EXPLORING THE KINGDOM OF GOD: BEATITUDES 4

Key Scriptures: Matthew 5:1-12; Psalm 55

Teaching Objective: To examine the Beatitudes, the bylaws of the Kingdom of God, and to emphasize that the
disciple is God's workmanship created unto good works.
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God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.
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God blesses those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
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God blesses those who are humble, for they will inherit the whole earth.
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God blesses those who hunger and thirst for justice, for they will be satisfied.
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God blesses those who are merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
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God blesses those whose hearts are pure, for they will see God.
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God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God.
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God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.
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God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things
against you because you are my followers.
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Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets
were persecuted in the same way.

Introduction:

One after the other the beatitudes tell us that the blessings of eternity will be given only to those who have
become new creatures. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for
they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the sons of God.

And at the very end of the sermon in 7:26. the Lord calls out over the crowds, "Everyone who hears these words
of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house upon the sand; and the rain fell, and
the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell; and great was the fall of it." In
other words, a life of disobedience to the beatitudes and to the Sermon on the Mount will not stand in the
judgment no matter what we believe!

In the beatitudes Jesus is not making optional suggestions. On the contrary, Jesus is describing the pathway to
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heaven, and this teaching is a message from God to urge you to get on that pathway and stay on that pathway
so that you can be called sons of God at the last judgment.
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Notice the progression and the corresponding verses:

1. Verse 5, God blesses those who are humble, for they will inherit the whole earth and verse 9, God blesses
those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God go together.

 Blessed are the peacemakers corresponds with meekness.

 Meekness means we’re not angry when we’re offended. We’re only angry when God or God’s cause
is offended – a righteous indignation of sin.

 If we give up the need to retaliate, we are able to make peace.

2. The Beatitudes must all go together as a whole, representing the character of a Christian.

3. The first 3 represent our need. The 4th is a promise. And the 5th-8th are the fruit of the others.

Key Points

I. What is peace?

A. In the Bible, the word “shalom” (or peace) is the absence of internal anxiety and external war.

1. The amount of money nations spend on war could wipe out poverty around the world.

 There is strife among the nations because there is strife in the family, and there is strife in the family
because there is strife in our hearts.

 Psalm 55 is a lament over broken relationships. When David says “I see violence and strife in the
city,” he is talking about the city of God. The strife and violence did not come from invading armies.
It rose up from among the people of God themselves…

It is not an enemy who taunts me – Then I could bear it; it is not an adversary who deals insolently with me –then
I could hide from him. It is you… my companion, my familiar friend, we used to take sweet counsel together;
within God’s house when we walked in the throne. Psalm 55:12-13

 David speaks words that will be well understood by anyone who knows the grief of trust being
betrayed in a marriage, or in a business partnership, or even in church.

My companion stretched out his hand against his friends… He violated his covenant. His speech was as smooth
as butter, yet war was in his heart. Psalm 55:20-21
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 There’s only one answer to that: Cast your burden upon the Lord, and he will sustain you. He will
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never permit the righteous to be moved. Psalm 55:22

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2. But peace is more than the absence of war. It is also the active enjoyment of all that is good. It includes:

 Not alienation but acceptance

 Not chaos but order
 Not disruption but security
 Not discord but harmony
 Not danger but safety
 Not anxiety but calm
 Not sickness but health
 Not poverty but wealth
 Not agitation but a settled spirit
 Not bitter but reconciled
 Not insecure but in a covenant relationship

B. Peace is not just something between people but something that is inside of us too.

1. A peacemaker is basically a messenger of peace who seeks to reconcile God and man, and to reconcile
man and man on the foundation of righteousness.

2. When you do this, you have the promise that you will be called sons of God.

II. How does one get peace?

A. The Scriptures speak to us about having peace:

1. With God

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ (Romans
5:1).

2. Within ourselves

In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety (Psalm 4:8).

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be
troubled, neither let them be afraid (John 14:27).

I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take
heart; I have overcome the world (John 16:33).
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You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you (Isaiah 26:3).
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The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with
thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding,
will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:5–7).

