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Matthew 5:9
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God.”
This verse is part of Jesus's Sermon on the Mount, delivered to his disciples and a large crowd. It's one of a series of 'blessings' (Beatitudes) that describe the character and destiny of those who follow his Way. These teachings subvert common expectations about who is truly 'blessed.'
What does being a 'peacemaker' require of us when peace might seem to compromise justice?
Then — the setting
In 1st-century Judea, 'peace' (Hebrew: *shalom*, Greek: *eirene*) was understood in various ways. Roman occupation maintained a brutal 'Pax Romana' – a forced peace through military might and severe suppression of dissent. Within Jewish society, factions like the Zealots sought peace through violent rebellion against Rome, aiming for liberation and national sovereignty. Other groups, like the Essenes, pursued peace through separation and communal purity, while the Pharisees emphasized peace through strict adherence to the Law. Jesus's teaching on peacemaking challenged these prevailing notions by emphasizing active reconciliation, justice, and transforming adversarial relationships, not merely the absence of conflict or peace secured by force. This kind of peacemaking often put individuals at odds with both Roman authorities and some Jewish nationalist aspirations.
Across the Testaments
The Old Testament concept of *shalom* is foundational, encompassing not just the absence of war, but wholeness, well-being, justice, and right relationships with God, others, and creation (e.g., Isaiah 32:17, Jeremiah 29:7). It's a comprehensive peace that is both a gift from God and a human responsibility. Jesus's teaching in Matthew 5:9 deepens this by explicitly calling for 'peacemakers' – active agents who work to bring about this comprehensive *shalom*. The New Testament further develops this, often connecting peace to Christ himself as the 'Prince of Peace' (Isaiah 9:6) and the one who breaks down dividing walls (Ephesians 2:14-16), making peace possible through reconciliation with God and with one another.
Keep thinking
Read alongside it
Encourages living peaceably with all people, if possible.
Connects righteousness to peace sown by peacemakers.
Advises seeking peace and pursuing it.
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