Lesson 8:
The Peacemakers
Matthew 5:9 Blessed
are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God.
Romans 12:18 If
it is possible, as much as it is up to you, be at peace with all men.
PEACEMAKER
One who makes
peace by reconciling parties that are at variance. Blessed are the
peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God. Matt.5.
"peacemaker."
Noah Webster's 1828 American Dictionary of the English Language.
2014. http://1828.mshaffer.com/d/word/peacemaker
(12 June 2014).
The main
points for this lesson:
Remember,
beatitude means happy or blessed. Jesus is telling us the way to true
happiness and blessedness. The beatitudes teach us who will be happy
and why that person will be happy.
What is a
peacemaker? A peacemaker seeks to preserve, create, or restore peace.
This may be between himself and another, as Abram desired to preserve
peace with Lot (Genesis 13); it may be between two other people, as
Moses tried to restore peace between two Israelites who were fighting
(Acts 7:26); it may be between another person and God, as the
apostles lead sinners to be reconciled with God (2 Corinthians 5:20).
Jesus was a peacemaker in all these ways. Through his death and
resurrection, Jesus sought to reconcile men with God, and he brought
peace between men who were otherwise enemies.
How to be a
peacemaker. While it may (or may not) include saying, “We shouldn't
fight,” being a peacemaker is much more. It must include our heart
and actions. What is found in the heart of a peacemaker: not pride,
but humility; not pride, but patience; not greed or covetousness, but
contentment and giving; not hatred, but love; not malice, but
forgiveness; not being quick to anger but being slow to anger. From
such a heart, what are the actions of a peacemaker: not harsh words,
but gentle answers; not outbursts of anger, but gentle corrections;
not gossip nor whisperings, but speaking the truth in love, and
remaining silent when appropriate.
God does not ask
us to call good bad or bad good in order to preserve peace.
Righteousness and peace go hand in hand as the prophets tell us
(Psalm 85:10; Isaiah 32:17). We may need to talk with someone about
their sin in order to bring peace (Matthew 18:15-17; Luke 17:3-4). We
may need to look at, confess and deal with our own sin in order to
bring peace (Matthew 5:23-26). Jesus never excused sin in order to
bring peace. He spoke plainly about sin, and called men to repent.
Jesus shows us what it really means to be a peacemaker in that he
gave up his own life to bring us peace with God by dying on the
cross, not to excuse sins, but to justify and forgive all those who
repent and turn to God.
Why will
peacemakers be happy and blessed? The apostles wrote about God as the
“God of peace” (2 Corinthians 13:11; 1 Thessalonians 5:23; 2
Thessalonians 3:16; Hebrews 13:20). Jesus is called the “Prince of
Peace” (Isaiah 9:6). When we were his enemies, God, as a
peacemaker, was is Christ, reconciling the world to himself (2
Corinthians 5:19). God's people are commanded to seek peace, pursue
peace, and follow after peace. When we pursue peace from a pure
heart, we are imitating God. It is God who himself calls peacemakers
his sons. This is a great cause for rejoicing. Jesus taught that we
shouldn't rejoice in outward signs of spiritual power, but should
rejoice that our names are written in heaven (Luke 17:20). Surely the
peacemakers are those whom the God of hope will fill with all joy and
peace in believing (Romans 15:13).
Suggestions:
Open each lesson with prayer for the
teacher and the students and this class time.
Read Matthew 5:9
with the children.
Give the children
a simple explanation of what it means to be a peacemaker. A
peacemaker tries to preserve, make, or restore peace between people.
Sometimes he may be one of those people, sometimes not. Sometimes he
may try to help someone find peace with God.
Read (or tell) the
stories about Abraham (Genesis 13:1-18) and Moses (Exodus 2:11-15).
Ask the children how they were or were not peacemakers. Ask what it
cost Abraham to be a peacemaker?
Also read (or
tell) the story of Rehoboam (1 Kings 12:1-19). This story, along with
the story of Abram (Genesis 13:1-18) relate to the apostle Paul's
exhortation to be at peace with all men as much as is possible with
us (Romans 12:18). Abram shows a positive example of this but giving
Lot the first choice. Rehoboam provides a negative illustration in
his refusal to do his part to be at peace with the people. Ask the
children as you read the story of Rehoboam who in this story were
peacemakers and who were not, and how they were or weren't
peacemakers.
