Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. (Matthew 5:9)
Jesus began the greatest sermon in history, the Sermon on the Mount, with eight declarations of blessedness. Commonly called the Beatitudes (based on the Latin word for “blessed,” meaning “happy”), they describe the characteristics of those who enter the kingdom of heaven. In the seventh beatitude, Jesus promises deep, rich, eternal happiness to those willing to do the costly work of peacemaking in the present evil age.
Peacemakers in a World of Conflict
We live in a world ripped apart by conflict. We see it on the largest scale with nation warring against nation. As of this writing, there are 56 armed conflicts involving 92 nations, the most since the end of World War II. In 2024, these conflicts resulted in 162,000 deaths.
We see conflict on a more personal scale within our own communities, churches, and families. The political fabric of the United States has been shredded by ideological divisions. Disagreements about hot-button issues like race, immigration, abortion, and sexuality set people at odds with high levels of passion. Estimates say that 41 percent of first marriages will end in divorce, while the rates for second and third marriages are much worse. These are just some of the clear indicators of a world churning with turbulence, desperate for peace.
The Bible is clear about the origin of all this strife: sin. From the moment Adam and Eve fell by eating the forbidden fruit, peace fled from the earth. It first manifested itself relationally as they realized they were naked and fashioned fig leaves to cover their shame. Far worse was their alienation from God, as they felt terror at the sound of God walking in the garden in the cool of the day. Everyone sins in Adam positionally (he is our federal head); all imitate his rebellion in daily life. This means that, naturally, all of us are at war with God. Our warfare with God is manifested by our hatred of God’s law and our constant rebellion against it (Romans 8:7; Colossians 1:21).
As a result of our positional and practical warfare against God, we feel a turbulent churning within us. “The wicked are like the tossing sea; for it cannot be quiet, and its waters toss up mire and dirt. There is no peace . . . for the wicked” (Isaiah 57:20–21).
Into this world of continual strife and conflict, however, Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace, came. The heavenly host celebrated his birth in Bethlehem with the words, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” (Luke 2:14). Jesus’s death on the cross opened the way for peace with God through faith in his blood (Romans 5:1). All who receive his gift of peace enter into his mission of peacemaking in the world.
Followers of the Peacemaker
So, who is qualified to be a peacemaker? The rest of the Beatitudes are a great place to begin answering that question. None of these qualities comes naturally to sinful humanity. None of them can be conjured up by willpower or self-sufficient moral transformation. But by the blood of Christ and the secret working of the Holy Spirit, these traits can truly be seen in us.
Peacemaking begins with being a spiritual beggar (Matthew 5:3), someone who realizes he has nothing whatsoever to offer to God for his own salvation. Such people can be peacemakers because they constantly come to God with empty hands, asking him to do the impossible. They belong to the kingdom of heaven and thus can minister the peace that God alone can bring to earthly conflict.
Next, the sovereign grace of God works mourning in repentant sinners (Matthew 5:4). This is a spiritual mourning done by spiritual beggars. Worldly conflicts come from human sinfulness. A peacemaker mourns over conflict, deeply aware of just how costly it is.
Along with that mourning comes a meekness or gentleness with others (Matthew 5:5). Jesus is stunningly gentle with brokenhearted sinners, for it is said of him that “a bruised reed he will not break . . . until he brings justice to victory” (Matthew 12:20). A peacemaker deals humbly and gently with sinners, not arrogantly or bombastically. This meekness is exceptionally disarming, just what is needed in the midst of conflict.
Peacemakers also “hunger and thirst for righteousness” (Matthew 5:6). This righteousness is God’s standard for the human race in any and every circumstance. A true peacemaker is a mighty warrior for righteousness as God defines it — not a spineless people-pleaser, nor a lazy “let sleeping dogs lie” sluggard. Sin produces unrighteous human conditions; a peacemaker deeply hungers and thirsts to see God’s righteousness established between conflicting parties.
In the same way, peacemakers are merciful to weak and struggling sinners (Matthew 5:7). Knowing they have received so much mercy for their own sins enables peacemakers to deal with others in a wise and patient way as conflicting parties make their way toward reconciliation.
Being pure in heart is also essential to a peacemaker (Matthew 5:8). This means that the darkness of worldly motives and lusts has been subdued by the Holy Spirit, and thus the peacemaker cannot be bribed or recruited by one of the conflicting parties. From the heart, peacemakers truly desire sin to be purged and holiness to shine.
Pain and Promise of Peacemaking
Though the mission of peacemaking in the world is a blessed one, it brings with it immense challenges. Jesus said he did “not come to bring peace, but a sword,” making a man’s enemies the members of his own household (Matthew 10:34–36). Not every conflicting party can be won over to peaceful kingdom principles. Therefore, in the next beatitude, Jesus pronounces blessedness on those who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness (Matthew 5:10). If warring parties want no part of God’s righteousness, they may “shoot the messenger” of peace.
This hostility is even more extreme when it comes to the ultimate solution for all conflict, both vertical and horizontal: faith in the gospel of Jesus Christ. Though Christians can bring some temporal peace in a non-Christian world, true and lasting peace comes only through faith in Christ. The road will be difficult, but Jesus promises eternal reward for all who are insulted, slandered, and persecuted for his name’s sake (Matthew 5:11–12).
Despite the difficulties of the present evil age, Christian peacemaking will ultimately and eternally succeed. Jesus promises peacemakers the honor of being “called sons of God,” for they display the characteristics of the God of peace (Matthew 5:9). And they will live forever in a “new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells” (2 Peter 3:13). In that new world will be the multitude beyond counting from every nation on earth (Revelation 7:9–10), each rescued from warfare against God and others by peacemakers who sowed the gospel in their hearts. That perfectly righteous society will be free from every sort of conflict, living in the true unity that reflects the oneness of the Trinity (John 17:21).
There at last, all conflicts will cease, and each of the redeemed will spend eternity in perfect harmony with God, each other, and all creation. This sure hope gives power to our every work of peacemaking in this world.
Desiring God