Matthew 5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
Mark 9:50 Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his saltness, wherewith will ye season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace one with another.
Luke 6:35 But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.
Romans 12:18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.
Romans 14:17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.
18 For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men.
19 Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.
I Corinthians 14:33 For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.
Ephesians 5:1 Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;
2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.
Philippians 2:3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
II Timothy 2:24 And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient.
Hebrews 12:14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.
MEMORY VERSE: 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. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace. —James 3:17-18
CENTRAL THOUGHT: A peacemaker enjoys the truly happy and blessed life of being called and known as a true child of God. He imitates His Father in showing love, mercy, forgiveness, making and restoring peace; and in all matters treating everyone with gentleness, impartiality, and genuine humility and wisdom.
WORD DEFINITIONS
Matthew 5:9 “Peacemakers”: connecting into one—a more energetic term than just “peaceable.” “The founders and promoters of peace are meant; who not only keep the peace, but seek to bring men into harmony with each other. Tyndale renders, ‘the maintainers of peace’” (Vincent Word Studies). “A peace-maker is a man who, being endowed with a generous public spirit, labors for the public good, and feels his own interest promoted in promoting that of others: therefore, instead of fanning the fire of strife, he uses his influence and wisdom to reconcile the contending parties, adjust their differences, and restore them to a state of unity“ (Adam Clarke, Clarke’s Commentary). “One who makes peace by reconciling parties that are at variance” (Webster’s 1828 Dictionary).
Mark 9:50 “Salt”: “[Salt] possesses a strongly preservative property, and hence it became an emblem of incorruption and purity, as well as of a perpetual covenant—a perfect reconciliation and lasting friendship” (Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Dictionary). “From its antiseptic and savoury qualities, salt became the symbol of hospitality, friendship, durability, fidelity” (Elliot’s Commentary for English Readers). “Peace”: to be at peace; to cultivate or keep peace; to bring to peace (same definition in Romans 12:18 and James 3:17).
Romans 14:19 “Peace”: from a word which means to join; tie together into a whole.
Ephesians 5:1 “Followers of God”: imitators of God.
Philippians 2:3 “Strife”: the seeking of followers; mercenary (for gain) self-seeking; rivalry; carnal ambition; feud; faction.
II Timothy 2:24 “Strive”: engage in battle; fight; contend; dispute.
James 3:17 “Without partiality”: does not make a difference (discrimination or distinction) where it is not necessary; is not a respecter of persons; does not harshly esteem one in preference to others.
LESSON BACKGROUND
Jesus was on a mission to rescue and redeem His lost sheep; those of the house of Israel and all of mankind. He was building His church—all who would believe and receive Him—a body of people whom He would indwell; to live, move, and love through them. He had now introduced them to the blessed life of the kingdom. He had shown them how to enter, and that by being humble, contrite, meek, merciful, hungry for righteousness, and pure and simple in heart they could be blessed by the comfort, fullness, victory, power and authority of His kingdom, shed abroad in their hearts by the Holy Spirit.
Now we come to this. As sheep among wolves He was sending them forth. By loving one another, they would be identified. By meekness they would prevail. Not just by being quiet and peaceable, but by actively seeking peace and reconciliation, they would actually conquer the world. Could they have known—could they have seen, that where these principles would rule in the hearts and lives of men, women, boys and girls, nothing could be more beautiful, more prosperous, or more productive.
Strife and bloodshed would continue in hearts who did not bow to Christ, and sadly, among those whose religion was in name only. The world would be full of it. But wherever there was a little flock where His Spirit ruled, there was peace. His people would be imitators of the Father Who gave His only Son to bring salvation. They would sacrifice themselves, lay down their lives, and give up their own ways to make peace.
This is how the early church operated. Two totally different cultures, the Jews and the Gentiles, were coming together and worshipping together. There were growing pains, there were differences, and there were struggles, but the testimony of even their enemies was that they loved one another.
The verses in our lesson are given by Jesus and the disciples as commandments to the early church. As we consider their admonitions and the meanings of the different words, let us be convicted in our own hearts to live the message out in our lives, so that in our time, in our day, we will be known as true children of God, the people who make peace.
—Sis. Angela Gellenbeck
DISCUSSION:
- Peacemaker: Give the definition of this word; explain how it is different than just being peaceable.
- Salt: Share what spiritual characteristic this might mean.
- Children of Your Father: Express the quality of heart and action that confers this particular
title upon believers.
- Pursuit: What two things should we follow after, as members together of Christ’s church?
- Dear Children: Give the definition of “followers of God.”
- Prohibited: What did Paul command the Philippians and Timothy not to do?
- Harvest of Righteousness: This fruit may only come from those who ______________ ______________ and sow ____ ___________.
COMMENTS AND APPLICATION
This seems to me to be the peak verse in the beatitudes. The previous verses lead upward, as steps, to this important call. If ever there was a time in our generation for being peacemakers, surely it is now. This is the hallmark of true Christianity; this is our identity; the litmus test, if you will, of our genuineness. “Either you is, or you ain’t.”
Actively pursuing peace in our relationships, seeking God for wisdom to negotiate and defuse volatile situations, doing what it takes—spending time, practicing self denial, establishing communication—to restore broken trusts: this is our call, and this is what it takes to imitate our Father.
Jesus made peace “through the blood of his cross.” It’s going to be the cross that unites us. Always. I’ve observed through the years that when professing Christians discard the cross from their lives and begin to unite with the world, they begin to sow the seeds of discord among the brethren, something God said that He “hates.”
When professing saints leave their “first love” and lose that lowly estimation of themselves; cease to be contrite, tenderhearted, meek and merciful; no longer keep themselves pure from all fleshly agendas and ulterior motives, nor hunger for true righteousness, but establish their own righteousness; they also cease from sowing seeds in peace and instead sow discord. They fail to actively make peace.
Seeds are little things. It’s the little things—sometimes a single word or deed or an accumulation of them—that make or break the relationship. What are things we can do today to make peace? It’s time for that conversation.
—Sis. Angela Gellenbeck
REFLECTIONS
The word peacemaker infers that there is a conflict and that the maker of peace has power to calm the situation and unite the opposing parties.
We live in a world of discord. Us against them. One party pitted against another. Though we may not often realize it, we all possess the power individually and collectively to make peace. We can create an atmosphere of unity in our homes and in our spheres of influence simply by the words we speak or the words we chose not to speak.
A soft answer turns away wrath but grievous words stir up anger. Our words are powerful. They can make peace or create war. They can calm a volatile situation or escalate it. How many lives have been taken based on words spoken?
If people could learn to rule their tongues, the surge of violence would swiftly abate. It’s the words that we speak that give rise to hatred and strife. It is also the words that we speak that can calm and soothe.
But in order to rule the tongue, you must first conquer the heart and that takes the power of God. We have power over Satan because of the Word of God. And we have peace because of the power of the Word.
Jesus showed us that it takes power not to speak when we are being wronged. Silence can be a most effective ally in making peace. We must learn to use it to its full advantage. We must know when to speak and when to be silent. We must seek the Lord for wisdom to choose our words carefully. For therein lies the blessedness of a peacemaker.
—Bro. Darrell Johnson
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