Talk about Jesus
as a peacemaker. He made peace between us and God, and also between
different people who were enemies before. How did he do this? He
suffered and gave his own life as a peacemaker to bring peace. If
possible, help the children to understand that this is what it means
to be a peacemaker.
You can play a
game with the first list of proverbs (under the heading below
“Causing Strife, Bringing
Peace”). Make two columns: Causes Quarrels; Bring Peace. Read
the proverbs. As you read through each one, ask what should go in
each column from that proverb. (Include James 1:19-21 in the list.)
You can ask the children to solve a
riddle. Jesus said, “Blessed are the peacemakers.” Jesus also
said, “I did not come to bring peace but a sword.” Ask the
children how could Jesus say both of these things?
Close the lesson with prayer related to
the subject and the students. Pray the Lord's Prayer together.
Stories:
Genesis 13:1-18
Abraham
makes peace with Lot when he tells him he can choose whatever land he
wants. Abraham valued peace with Lot more than possessing a certain
piece of land.
Exodus 2:11-15
[11] In those days, when Moses had grown up, he went out to his
brothers, and looked at their burdens. He saw an Egyptian striking a
Hebrew, one of his brothers. [12] He looked this way and that way,
and when he saw that there was no one, he killed the Egyptian, and
hid him in the sand. [13] He went out the second day, and behold,
two men of the Hebrews were fighting with each other. He said to him
who did the wrong, “Why do you strike your fellow?” [14] He
said, “Who made you a prince and a judge over us? Do you plan to
kill me, as you killed the Egyptian?” Moses was afraid, and said,
“Surely this thing is known.” [15] Now when Pharaoh heard this
thing, he sought to kill Moses. But Moses fled from the face of
Pharaoh, and lived in the land of Midian, and he sat down by a well.
Acts 7:26
“The day following, he appeared to them as they fought, and
urged them to be at peace again, saying, ‘Sirs, you are
brothers. Why do you wrong one another?’
Moses
tries to make peace between two Israelites. His attempt at
peacemaking does not succeed. Perhaps there are a few reasons for
this. On one hand, one of the men may not have wanted peace. On the
other hand, it is possible that Moses was not a peacemaker in his
heart yet, as seen by how he resolved the previous fight between the
Egyptian and the Hebrew.
1 Kings 12:1-19
– This is the story of Rehoboam, the son of Solomon. The people
came to make him king, but first asked him to lighted their burden.
Rehoboam spoke harshly to the people, and so lost most of the tribes
of Israel from his kingdom.
Rehoboam
was unwilling to be at peace with the children of Israel as much as
was possible with himself. Though he was given wise counsel, he
refused the counsel that would have brought peace to the kingdom.
Instead, he spoke harshly and fulfilled the proverb (Proverbs 15:1)
that a harsh word stirs up anger. Most of the tribes forsook Rehoboam
and chose Jeroboam as their new king.
More Stories
and Examples:
Genesis
32:1-33:17
Jacob
makes peace with his brother Esau when returning from Laban. He sends
gifts ahead and comes behind with humility.
Genesis 45:1-15
Joseph
makes peace with his brothers. He does not seek revenge, but seeks
peace.
2 Samuel
14:1-24
Absalom
killed his brother Amnon in revenge, and then he fled to another
country. Joab saw that King David longed for his son Absalom. He was
peacemaker in this difficult situation between David and Absalom.
However, in reading the story, we find that the peace made was
incomplete, for Absalom's blood-guilt was not removed or atoned for.
While Absalom was allowed to return to the land of Israel, he was not
allowed to see the King's face (2 Samuel 14:24).
Philippians 4:2-3
[2] I exhort Euodia, and I exhort Syntyche, to think the same
way in the Lord. [3] Yes, I beg you also, true partner, help these
women, for they labored with me in the Good News, with Clement also,
and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of
life.
It
seems that Euodia and Syntyche may have not been getting along. The
apostle Paul encourages them to be at peace, and also asks another
person to help them as a peacemaker.
Other
Verses:
Proverbs 10:12 Hatred
stirs up strife, but love covers all wrongs.
Proverbs 13:10 Pride
only breeds quarrels, but with ones who take advice is
wisdom.
Proverbs 15:1 A gentle answer
turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
Here is a
practical way to pursue peace with others.
Proverbs 15:18 A
wrathful man stirs
up contention, but one who is slow to anger appeases
strife.
