As most of you know, my daughter is now off at college. A week ago this past Thursday-ten days and ten nights ago now-we filled our mini-van with all the necessities of dorm life and headed for campus to help her move in and get settled. Now my daughter shares a room with two other girls, but we were the first to arrive so we had the room to ourselves as we helped her make her bed, and arrange her clothes and set up her computer and fridge and microwave, etc. I was even able to assemble a little rolling storage unit that we had purchased for her to use without any interruption. This was a good thing because my handyman skills are limited, and to get anything done I need to be able to concentrate. Being alone in the room helped. When we finished, we went to the student center to help her get her books, and while we were gone another one of her roommates showed up with her family and she settled in. By the time we returned from the bookstore they had come and gone, but we did meet her final roommate and her family. They were the last to arrive that day.
I don’t want to be overly critical but I must say, they gave us a somewhat “frosty” greeting and commented that they were unhappy that their daughter had been given the bottom bunk. They complained that their daughter didn’t have room to sit up in bed and went on to say they were generally displeased with the entire room configuration. I didn’t know what to do. The second girl had claimed the only single bed a month ago and my daughter was on the top bunk, so we just did our best to be cordial before we had to head off to one of Sarah’s required orientation meetings.
When we came back this family had totally redone the entire room. They’d “encouraged” the girl who had claimed the single bed to give up her claim to the only bed you could sit up in comfortably and move her stuff to the bottom bunk. Then they’d taken the single bed and made it into a loft for their little princess including her own semi-private study space underneath. With this room configuration they pretty much took over half the room for their daughter, leaving the other half for my daughter and the other girl to share. Plus, in the process of reconstructing everything, they had knocked over my daughter’s bookshelf and broke the light bulb in the brand new lamp we had bought for her. And, they never even apologized for that. They just commented that it was broken and advised me to get a bulb with a lower wattage because they found it to be very hot when they touched it.
My sinful self wanted to declare war at this point. I mean, the three girls had swapped e-mails prior to arrival and at the time this third girl had said she didn’t care where she bunked, but that she preferred not to have a top bunk. Her roommates had honored her request but her parents still insisted on forgetting all that and making totally new plans, so I was kind of upset. And, to be honest, my frustration was fueled at least in part by my desire for things to be perfect for my own little princess. After all, this cramped room was to be my little girl’s very first home away from home. I didn’t want her to have to live there in tension. I wanted her to have a place where she felt comfortable and welcome amidst the inevitable stresses of college life-plus they knocked over her lamp and broke a light bulb and never even apologized! I mean whatever happened to manners?!!! Whatever happened to etiquette!?
Let me ask, have you ever been in a situation like that? A situation where you felt wronged and taken-advantage of and you wanted to “fight” back? A situation where your peace of mind was threatened by another individual or individuals? Well, if so, you came to the right place this morning because today we’re looking at a small verse of Scripture that points us to both principles and precepts that specifically address these kinds of situations. I’m referring to the 9th verse of Matthew chapter 5. Turn there and follow along as I read and you’ll see what I mean.
Now, if you’re our guest, you need to know that this summer we’ve been studying the powerful statements of Jesus that make up this part of Matthew’s gospel. And, as has been our custom in prior weeks, I want us to kind of review what we’ve learned by reading all the verses we’ve already studied, ending with our text, so let’s start with verse 1. As we read listen to the still, small voice of the Holy Spirit of God, reminding you of all He’s taught you as we’ve studied each of these amazing statements.
Matthew 5:1 – Now when [Jesus] saw the crowds, He went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to Him,
2 – and He began to teach them, saying:
3 – “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 – Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
5 – Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
6 – Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
7 – Blessed are the merciful for they will be shown mercy.
8 – Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
And then our text for this morning:
9 – Blessed are the peacemakers for they will be called sons of God.
This is the Word of the Lord . Thanks be to God.
Like the other beatitudes we’ve studied up to this point, I think these words in verse 9 would have sounded radical in Jesus’ day. I say this because at that time the Jewish people were struggling under the offensive domination of Rome. I’m sure the heartfelt desire of every Jew in Jesus’ day was to see the Romans run out of their country and they were convinced that wasn’t going to happen without a major conflict. In fact, I’m sure they wanted a fight! They wanted to a battle in which they would absolutely crush the Romans, punishing them for the cruel way they had been treated. I mean, the only peace the Jews wanted was one that came after a war in which the Romans were totally crushed! This was their fondest dream. It was their hope. It was their prayer that God would send a mighty military Messiah who would come and, like the famous warrior King David, lead them to a great military conquest over these pagan evildoers.
