Matthew 5:9 The heart of it all, the attitude of a peacemaker – Jesus and His own. God’s wisdom, not mine. Part 2
What is a peacemaker? What is the difference between a lover of peace, who does seeds of peace in and with peace - a true peacemaker and a “peace lover”?
We cannot separate the peace of God and the wisdom of God… The prince of peace, the wisdom of God, says “My peace I leave with you…“. It is the perpetual remembering of God’s mercy and grace in Christ, Jesus, and our eternal life in him, the grandsons, both peace and wisdom, God’s wisdom.
Wisdom makes us peaceable: https://biblehub.com/psalms/141-3.htm
Psalm 106:33 “...trouble came to Moses because of them; 33for they rebelled against the Spirit of God, and rash words came from Moses’ lips - and he spoke foolishly.”
Psalm 39:1 “I said, "I will watch my ways so that I will not sin with my tongue; I will guard my mouth with a muzzle as long as the wicked are present."
Proverbs 12:16 A fool's anger is known at once, but a prudent man overlooks an insult.
Proverbs 12:23 A shrewd man keeps his knowledge to himself, but a foolish heart proclaims its folly.
Proverbs 13:18 “The words of the reckless pierce like swords, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.”
Proverbs 15:1, 4 A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger… 4The soothing tongue is a tree of life, but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit.
Proverbs 19:11 A man's insight gives him patience, and his virtue is to overlook an offense.
Proverbs 29:11 Fools give full vent to their rage, but the wise bring calm in the end.
READ: James 3:13-18 Now, as important as ever, followers of Jesus, the Prince of peace, must show themselves a child of God: peacemakers
Peacemakers, sowing seeds of peace. Among who? All. That is, all that we encounter. We are to be an oasis of peace - as we have peace with God, established by God through Christ. And we have peace with ourselves by God’s healing grace. So now, we who have peace, live in peace with God, that we might bring that same peace to others - that they too, might have peace with God and themselves, and they themselves, being at peace, can bring that peace to those they encounter.
We are living in a time and place where Godly wisdom is so necessary - essential.
James 3:13 who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by good works down with wisdom’s gentleness”. (James 2:12-26)
And if you lack wisdom… ask attend, consider, be cunning, diligently, direct, discern, eloquent, feel; to separate mentally (or distinguish), i.e.(generally) understand -- attend, consider, be cunning, diligently, direct, discern, eloquent, feel, inform, instruct, have intelligence, know, look well to, mark, perceive, be prudent, regard, (can) skill(-full), teach, think, (cause, make to, get, give, have) understand(-ing), view, (deal) wise(-ly, man).
James1:5 “Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.”
1Kings 3:9-10 “…give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. 10The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this.”
Hebrews 5:14. “…solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained their senses to distinguish good from evil.”
May the way we live give them a reason…
Why would anyone ask us for anything, let alone for the hope that we have? Becaise we are wise and our wisdom enable us to to live peaceable and discerning lives, thst reflect the gentleness of Jesus - wven in the most turbulent of times
1 Kings 10:24. The whole world sought an audience with Solomon to hear the wisdom that God had put in his heart.
What is that work? To be peacemakers - between God and self; the brotherhood of believers, and God and man… making more peacemakers - children of God (true “believers” Luke 6:; Eph 4:1; 5:1-2)
What are the “good, wise, and gentle works” James speaks of? To be peace makers - between God and self; the brotherhood of believers, and God and man… making more peacemakers - children of God (true “believers” (Lu 6:35-36; Eph 4:1; 5:1-2)
What do peace and wisdom have in common?
Prince of Peace, Isaiah 9:6 “to us a child is born… the Prince of Peace”
…as Jesus, is The wisdom of God… 1Corinthians 1:24 “to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.
…and in whom Wisdom resides -
Col 2:2-3 “2My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, 3in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
…and with whom we find and realize a peace, a
Peace that transcends… (Phil 4:4-8)
We are living in a time and place where Godly wisdom is so necessary because it is only the wisdom of God that can bring peace - true and real peace, peace that DOES transcend understanding.