Proverbs 16:28 A
perverse man stirs
up strife. A whisperer
separates close friends.
One part of
being a peacemaker is to avoid gossip, both the hearing and the
spreading of gossip. See also Proverbs 26:20.
Proverbs 17:9 He who covers
an offense promotes love; but he who repeats a matter
separates best friends.
Proverbs 17:14 The beginning of
strife is like breaching a dam, therefore stop contention before
quarreling breaks out.
Proverbs 18:18 The lot settles
disputes, and keeps strong ones apart.
Proverbs 20:3 It is an honor for
a man to keep aloof from strife; but every fool will be quarreling.
Proverbs 26:20 For lack of wood
a fire goes out. Without gossip, a quarrel dies down.
Proverbs 26:21 As coals are to
hot embers, and wood to fire, so is a contentious man to
kindling strife.
Proverbs 28:25 One who is greedy
stirs up strife; but one who trusts in Yahweh will prosper.
Proverbs 29:22 An angry man
stirs up strife, and a wrathful man abounds in sin.
James 1:19-20 [19] So, then, my
beloved brothers, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, and
slow to anger; [20] for the anger of man doesn’t produce the
righteousness of God.
QUICK TO ANGER, SLOW TO ANGER
Proverbs 14:29 He who is slow to
anger has great understanding, but he who has a quick temper displays
folly.
Proverbs 16:32 One who is slow
to anger is better than the mighty; one who rules his spirit, than he
who takes a city.
Proverbs 19:11 The discretion of
a man makes him slow to anger. It is his glory to overlook an
offense.
Proverbs 29:11 A fool vents all
of his anger, but a wise man brings himself under control.
James 1:19-20 [19] So, then, my
beloved brothers, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, and
slow to anger; [20] for the anger of man doesn’t produce the
righteousness of God.
CHRIST AS A PEACEMAKER
Isaiah 9:6 For to us a child is
born. To us a son is given; and the government will be on his
shoulders. His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Isaiah 53:4-5 [4] Surely he has
borne our sickness, and carried our suffering; yet we considered him
plagued, struck by God, and afflicted. [5] But he was pierced for our
transgressions. He was crushed for our iniquities. The punishment
that brought our peace was on him; and by his wounds we are
healed.
Jesus was a
peacemaker for us. It cost him a great deal to make peace. He bore
our sickness and carried our suffering, he was pierced, crushed,
punished and wounded, all to bring us peace.
Romans 5:1 Being therefore
justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord
Jesus Christ;
Jesus came
to make peace for us with God. We and God were at variance. Jesus
humbled himself to be a servant of men. He suffered and died on the
cross. All this was to reconcile us to God. Christians have peace
with God because Jesus was willing to be a peacemaker.
2 Corinthians 5:18-21 [18] But
all things are of God, who reconciled us to himself through Jesus
Christ, and gave to us the ministry of reconciliation;
[19] namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself,
not reckoning to them their trespasses, and having committed to us
the word of reconciliation. [20] We are therefore ambassadors on
behalf of Christ, as though God were entreating by us: we beg you
on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. [21] For him who knew
no sin he made to be sin on our behalf; so that in him we might
become the righteousness of God.
God
reconciled us to himself through Jesus Christ.
Ephesians 2:11-19 [11]
Therefore remember that once you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are
called “uncircumcision” by that which is called “circumcision”,
(in the flesh, made by hands); [12] that you were at that time
separate from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, and
strangers from the covenants of the promise, having no hope and
without God in the world. [13] But now in Christ Jesus you who once
were far off are made near in the blood of Christ. [14] For he is
our peace, who made both one, and broke down the middle wall of
partition, [15] having abolished in the flesh the hostility, the
law of commandments contained in ordinances, that he might create in
himself one new man of the two, making peace; [16] and might
reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, having
killed the hostility thereby. [17] He came and preached peace to you
who were far off and to those who were near. [18] For through him we
both have our access in one Spirit to the Father. [19] So then you
are no longer strangers and foreigners, but you are fellow citizens
with the saints, and of the household of God,
Christ is
our peace in two ways in this passage. He is our peace with God. At
the same time, he broke down the barrier between Jew and Gentile, so
that in Christ they could be united as one.
GENERAL VERSES RELATED TO BEING A
PEACEMAKER AND PEACE
Psalm 85:10 Mercy and truth meet
together. Righteousness and peace have kissed each other.