3. With others
 God calls us to be peacemakers wherever we are.

 We can’t make peace in the world if we can’t make peace with our brothers and sisters.

And the effect of righteousness will be peace, and the result of righteousness, quietness and trust forever. My
people will abide in a peaceful habitation, in secure dwellings, and in quiet resting places (Isaiah32:17-18).

And do not bring sorrow to God's Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own,
guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words,
and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one
another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you (Ephesians 4:30-32).

B. Peace in your heart flows from purity in your life.

1. Notice the order: “Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God” (Matthew 5:8). “Blessed are the
peacemakers for they shall be called sons of God” (5:9). There’s a direct connection…

The wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable (James 3:17)

 First pure, then peaceable—there is an order there. Peace of heart flows from purity of life. Why?
Purity of heart is to “will one thing.”

o The person who wills one thing is a person who can be at peace. The impure person has a
heart that is fundamentally divided.
o He or she wants two contradictory things at the same time.
o As long as that unresolved conflict rages there is no peace. James speaks about this…

What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you?
You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel (James 4:1-2).
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 Passions are “at war” at the core of the divisive person. If this person had come to a place of willing
one thing, he would have a means of dealing with his passions.
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 But without purity, this person finds himself constantly “limping between two opinions,” to use
Elijah’s wonderful phrase. He is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways (James 1:8).

 That’s why the Bible says, “There is no peace for the wicked” (Isaiah 57:21). The wicked cannot have
peace because they do not have purity.

2. Peace flows from purity, so the more you pursue purity the more you will discover and enjoy peace in
your heart. The more you give way to impurity, the more conflicted, disturbed and restless you will
become.

III. What it means to be a peacemaker

A. Peacemakers are people who bring peace to others, because they have it themselves. A person who lives
with unresolved conflict in his own heart cannot bring peace to others.

1. Conflict seems to follow some people around. The reason it follows them is that it lives in them.

2. What fills you will spill out from you when other people bump into you. You cannot give what you do
not have.

B. When we are at peace ourselves we can help others find peace with God, themselves and others. Those who
bring reconciliation will be called sons of God.

1. Peacemakers love peace and they long to restore peace when it’s broken.

 When you make peace you are like your Father because He is the God of peace.

 Peacemakers want peace to reign.

2. Most of us can think of a relationship that didn’t end as we would have liked it to end. We live in a
fallen world, and even at our best we’re sinners in the process of recovery. Other Christians, let alone
those who are not in the Lord, are in the same position.

Romans 12:18. As much as it lies within you lives at peace with all.
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 All means all. Make a choice to live at peace. Strive.

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 When you live at peace God blesses you.

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C. We’ve been called to peace

1. There are peacemakers and there are peace breakers. God calls us to be peacemakers in a world of
conflict.

God has called you to peace (1 Corinthians 7:15).

 Whatever your family may be like, God calls you, to the best of your ability, to contribute to the
peace of it. You are to be an influencer to make it better.

 It’s the same in the church: As a member of the congregation, God calls you to contribute to its
peace. That’s not an option; it is a calling from God himself.

 The same is true everywhere. Wherever you are, whatever you do, God has called you to peace.

2. Since this is the calling of God, we should be intentional about pursuing it: Plan peace!

 Where we don’t have it, as a Christian we should be asking: What’s the best way to get it?

 Where we do have it, we should be asking: How can we protect it?

 How do we make sure we don’t lose this peace?

Those who plan peace have joy (Proverbs 12:20).

Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord (Hebrews 12:14).

3. Peacemakers don’t stop with plans—they plan the work and they work the plan. The word “strive”
indicates effort, hard work, and perseverance.

4. Peace is never complete in this life. The world will persecute you, hate you and say all kinds of evil
things about you. There won’t be any peace there.

5. There will be situations where you cannot make peace. But don’t let that stop you from trying. Don’t
quit the journey just because you can’t get to the end of the road.

IV. Why peacemakers are called the sons of God

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A. God has peace in Himself.

