be (Happy) Attitudes 24 (Waco, Tex.: Word Books, 1985), 169. Adapted from McCord, 46. Copyright, 2008 by Truth for Today ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 6