So, as they heard Jesus make this statement that day they must have thought, “Is this guy unaware of the iron hand of the cruel Roman Empire that controls everything we do? Does He know about the taxes they impose on us-taxes that keep us on the brink of poverty? Does He know that King Herod Archelaus-that puppet ruler appointed by the Romans-slaughtered 3,000 Jews at a Passover celebration recently? Has Jesus heard about how the Roman governor Pilate massacred Jews on the temple mount and desecrated the temple by mixing their blood with the sacrifices they were offering?” Their next thought would have been this. “Well-of course he knows all this! Everyone does! So how can He possibly say, ‘Blessed are the peacemakers?’ Surely He meant to say, ‘Blessed are the warmongers!'” These twelve words would have sounded very out of place! This was a radical, counter-cultural statement for Jesus to make.
And, you know, the truth is these words of our Lord sound just as radical in our day and age. Sure, we aren’t domineered by the Romans, but we are taken advantage of by selfish dorm parents! All kidding aside, the threat of conflict surrounds us all the time doesn’t it? Every day people and situations try our patience-and if we’re not careful, these situations can easily become volatile and explode into conflict, robbing us of what little peace we enjoy in this fallen world.
Think about it! We have disagreements between family members. We have disagreements with our co-workers. We have disagreements with friends and neighbors. And even though it pains us to admit it, many times we even have disagreements with our brothers and sisters in Christ. In fact, I’m ashamed to say it but it’s true that Christians are well-known for their tendency to fight among themselves. As someone once put it, “Where two or three are gathered together in Jesus’ name there will eventually be conflict.” And, have you noticed how whenever we find ourselves embroiled in a conflict, have you ever noticed how in times like these, our sinful human nature kicks in? In these times, our sinful side says, “Don’t let people run over you! Win the argument! Come out on top! If someone is nasty to you, dish it right back! Don’t get mad-get even!”
This reminds me of the classic conversation between Lady Astor and Winston Churchill. Lady Nastor said to him, “If I were your wife, I’d put poison in your coffee!” And Churchill wittily responded, “If I were your husband, I’d drink it!” Well, even our laughter about this shows that we are predisposed not to peace but rather to conflict. I mean, be honest, how many of you thought, “Way to go Winston! Great comeback! I wish I could be as quick on my feet when people say things like that to me! In fact, let me write that down. I may be able to use it.” Well, this fact that we admire “put down responses” like Churchill’s shows our “bent” toward conflict. It shows how much we admire it. And thanks to this aspect of our sinful nature, many times even when we strive for peace we end up quarreling.
This week I read about a group of people who were walking across America on a mission of peace-sort of a mega-peace march deal. They were going to walk all the way across the continental United States as a way of stressing the importance of our being at peace with each other and with other nations. Unfortunately the marchers couldn’t get along and it got so bad when they reached Arkansas they had a little civil war and divided into two groups. I don’t think either side ever completed their “march for peace.” And this tendency we have to embrace conflict when we disagree-our lack of peace is nothing new. It began with Adam and Eve’s offense against God’s loving law in the book of Genesis and continued with the conflict between Cain and Abel which resulted in the first murder and the sad historical fact is mankind has been embroiled in one conflict after another ever since.
The Society of International Law in London reports that during the last four millennia there have been only 268 years of peace. That’s less than seven percent of the time! Why in the last two millennia alone, there have been over 15,000 known wars. In that same time period over 8,000 peace treaties have been made and broken. And do you remember the motto that the United Nations adopted at its founding? In history class we learned that the UN said it’s purpose for existing was this: “To have succeeding generations free from the scourge of war.”
Well the truth is this was just a “un-pipe dream” because since the day it was founded in 1945 there has not been one single day of peace on this war-torn earth. No generation has been free from the scourge of war. All this caused an insightful cynic to say, “Peace is that glorious moment in history when everyone stops to reload.” Unfortunately this cynic is right. Conflict is all around us and the fact is most of us respond in ways that only make matters worse.
In my study this week I came across a message on this text by Phil Morgan and in it he talks about this sad fact and then very creatively points out that we tend to respond to the conflict that is all around us in one of three ways.