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1. Think of the complexity of the Trinity and all God is. There is no tension between Father, Son, and Spirit.
The persons of the Trinity are one in purpose, one in love. God is the God of peace.

2. Our Lord Jesus Christ is described as “the Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6). When He came into the world,
the angels said “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace! Goodwill towards men!”

 The Bible says that Christ is our peace. All our peace is going to come from Him and through Him.

 He came into the world to make peace, and He did it by shedding His blood on the cross (Colossians
1:19-20).

3. The Holy Spirit is “the Spirit of Peace” (Matthew 3:16). When Jesus was baptized, Matthew tells us that
the Spirit of God descended on him as a dove. The dove is the symbol of peace.

4. The greatest revelation of the glory of God ever to be made in this world was at the cross where His love
and His justice meet. Why are his love and his justice meeting there? Because He’s making peace.

 God’s glory is revealed most fully in His making peace through the cross, and when you make peace,
you display his likeness.

 People see a reflection of his glory.

B. Blessed are you who are peacemakers because you will be called sons of God. God shall acknowledge you as
His son.

1. Notice the future tense of this phrase. They shall be called sons of God.

 Here the Lord Jesus is not speaking about a present son-ship, but about a future son-ship.

 This is interesting to observe because just a few verses later, we find that the Lord Jesus speaks of
the disciples as God’s sons.

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. If God
is already your father, then it follows that you are His sons now (Matthew 5:16).

2. The Scripture teaches two types of son-ship. There is a present son-ship and a future son-ship.

 We are His sons now and we will be called His sons in the future.
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 It is very clear that the apostle Paul also makes this distinction. For Paul, the experience of son-ship
begins when we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior.
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For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus (Galatians 5:26).

 He also speaks of another son-ship which will be experienced in the future.

For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now. And not only
this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting
eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body (Romans 8:22-23).

3. We, as Christians, are still waiting for our adoption as sons. In that sense, our salvation is not yet
complete.

 So we are God’s sons now and not yet completely adopted as His sons.

 We have the first fruits of the Spirit. The Spirit of adoption was given to us by which we cry, ‘Abba,
Father’ (Romans 8:15).

 To be complete, we are waiting for the redemption of our bodies. Our body has not yet been
redeemed.

 Our salvation will be complete at the second coming of Christ. On that day, as the Lord Jesus says in
Matthew 5:9, we shall be called ‘sons of God’ in the full sense of the word.

C. God’s way of making peace

1. Peacemaking, from Jesus’ point of view, should not be defined in a political or social sense. It might
include that, but it is not the primarily meaning of the peacemaking mentioned in the Scriptures.

Example: Let’s suppose that there are two countries at war with each other. We want the war to stop. Should
we initiate a diplomatic process by which these two countries would be invited to consider reconciliation? That
would be peacemaking, we think. This is a noble desire indeed, but that’s not exactly peacemaking in the Lord’s
sense. This doesn’t mean that you should not get involved in making peace at the political level. But you should
understand that the Lord Jesus expects something different when He talks about peacemaking. It is not political.
It is not social. It is primarily spiritual. In the Lord’s teaching, peacemaking is first and foremost a spiritual
activity.

2. What is the cause of all wars? For this question, you have to go into the human heart.

 If you want to deal with a problem, you have to go right to the heart of the matter. And the root of
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the problem is the corruption of the human heart. That’s where we have to start.
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 When the human heart is healed of its sinfulness, then the symptoms of the disease will disappear.

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 The Scripture provides a spiritual answer to the problems of this world and assumes that most
human problems originate at the spiritual level.

 When Jesus says, Blessed are the pure in heart, He is getting to the root of our problems. He is
referring to the impurity, the corruption of our hearts.

3. Establishing peace on the basis of righteousness

 Peacemaking, from a Christian viewpoint, is not a matter of compromise. It is not appeasement.

o We want to make peace, yes, but not at any price. Peace is not all that matters.

o The truth has to prevail. You don’t ignore or deny the issues in order to have peace.

o You cannot have real peace unless you deal with the issues on the basis of righteousness. In the
Scriptures, peace and righteousness can never be separated.