Psalm 133:1-3 [1] See how good
and how pleasant it is for brothers to live together in unity!
[2] It is like the precious oil on the head, that ran down on the
beard, even Aaron’s beard; that came down on the edge of his robes;
[3] like the dew of Hermon, that comes down on the hills of Zion: for
there Yahweh gives the blessing, even life forever more.
Proverbs 12:20 Deceit is in the
heart of those who plot evil, but joy comes to the promoters of
peace.
Proverbs 17:1 Better is a dry
morsel with quietness, than a house full of feasting with strife.
Isaiah 32:17 The work of
righteousness will be peace; and the effect of righteousness,
quietness and confidence forever.
Isaiah 57:19-21 [19] I create
the fruit of the lips: Peace, peace, to him who is far off and to him
who is near,” says Yahweh; “and I will heal them.” [20] But the
wicked are like the troubled sea; for it can’t rest, and its waters
cast up mire and dirt. [21] “There is no peace”, says my God,
“for the wicked.”
God brings
peace, but there is no peace for the wicked. That is, those who will
not repent, but choose to go on in sin, will not find peace with God.
No peacemaker can bring peace to one who will not turn from their sin
and evil ways.
Matthew 5:23-26 [23] “If
therefore you are offering your gift at the altar, and there
remember that your brother has anything against you, [24] leave
your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be
reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.
[25] Agree with your adversary quickly, while you are with him on the
way; lest perhaps the prosecutor deliver you to the judge, and the
judge deliver you to the officer, and you be cast into prison. [26]
Most certainly I tell you, you shall by no means get out of there,
until you have paid the last penny.
God desires
his people to live together in love and unity. It is so important to
God, that if someone has hurt that love and unity by hurting his
neighbor, he should first be reconciled to his brother and then come
and worship God.
Matthew 12:48-50 [48] But he
answered him who spoke to him, “Who is my mother? Who are my
brothers?” [49] He stretched out his hand towards his disciples,
and said, “Behold, my mother and my brothers! [50] For whoever does
the will of my Father who is in heaven, he is my brother, and sister,
and mother.”
The family
of Jesus (and thus the children of God) are those who do the will of
the Father in heaven. Jesus said that peacemakers will be called sons
of God (by God if by no one else). Surely then being a peacemaker is
a very important part of God's will for the people of God.
Mark 9:50 Salt is good, but if
the salt has lost its saltiness, with what will you season it? Have
salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.”
Romans 12:16-21 [16] Be of the
same mind one toward another. Don’t set your mind on high things,
but associate with the humble. Don’t be wise in your own conceits.
[17] Repay no one evil for evil. Respect what is honorable in the
sight of all men. [18] If it is possible, as much as it is up to
you, be at peace with all men. [19] Don’t seek revenge
yourselves, beloved, but give place to God’s wrath. For it is
written, “Vengeance belongs to me; I will repay, says the Lord.”
[20] Therefore “If your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he is
thirsty, give him a drink; for in doing so, you will heap coals of
fire on his head.” [21] Don’t be overcome by evil, but overcome
evil with good.
Romans 14:17-19 [17] for the
Kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness, peace,
and joy in the Holy Spirit. [18] For he who serves Christ in these
things is acceptable to God and approved by men. [19] So then, let
us follow after things which make for peace, and things by which
we may build one another up.
2 Corinthians 5:18-21 [18] But
all things are of God, who reconciled us to himself through Jesus
Christ, and gave to us the ministry of reconciliation;
[19] namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself,
not reckoning to them their trespasses, and having committed to us
the word of reconciliation. [20] We are therefore ambassadors on
behalf of Christ, as though God were entreating by us: we beg you
on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. [21] For him who knew
no sin he made to be sin on our behalf; so that in him we might
become the righteousness of God.
The apostle
Paul (and others) was given a ministry of reconciliation, to call me
to be reconciled to God. Another way to put this is to say that the
apostle Paul was called to be a peacemaker between God and men. He
called men to be at peace with God, by declaring everywhere that men
should repent and turn to God and bring forth fruits in keeping with
repentance (Acts 26:20).
Philippians 4:2-3 [2] I exhort
Euodia, and I exhort Syntyche, to think the same way in the Lord. [3]
Yes, I beg you also, true partner, help these women, for they labored
with me in the Good News, with Clement also, and the rest of my
fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.
