Blessed are the peacemakersThe term "blessed" in this context refers to a state of spiritual well-being and prosperity, often associated with divine favor. The concept of peacemaking is deeply rooted in the biblical narrative, where peace (shalom in Hebrew) signifies completeness, wholeness, and harmony with God, others, and oneself. Peacemakers are those who actively seek to reconcile and restore relationships, reflecting God's own nature as the ultimate peacemaker. In the cultural context of first-century Judea, peacemaking was countercultural, as the region was under Roman occupation and often experienced conflict. The call to be peacemakers aligns with the teachings of Jesus, who emphasized love, forgiveness, and reconciliation. This phrase also connects to the prophecy of the Messiah as the "Prince of Peace" (
Isaiah 9:6) and reflects the ministry of Jesus, who came to establish peace between God and humanity.
for they will be called sons of God
Being called "sons of God" signifies a special relationship with God, characterized by intimacy and inheritance. In biblical times, being a "son" implied sharing in the character and mission of the father. Thus, peacemakers are recognized as reflecting God's character and are granted the honor of being part of His family. This phrase echoes the Old Testament understanding of Israel as God's children (Hosea 1:10) and extends it to all who embody the values of God's kingdom. The New Testament further develops this theme, with believers being adopted as God's children through faith in Christ (Romans 8:14-17). This adoption is not just a title but a transformative identity, calling believers to live out their divine heritage by promoting peace and reconciliation in the world.
Persons / Places / Events
1.
Jesus ChristThe speaker of the Beatitudes, including
Matthew 5:9, delivering the Sermon on the Mount to His disciples and the gathered crowd.
2.
DisciplesThe primary audience of Jesus' teachings, who are being instructed on the values of the Kingdom of Heaven.
3.
Sermon on the MountThe setting where Jesus delivers a series of teachings, including the Beatitudes, which outline the characteristics of those who belong to the Kingdom of Heaven.
Teaching Points
Understanding PeacemakingPeacemaking is not merely the absence of conflict but actively working to reconcile and restore relationships. It involves promoting harmony and understanding in all areas of life.
Peacemakers as Sons of GodBeing called "sons of God" signifies a close relationship with God, reflecting His character. As peacemakers, believers demonstrate their identity as God's children by embodying His peace.
The Role of Peacemakers in the ChurchWithin the church, peacemakers help maintain unity and resolve conflicts, ensuring that the body of Christ functions effectively and reflects God's love to the world.
Peacemaking in the WorldChristians are called to be peacemakers in their communities and workplaces, serving as ambassadors of Christ's peace and promoting reconciliation in a divided world.
The Cost of PeacemakingTrue peacemaking may require sacrifice, humility, and a willingness to forgive. It involves putting others' needs above our own and seeking God's wisdom in difficult situations.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1.What is the meaning of Matthew 5:9?
2.How can you actively pursue peace in your daily interactions with others?
3.What does "peacemakers" mean in the context of Matthew 5:9?
4.How does Matthew 5:9 connect with Romans 12:18 about living peaceably?
5.In what ways can being a peacemaker reflect God's character in your life?
6.How does being called "sons of God" motivate you to seek peace?
7.What does "Blessed are the peacemakers" mean in Matthew 5:9?
8.How does Matthew 5:9 define a "peacemaker" in a biblical context?
9.Why are peacemakers called "sons of God" in Matthew 5:9?
10.What are the top 10 Lessons from Matthew 5?
11.How can we avoid strife and promote peace?
12.What does "Blessed are the peacemakers" mean?
13.What about the Crusades, Inquisitions, and witch hunts?
14.Who was Mahatma Gandhi?What Does Matthew 5:9 Mean
Blessed- Jesus begins with a declaration, not a suggestion. “Blessed” speaks of God-given joy and approval, the same rich favor found inPsalm 1:1, “Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked”.
- This blessing is present and future. Right now it brings peace of heart (John 14:27), and it anticipates heavenly reward (Revelation 22:14).
- The pattern in Scripture shows that true blessing flows from obedience and trust (Luke 11:28;Ephesians 1:3). The Lord Himself defines who is blessed; we simply receive His verdict.
are the peacemakers- “Peacemakers” are active, not merely peaceful. They step into conflict—personal, familial, cultural—with a heart to reconcile others to God and to one another (2 Corinthians 5:18-19).
- Peacemaking mirrors God’s own character.Colossians 1:20 reveals that He made peace “through the blood of His cross.” When we seek harmony, we reflect that sacrificial love.
- Practical outworking:
• Choosing gentle words over harsh ones (Proverbs 15:1).
• Pursuing resolution quickly (Matthew 5:23-24).
• Refusing revenge, instead overcoming evil with good (Romans 12:18-21).
-James 3:18 reminds us that “the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace”. True righteousness and peacemaking grow together.
for they will be called sons of God- “Called” implies public recognition. God already knows His children, yet He promises a day when their identity will be openly acknowledged (Romans 8:19).
- “Sons of God” highlights family likeness. Just as earthly children resemble their parents, peacemakers bear the family trait of the Father who sent His Son to reconcile the world (John 1:12;Ephesians 5:1-2).
