Matthew 5:9 - Printer Friendly

ESV: "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.

NIV: Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.

NASB: Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.

CSB: Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.

NLT: God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God.

KJV: Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.

NKJV: Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God.

Next in Matthew's record of "the Beatitudes"—a series of statements about godly attitudes and benefits—is a reference to "peacemakers." Jesus declares that peacemakers are blessed: they have received a good thing, because they will be called sons of God. This is an early part of the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:1–2).

The commitment to make peace is highly valued throughout the Bible, but what does it mean to be a peacemaker? Biblically, a peacemaker is someone who reconciles people who were formerly in conflict. The heart of Jesus' earthly mission was to make peace between God and those who would come to Him through faith. This is eloquently expressed by Paul in his letter to the church at Ephesus:

"For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near" (Ephesians 2:14–17).

Christ made this peace "by the blood of his cross" (Colossians 1:20). In other words, His death in our place on the cross paid for our sins. It removed the barrier between humanity and God. Everyone who comes to God through Christ and the cross finds they have peace with God (Romans 5:1).

It makes sense, then, that everyone who commits to making peace between others, especially by their own sacrifice, imitates what Christ has done. Such a person is called a "son of God" similarly to how Israel was called God's son in the Old Testament (Exodus 4:22).

Matthew 5:1–12 contains the beautiful Beatitudes delivered by Jesus in His Sermon on the Mount. The series of nine sentences describes an unlikely group of people as blessed: the poor in spirit, those who mourn, the meek, those hungry for righteousness, and the merciful. All are blessed because of their part in the kingdom of heaven. This includes those persecuted for the sake of righteousness and on account of Jesus. Instead of despairing, they should rejoice for the great rewards they will receive in heaven. These are not prerequisites for salvation; instead, they are the natural expressions of saving faith in the life of those who know Christ.

The Sermon on the Mount contains some of Jesus' most challenging teaching. It begins with the unlikely blessings of the Beatitudes. Jesus' disciples must do good works in order to be a powerful influence: as the salt of the earth and light of the world. The superficial righteousness of the Pharisees is not good enough to earn heaven. Sins of the heart, such as angry insults and intentional lust, are worthy of hell just as much as adultery and murder. Easy divorce and deceptive oaths are forbidden. Believers should not seek revenge. Instead, God intends us to love our enemies and pray for our persecutors. In short, we should strive to be perfect, as God is perfect.

Matthew 5 follows Matthew's description of the enormous crowds that were following Jesus (Matthew 4:25). One day, Jesus sits down on a hill to teach them, in an address we now call the Sermon on the Mount. He describes as blessed those who are poor in spirit, who mourn, and who are persecuted. Christ also explains how God's standards of righteousness go far beyond behaviors and speech; they also include our thoughts and attitudes. Meeting God's standards means perfection. Chapter 6 continues this sermon, with more examples of Jesus clarifying God's intent for godly living.

The Gospel of Matthew clearly shows the influence of its writer's background, and his effort to reach a specific audience. Matthew was one of Jesus' twelve disciples, a Jewish man, and a former tax collector. This profession would have required literacy, and Matthew may have transcribed some of Jesus' words as they were spoken. This book is filled with references to the Old Testament, demonstrating to Israel that Jesus is the Promised One. Matthew also includes many references to coins, likely due to his former profession. Matthew records extensive accounts of Jesus' teaching, more than the other three Gospels.