The Peacemakers | Matthew 5:9

Scripture

• Matthew 5:9

About this sermon

Introduction: It is good for us to remember that when our Lord made His entrance into the world, there was a fervent zeal for the Messiah, but, for most people, it was misguided. Many of the Jews in Jesus’ time were not looking for a Messiah who would take away their sins, they were looking for a Messiah who would take away their enemies. There is both biblical and historical evidence that the mindset of many Jews was that they wanted what amounted to a military deliverer. They wanted someone who would take away the Roman yoke, who would usher in a glorious age of Jewish freedom, and supremacy. It was not a new world of righteousness that they envisioned. It was the world as it is, with them at the top of the food chain. THEY DID NOT UNDERSTAND THEIR PROBLEM THEY DID NOT UNDERSTAND THEIR NEED THEY DID NOT UNDERSTAND GOD’S GRACE TO THEM AND TO THE WORLD WHEN JOHN THE BAPTIST INTRODUCED JESUS, AND JESUS BEGAN HIS PUBLIC MINISTRY. ESV John 1:11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. It is true that John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance, and made reference to sin, but for many, whatever repentance was needed was simply to prepare the way for that kind of deliverance that they expected. The miracles of Jesus gave these people hope. The magnetic affect of His rising popularity for a time, gave them hope. BUT HIS MESSAGE CRUSHED THEIR FALSE HOPE AND CONFRONTED THEIR ERROR, and in some ways must have been shocking and disappointing to them. It’s not that different today. We still have people wanting to access Jesus for their own ambitions. People want to REMAKE JESUS to fit THEIR VERSION of what God should do in the world. There are many in our own day who represent a readiness to fight. IT IS TRUE THAT IN SOME SENSE THE CHURCH IS NOW MILITANT AND WILL ONE DAY BE TRIUMPHANT. BUT THE CHURCH IS NOT MILITANT WITH EARTHLY WEAPONRY, NOR WITH AMBITIONS THAT BELONG TO THIS AGE. We are missionaries. The Kingdom of Christ is not of this world. ESV John 18:36 Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world." The new world IS A WORLD HE WILL USHER IN. It will belong to FORGIVEN PEOPLE. The glorified Lamb of God who was slain to save His people from their sins will usher in that world. Which is why His people, those who will inherit the kingdom, those who will be called the sons of God, are PEACEMAKERS. That is NOT what you want to hear when you want to overthrow the government. That is NOT what you want to hear when you’re a first century Jew looking for a fight with the Romans. This is NOT what many want to hear in our own day. But it is the truth, and it is what we need to hear tonight. IT IS THE PEACEMAKERS WHO WILL BE CALLED THE SONS OF GOD. • THE GREATEST NAME ONE COULD BE GIVEN I want to do something different with this beatitude. I want to begin with the promise. I want to begin with the “because.” Why are peacemakers blessed? “For they shall be called sons of God.” • IT IS A DESCRIPTION THAT CLARIFIES THE QUALITY THAT JESUS DECLARES BLESSED It would be easy to misunderstand this peacemaking, and many have (ON BOTH ENDS OF THE SPECTRUM), so let me put it very simply. Whatever this peacemaking is, it is something defined by God’s own character and God’s own dealings. Which is why those who are characterized by it are identified as sons of God. While the word “peacemaker” is not always used, the description of such a life is found all over the New Testament, and when you find those descriptions there is often a direct tie to GOD AS FATHER. ESV Matthew 5:43 "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' 44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 48 You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. ESV Luke 6:27 "But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. 29 To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either.

Topics

• Peace