Hebrews 12:14-15 [14] Follow
after peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no
man will see the Lord, [15] looking carefully lest there be any man
who falls short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness
springing up trouble you, and many be defiled by it;
James 3:13-18 [13] Who is wise
and understanding among you? Let him show by his good conduct that
his deeds are done in gentleness of wisdom. [14] But if you have
bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, don’t boast and
don’t lie against the truth. [15] This wisdom is not that which
comes down from above, but is earthly, sensual, and demonic. [16] For
where jealousy and selfish ambition are, there is confusion and every
evil deed. [17] But the wisdom that is from above is first
pure, then peaceful, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and
good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. [18] Now the
fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
James 4:1-2 [1] Where do wars
and fightings among you come from? Don’t they come from your
pleasures that war in your members? [2] You lust, and don’t have.
You kill, covet, and can’t obtain. You fight and make war. You
don’t have, because you don’t ask.
Proverbs
28:25 tells us that the one who is greedy stirs up strife. Here James
gives a larger view of the word greedy, to include all forms of
lusting and coveting.
1 Peter 3:8-13 [8] Finally, be
all like-minded, compassionate, loving as brothers, tender hearted,
courteous, [9] not rendering evil for evil, or insult for insult; but
instead blessing; knowing that to this were you called, that you may
inherit a blessing. [10] For, “He who would love life, and see good
days, let him keep his tongue from evil, and his lips from speaking
deceit. [11] Let him turn away from evil, and do good. Let him
seek peace, and pursue it. [12] For the eyes of the Lord are on
the righteous, and his ears open to their prayer; but the face of the
Lord is against those who do evil.” [13] Now who is he who will
harm you, if you become imitators of that which is good?
(Psalm 34:14)
AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE
Romans 12:18 If it is possible,
as much as it is up to you, be at peace with all men.
Matthew 10:34-39 [34] “Don’t
think that I came to send peace on the earth. I didn’t come to send
peace, but a sword. [35] For I came to set a man at odds
against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a
daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. [36] A man’s foes will
be those of his own household. [37] He who loves father or mother
more than me is not worthy of me; and he who loves son or daughter
more than me isn’t worthy of me. [38] He who doesn’t take his
cross and follow after me, isn’t worthy of me. [39] He who seeks
his life will lose it; and he who loses his life for my sake will
find it.
Daniel 3:1-30 – This is the
story of the three friends of Daniel and the fiery furnace. King
Nebuchadnezzar built an idol and demanded that all bow down to it.
When the three friends would not, they were cast into the furnace.
God delivered them. The king changed his mind, and understood that
their God was greater. Then Nebuchadnezzar promoted them.
Shadrach,
Meshach, and Abednego were at peace with all men as much as was
possible with them. Their faithful obedience to God put them at odds
with King Nebuchadnezzar. He refused to be at peace with them so long
as they would not obey men rather than God. The friends persevered
through this trial, and at the end, through God's deliverance and the
king's change of mind, they could be in some measure at peace with
King Nebuchadnezzar.
2
Maccabees 6:18-31 – This is the story of Eleazar the
scribe. He desired to be at peace with all men, and had been at peace
with many. The time came when those with whom he had been at peace
made him choose between obeying God or obeying men. Eleazar chose to
obey God, and so those men would no longer be at peace with him. They
put Eleazar to death.
Acts 5:27-33 [29] But Peter and
the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men.
COMMENTARY
Blessed are the
peacemakers - Those who strive to prevent contention, strife, and
war; who use their influence to reconcile opposing parties, and to
prevent lawsuits and hostilities in families and neighborhoods. Every
man may do something of this; and no man is more like God than he who
does it. There ought not to be unlawful and officious interference in
that which is none of our business; but without any danger of
acquiring this character, every man has many opportunities of
reconciling opposing parties. Friends, neighbors, people of
influence, lawyers, physicians, ministers of the gospel, may do much
to promote peace. And it should be taken in hand in the beginning.
“The beginning of strife,” says Solomon, “is like the letting
out of water.” “An ounce of prevention,” says the English
proverb, “is worth a pound of cure.” Long and most deadly
quarrels might often be prevented by a little kind interference in
the beginning.
Children of God
- See the notes at Matthew 1:1. Those who resemble God, or who
manifest a spirit like his. He is the Author of peace 1 Corinthians
14:33; and all those who endeavor to promote peace are like him, and
are worthy to be called his children.
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