- Assurance now, glory later:
• Present witness—others see Christ in us (Philippians 2:15).
• Future honor—full adoption realized at Christ’s return (Romans 8:23;1 John 3:2).
- The promise underscores worth: living as a peacemaker is never wasted effort, because it flows from and leads to our eternal identity.
summaryJesus pronounces divine favor on those who actively pursue reconciliation. Peacemakers experience God’s present joy, reflect His character in a broken world, and will one day hear the ultimate affirmation—“sons of God.” Walking this path lets others glimpse the Father’s heart and confirms our place in His family forever.
(9)
The peacemakers.--Our version rightly distinguishes between the temper which is simply "peaceable" in itself (
James 3:17), and this, the higher form of the same grace, acting energetically upon others. To be able to say with power to those who are bitter foes, "Sirs, ye are brethren".(
Acts 7:26), is nobler even than to strive," as much as lieth in us, to live peaceably with all men" (
Romans 12:18). Rightly does this beatitude follow on that of the "pure in heart," for it is the absence of all baseness and impurity that gives the power to make peace.
The children of God.--Better,sons of God. The English version slightly obscures the connection between the promise and the character of Him who had been declared to be the Son of God in the truest and highest sense. Not in the ways which the Tempter had suggested, but in the work of "making peace" between God and man, between Jew and Gentile, even at the price of shedding His own blood (Colossians 1:20), was the witness of sonship to be found, and those who were sharers in that work should, according to their capacity, "be called"--i.e., be, and be recognised as, sharers in that sonship.
Verse 9. -
The peacemakers (
οἱ εἰρηνοποιοί)
.More than "peaceable" (
εἰρηνικός,
James 3:17;
εἰρηνεύοντες,
Romans 12:18;
Mark 9:50). This is the peaceable character consciously exerted outside itself. The same compound in the New Testament in
Colossians 1:20 only:
Αἰρηνοποιήσας διὰ τοῦ αἵματος τοῦ σταυροῦαὐτοῦ (cf. Ephesians] 2:14, 15). Christians, in their measure, share in Christ's work, and, we may add, can attain it generally as he did, only by personal suffering. Observe that this Beatitude must have been specially distasteful to the warlike Galilaeans. Mishna, 'Ab.,' 1:13 (Taylor), "Hillel said, Be of the disciples of Aharon, loving peace and pursuing peace," hardly refers to peace
making, but in Mishna, 'Peah,' 1:1, "These are the things whose fruit a man eats in this world, but which have their capital reward in the world to come: honouring one's father and mother, showing kindness, and bringing about peace between a man and his neighbour, but study of the Law is equivalent to them all."
For they;
αὐτοί, omitted by
א, C, D, 13, 124, Latt., Peshito. Possibly it is an addition inserted from a desire to make this Beatitude harmonize with the others. But more probably it is genuine, and was omitted by accident, either by homoiot, of
υἱοὶ (Meyer), or (better) because the scribe forgot the
abbot in the emphatic
υἱοὶ Θεοῦ, the form of the second clause being peculiar to this Beatitude.
Shall be called; by God and angels and men.
The children of God; Revised Version,
sons of God;
to show that the word used here is
υἱοὶ, not
τέκνα Christ's reference is, that is to say, not so much to the nature as to the privileges involved in sonship. The earthly privileges which peacemakers give up rather than disturb their peaceful relations with others, and in order that they may bring about peace between others, shall be much more than made up to them, and that with the approving verdict of all. They shall, with general approval, enter on the full privileges of their relation to God, who is "the God of peace" (
Romans 15:33). Dr. Taylor ('Ab.,' 1:19) has an increasing note on "Peace" as a Talmudic name of God. For language similar to our Lord's, cf.
Hosea 1:10 [LXX.], equivalent to
Romans 9:26. Here, as often in this Gospel, there may be a tacit contradiction to the assumption that natural birth as Israelites involves the full blessings of sons of God; cf. 'Ab.,' 3:22 (Taylor).
Parallel Commentaries ...
Greek
Blessed [are]Μακάριοι(Makarioi)Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3107:Happy, blessed, to be envied. A prolonged form of the poetical makar; supremely blest; by extension, fortunate, well off.theοἱ(hoi)Article - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3588:The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.peacemakers,εἰρηνοποιοί(eirēnopoioi)Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 1518:Pacific, loving peace, a peace-maker. From eirenopoios and poieo; pacificatory, i.e. peaceable.forὍτι(Hoti)Conjunction
Strong's 3754:Neuter of hostis as conjunction; demonstrative, that; causative, because.theyαὐτοὶ(autoi)Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative Masculine 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 846:He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.will be calledκληθήσονται(klēthēsontai)Verb - Future Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 2564:(a) I call, summon, invite, (b) I call, name. Akin to the base of keleuo; to 'call'.sonsυἱοὶ(huioi)Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 5207:A son, descendent. Apparently a primary word; a 'son', used very widely of immediate, remote or figuratively, kinship.of God.Θεοῦ(Theou)Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 2316:A deity, especially the supreme Divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very.
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NT Gospels: Matthew 5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall (Matt. Mat Mt) 
