Happy are the Peacemakers

Every Christian, according to Jesus Christ, is meant to be a peacemaker both in the community and in the church.  Thus, the sequence from purity of heart in Matthew 5, verse 8 to peacemaking in verse 9 is natural.

There are 400 references to peace in the Bible.  God calls Himself the “God of Peace,” and note how He set things up in the beginning:

• Peace between God and His people. Intimacy, love, trust.
• His people at peace with one another. Cooperation, respect, unity.
• His people in a state of inner peace and rest. No worry.  No anxiety.  No anger or resentment or rebellion.

Unfortunately, two things keep peace from the world:  the opposition of Satan and the disobedience of men.

We are to restore this world to the peace that was forfeited by sin.

Continue reading for perspectives on the seventh beatitude from John MacArthur, Jennifer Kennedy Dean, and John Stott.

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