It is God’s wisdom that brought us and continues to bring us peace (Jesus, the wisdom of God - Luke 11:49; 1Cor 1:21,24,30; Eph 1:17; Col 2:3), and it is with and by God’s wisdom that we can bring peace to others - that we can be peacemakers.
Peace - everything which makes for a man’s highest good - not wishing for another merely the absence of evil things; he wishes for him the presence of all good things - this would be as the angels declare to su “…we bring you glad tidings of great joy for all the people of earth…, a savior has been born to you, the Messiah of the Lord… Glory to God in the highest heaven and on earth - peace - on whom His favor rests.” Luke 2:10-11, 14
What we can do among one another - the brotherhood to promote peace?
Speak the truth in love to one another
Eph 4:15 - the truth of the gospel in love the gospel that brings salvation, but not only salvation, but ongoing sanctification
Speak the wisdom of God to one another
1Cor 2:6-7, 13-15 “6We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature… …we declare God’s wisdom, a mystery that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began… that we may understand what God has freely given us. 13This is what we speak…in words taught by the Spirit… they are discerned only through the Spirit. 15The person with the Spirit makes judgments about all things…”, as “…we have the mind of Christ.”
The world cannot understand, but they can see… as we love one another and act wisely in this world… Cultivating peace in and with one another. God’s wisdom promotes peace, and we need to be seekers of this wisdom, of that peace, and be lovers of peace, peacemakers.
Why? We have this peace with God in Christ, Because we have this peace, it is our privilege and responsibility to work to love peace, live in peace, to cultivate, realize, and bear the fruit of peace
While the world in its “wisdom” sows discord…
James 3:14-15
“To have…” - to harbor in one’s heart, to give safe quarter to
By resisting the flesh’s addiction to drama - being easily offended, quick to anger or defend oneself, complaining, grumbling, whining, commiserating, being derisive and divisive - in an attempt to get others to join you in your parade of self (James 1:19-21; Phil 2: Prov
“Do not brag or deny the truth…” - (1Cor 2:11,13,20-26; 3:1-3; Gal 5:13-15)
We, as children of God, are instead to bring wisdom and peace by practicing appreciation, gratefulness, humble service to others, cultivating likemindedness, mission, purpose, and spirit through genuine love and affection
Bring God’s peace forward with God’s wisdom, intentionally growing in each area (Prov 1; 2; 2Pet 1:5-8) not avoiding making waves, but wading into the chaos and peril of this world, we bring the peace of God in Christ, we are peacemakers, being called sons of God, or, going about God’s work - peace-making - making right relationship between God and man, and man and man.
By good works done gently
Good - beautiful, as an outward sign of the inward good, noble, honorable character; good, worthy, honorable, noble, and seen to be so. attractively good; good that inspires (motivates) others to embrace what is lovely (beautiful, praiseworthy); i.e. welldone so as to be winsome (appealing)
Isaiah 52:7 How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, "Your God reigns!"
Nahum 1:15 Look to the mountains--the feet of one who brings good news, who proclaims peace!
Ephesians 6:15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness of the gospel of peace
Romans 10:15 “And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!’”
NOT being a person who promotes discord and unrest, BUT being one around whom the seeds of discord, the world’s way, cannot live, or breathe, or grow - may we be the person who smothers discord - between God and man, among the brethren, then the world among whom we trod - and are to be an example of peace - seen as children of God.
Being careful not to get caught up in “stupid arguments“
Peace, it seems, begins with its presentation. Being a lover of peace, who sows seeds of peace with peace, is one who approaches others with an eye toward mercy and gentleness - a posture of humble service, done out of love
We are to sow seeds of peace, with peace, goodly and gently - this is godly (Matt 5:9)
James 3:17-18 “But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peace-loving, gentle, accommodating, full of mercy, good fruit, impartial, and sincere.”
Am I a lover of peace?
With God?
With self?
With others?
Among others?
What does each of these each of these elements of wisdom mean? How should they inform how I think, speak, and act? How does each of these elements of wisdom work to bring and promote peace? What must I do to being a peacemaker?