 Wherever you see real peace, you will inevitably see righteousness. That is why you cannot have
peace in the presence of sin.

o Sin is the cause of all disharmony and all discord. Sin is the foundation of every kind of conflict,
whether it is within you or outside of you.

o If you live in sin, you can be sure that you will experience unrest, discomfort, tension,
nervousness. Therefore the peacemaking process implies that you deal with sin.

o If you can see that sin is the ground of all conflict, then you will understand also that in dealing
with the conflict, you must deal with sin. Otherwise you are just covering up the issues.

o The remedy for sin is righteousness. That is why the peacemaker must be preoccupied with
righteousness. It must be his primary concern.

C. Now, how do you go about dealing with unrighteousness? Well, you can certainly reprove it.

1. You must speak out against sinfulness. This is not going to make you very popular.

2. You have to expect resistance and criticism. That is why in the next Beatitude, the Lord Jesus says,
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake. Do you see the connection?
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3. If you want to make peace, you have to denounce sin. And if you speak out against unrighteousness,
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some people are going to attack you.

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D. When the Lord Jesus speaks about peace, He is not talking about a superficial peace in which everybody just
keeps his mouth shut.

1. Unfortunately so much of the so-called ‘peace’ in this world and in our relationships is just a sort of
stand-off. There is an appearance of peace only because everybody ceases fire for a time.

2. “You don’t shoot and I don’t shoot. You don’t talk to me. I don’t talk to you. We will just have a
stand-off. You stay on your side of the wall, and I stay on my side, and we will have peace in this
way. Nobody is going to get hurt.”

3. But you are still hurting inside. The anger is still there, the bitterness, the hate. Can you really call
that peace?

4. Don’t proclaim ‘Peace, peace,’ when there is no peace. Remember. If you don’t deal with sin, there
will be no peace. Peace and righteousness cannot be separated.

E. Before you start denouncing sin, you have to look at yourself first. Do you have what it takes to be a
peacemaker?

1. Before you try to make peace in this world, you need to have peace within you. You must be able to say
that you have established true peace in your own life.

2. In spiritual terms, what we mean is that you must be at peace with God. You must be reconciled with
God.

 Reconciliation with God takes place when you recognize your sinfulness. You repent of your sins and
God forgives you.

 You realize that you don’t have inner peace because your life is not clean and it is not righteous.

 By asking God to cleanse you and to forgive you, you begin to build righteousness into your life.

 The only way you can become a peacemaker is first by changing completely the foundation of your
life. God has to transform you from a carnal person to a spiritual person, with a completely new
heart within you.

V. Being a peacemaker among men

A. Don’t stand on your rights

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1. Christ was in the form of God. But he did not grasp what was His by right.
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 He left heaven. He stepped down. He came into the world for us. Why? To make peace.

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 You will not make peace by standing on your rights.

 If God stood upon his rights and dignity, upon his person, every one of us… would be consigned to
hell and absolute perdition.

2. We live in a world of rights, where people often say, “It’s my right.” It may be your right, and there may
be times when it is appropriate to insist on your rights, but what is the best way to make peace?

 Every time you think about your rights, remind yourself, “If God stood on his rights, I would be in
hell forever and so would everyone else.”

 You don’t make peace by standing on your rights.

B. Making peace does not mean avoiding conflict. Move toward the trouble.

1. Our calling is to act as peacemakers, and where you can be a peacemaker, you will move toward the
trouble.

 That is what God did in the incarnation.

 When the world was accusing and attacking Jesus, He did not back off. He moved towards us by
shedding His blood on the cross.

2. Peacemakers often cause trouble in pursuing peace. I believe that is what Jesus was referring to when
he said, “I have not come to bring peace but a sword” (Matthew 10:24).

 When the peacemaker came there was an outpouring of violence against him. People took sides
over him.

 Christ came to make peace between men and God. He moved towards the trouble, but when he
came the trouble flared.