Cultivating our own peace with God and self - being one who loves peace and lives in peace… how? Phil 1:3-6; 2:1-18; 4:4-8; 2Peter 1:5-8;
Remember and rejoice in God’s mercy, saving grace, and grace to live
Make every effort to sort out your salvation
Rejoice and rest in the favor of God's nearness (Luke 2)
Contextualize every experience you have in and with God’s word, the truth that sets you free
Pure - motives are undefiled with self - free from the defilement of love for the “world”; chaste, innocent, and modest (love is not conceited, haughty, puffed up, full of self), prepared for worship, the offering of our selves, our bodies as instruments of righteousness, the first of which is bringing peace - (Ro 12:1-3)
“Blessed are the pure in heart… they will see God…” (Mt 5:8)
Peace-loving - bring with them a love for truth and the stabilizing effects of truth - (pre)disposed to peace, wanting and seeking after peace, securing and protecting peace - with God, in and with self, and others - peaceable -
Blessed are the peacemakers (Mt 5:9)
What is the difference between a lover of peace and one who is peace-loving?
Peacemakers are of those who love peace, and long to bring peace, and are willing, at great personal risk, to bring peace
“...will be called sons of God” (Mt 5:9)
Gentle - disarming, Proverbs - reasonable, moderate, fair, mild - one of Jesus’ key attributes and characteristics as the Son of God
“...come to me…,...I am gentle and humble in heart, and you find rest for your souls” Matthew 11:28-30 (Titus 3:2)
Fair and impartial - "equity-justice" – properly, equitable (the quality of being fair and impartial."equity of treatment"; freedom from bias or favoritism)
; "gentle" in the sense of truly fair (this does not mean “the same” and not to be confused with equality) by relaxing overly strict standards in order to keep the "spirit of the law." "Justice beyond ordinary justice" builds on the real intent (purpose) of what is really at stake (note the epi, "upon") – and hence, is true equity that appropriately fulfills the spirit (not just the letter) of the law - “upon another” for their good and welfare (agape - love).
Accommodating or submissive - “constantly attendant”, it has a willing spirit that is predisposed to God’s will and way and the needs of others - it obeys easily, it sees, naturally, and does
“Then the righteous will say to Him ‘when did we so you and…, …truly I tell you, whatever you did it for the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did it for me…’” Matthew 25:37
As the Trinity lives and loves one another in mutual submission to one another
Submit to God and His word and way
Being full of the Spirit, at peace with God, content in Him, we, having been loved, now love - our hearts being more and more conditioned to be naturally alert, aware of one another’s needs; we are open-handed - waiting and ready to give, and, cannot help but give. (Luke 10:25-37 the good Samaritan)
Submit one to another in true love and service, care and consideration for one another - loving one another as we have been loved (Eph 5:21)
This wisdom, condescends to those who are lost, and bring the message of hope as the fruit of a life that lives goodly, or beautifully, bringing forth the person and fruit of Christ in us - loving the lost as God, in Christ, so loved us (John 1:9-14;13:34; 15:12-17; Rom 12:10; Eph 5:2; 1John 3:11; 2John 1:5)
Empathy is not enough: as to meet them where they are - empathy, thst moves to sympathy, that moves to compassion, that cannot, not, bring comfort
Full of mercy - a “tender” mercy, pity, and compassion that is right at the surface, a heart conditioned to see, feel, consider, and respond - as it sees and recognizes the need before them regardless of who they are or what they have done - as we are merciful, as our heavenly Father is merciful - we show ourselves to be children of our Father (Ps 119:76, 132; Luke 6:36; Romans 12:1)
Bearing good fruit
The character and nature of Jesus and His righteousness. “...for I am (a) gentle, humble, servant…” (Mt 11)
The fruits of the Spirit - “...the fruit of the Spirit is…”
“...the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.” Galatians 5:22
Sincere - a sincere love that truly wants God’s best, God’s blessing, God’s favor on all, every, and each we encounter - unfeigned, unpretentious, and genuine “...love must be sincere…” Romans 12:9-21
This is the fruit or the fruits - the character of a heart conditioned by Jesus and trained in our abiding with Him, empowered and prompted by the Holy Spirit - to see the plight of those around us and desire to, long to, bring peace, relief, true and lasting, eternal peace
Blessed are the peacemakers, they will be called the children of God
All - the world - be aware, concerned, and pray
Every - that everyone might come to a saving knowledge of Jesus
Each - would be saved