 That will often be the experience of a peacemaker. Peacemaking is not for the faint-hearted—it
takes immense courage.

 Peacemaking is a dangerous job! For Jesus it meant laying down his life.
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3. In order to fulfill your task as a peacemaker, you must be in good standing with the parties who are in
conflict.
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 A peacemaker is a mediator who stands in good relation with both parties. But more than that, he
must love both parties.

 Peacemaking is a difficult and dangerous task because there is always the risk of getting in trouble
with both sides.

o In your effort to make peace, you are likely to be fired on from both sides.

o No matter what you do, it is only a matter of time before you are accused of partiality.

C. Nothing but genuine love will make you to be a true peacemaker.

1. You cannot be a peacemaker in the Lord’s sense of the word unless you truly love God and you truly love
man.

2. Our desire to reconcile people to God and people to people is born of a genuine love for God and for
man.

 Because we realize how much He has changed us, we are willing to love both God and man with a
whole heart. That includes our enemies.

But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for
those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven… (Matthew 5:44-
45)

 Notice carefully the words in this passage. Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
so that you may be sons of God.

 The meaning is very similar to Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the sons of God.

VI. The price of making peace

A. Being a peacemaker is very costly. Think of the Lord Jesus. How did he make peace? He made peace by the
blood of His cross (Colossians 1:20).

1. The cost of being a peacemaker is seen in this way. In order to make peace, you have to overcome sin by
love.

 You recognize that sin is the cause of all conflict. You try to make peace in drawing people away
from sin.
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 You have to tell them that sin is the cause of unrighteousness.

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 Not only do you reprove sinfulness, but you have to love the sinners. So you have to do two things
at the same time.

 You reprove their sins, but you also love them. That’s what makes peacemaking so difficult.

2. The Christian who tries to make peace often feels that he is fighting a battle that he is almost sure to
lose. He has to establish peace on the foundation of righteousness.

 He has to show the sinner that sin is bad. He has to reprove him and also love him in such a way that
he recognizes that sin is bad.

 Try to convince him. It is much like trying to convince a child that sweet is bad for his teeth. The child
is convinced that sweet is good and you are telling him something that is contrary to his experience.

 Try to tell a sinner that sin is bad when, all his life, he has been enjoying the pleasures of sin. It is
almost impossible!

3. If you persist in your efforts to reconcile men to God, you are going to make an a lot of enemies. People
will mock you and tell you to go preach elsewhere. They might even become hostile towards you.

4. If you ever touch a sensitive spot in their lives, then you are in trouble. They are going to turn against
you as the religious leaders turned against the Lord Jesus and crucified Him.

 When John the Baptist rebuked king Herod for taking his brother’s wife, he ended up in jail for his
trouble. And he died in jail after having his head cut off.

 Had he spoken about how the Romans treated the Jews, Herod might still be smiling. But when
John talked about his private life and his sins, that’s when Herod took action against him.

B. This Beatitude tells us that every disciple is called to be a peacemaker. This cannot be done without preaching
the message of peace.

1. The message of peace is the message of salvation. The proclamation of peace is the same thing as the
proclamation of salvation.

How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of the messenger who brings good news, the good news of peace
and salvation, the news that the God of Israel reigns! (Isaiah 52:7).

2. When you are calling people to peace, you are actually calling people to a process that involves a
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complete change of life. It is a new life in which Jesus is going to reign in their lives as He establishes
righteousness in their hearts.
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3. The way we personally walk and the way we conduct ourselves should be done with the intention of
advancing the gospel of peace. That is the first thing that a peacemaker must do if he wants to make
peace in this world.
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Therefore, put on every piece of God's armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then
after the battle you will still be standing firm… 15For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so
that you will be fully prepared (Ephesians 6:13, 15).

HOMEWORK:

1. God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God corresponds with what other
beatitude?

2. What is peace? What does it include?

3. How does purity of heart relate to being a peacemaker?

4. Explain the importance of establishing peace on the basis or righteousness.

5. Why is there a price to making peace?

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