A. First, Morgan says there are people we would call peace-breakers.
Peace-breakers are those people who seem to go out of their way to break down relationships. They enjoy the conflict that is all around us! In fact they work to make it spread. They just love to cause trouble and division. They tend to be opinionated and judgmental. They are deliberately confrontive people who seem to think their spiritual gift is to disagree with everyone about everything. And their main tool is the tongue! They use this slippery appendage to gossip and slander on the phone or in conversations, many of them in church hallways. Or they use carefully crafted e-mails to tear down and cause division. And, I know this may offend any peace-breakers who are present this morning but the fact is peace-breakers are pawns of the devil. If you’re a peace-breaker than you are a weak believer who Satan moves around, attempting to destroy the good things God is doing. Unfortunately, I’ve known many peace-breakers in my life. I’ve known marriages, and families, and even entire churches that were split by this kind of individual. How about you? Do you know any peace-breakers at the moment?
Well, the Bible has strong words to address this shortcoming. First, let me read you a verse that attacks the peace-breaker’s favorite weapon. Ephesians 4:29-31 says, “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God with Whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.”
And then listen to these words from Romans 16:17-18 where Paul tells us how to deal with peace-breakers. He says, “I urge you brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. For such people are not serving our Lord Christ but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people.”
And, before you go pointing the finger of blame, each of us should examine our own hearts and tongues because if the truth were told I’m sure we’d all have to admit that there were times we have been peace-breakers because as I alluded to earlier, our “bent” our selfish tendency is to break peace instead of to make it. We would rather be “right.” We’d rather “win” than make peace even if that means hurting other people in the process.
Many years ago Psychology Today (October, 1983) posed an intriguing question, “If you could push a button and thereby eliminate any person with no repercussions to yourself, would you do it?” Sixty percent of those responding said, “Yes.” One man posted an even better question, “If such a device were invented, would anyone live to tell about it?”
Friend, have you been pushing any buttons lately? Are you a peace-breaker? Do you bring people together or do you pull them apart? Remember, it’s always easier to create conflict than it is to promote peace.
B. A second response to conflict is what Morgan refers to as the peace-faker.
A peace-faker is someone who prefers peace over the truth. Peace-fakers foolishly, ignorantly, see peace as simply the absence of any kind of argument or discord. They will go to any lengths to avoid any kind of conflict, confrontation, or unrest and in doing so they settle for a counterfeit peace that is based on avoiding the real issues. Whereas peace-breakers love to use their tongues-peace-fakers love to make truces. But the fact is truce making is not what Jesus is talking about in this beatitude. You see, a truce is a cessation of fighting that is imposed from the outside-and that’s not peace. Let me put it this way. You can’t “keep” a peace that isn’t there in the first place. You can’t sweep disagreements under the rug and call that peace. No, a genuine peace-maker is much more than a truce maker. A peacemaker is someone who actually discovers the origin of the conflict, and finds a way to resolve it and helps the parties restore a proper, loving relationship. A peace maker is someone who strives to actually make or construct peace.
John MacArthur rightly says, “A truce just says you don’t shoot for a while. Peace comes when the truth is known, the issue is settled, and the parties embrace each other.” So, if you have had a disagreement with a spouse or a child or a friend or co-worker or family member or church member-and have just agreed to stop fighting, don’t congratulate yourself on your accomplishment. All you have is a truce. You haven’t obeyed our Lord because you haven’t made peace.
You know, in peace-faking, which would more accurately be called peace-keeping over truth-telling, people think they are being noble, but in reality they are making a bad choice. You see, if left ignored, whatever has caused tension in a relationship, will come back again without ever being properly resolved. Without resolution, there is no peace; nor is there a real relationship. Some people say they’ve had ten years experience in marriage, but in reality they had one year repeated ten times because they never properly resolved the conflicts of the first twelve months. They never talked them through. They’ve just had a ten-year truce. What a waste of potential marital bliss!
Morgan writes,“If things are not resolved then that peace you’ve been trying so very hard to maintain by avoiding the issues will get harder and harder to keep.Eventually there will come a total breakdown in the relationships. Relationships can die while everything on the surface looks peaceful.”
The truth is, peace at any price is a form of deception, which the father of all lies loves. Satan loves it when in the name of “peace” we maintain the status quo and never really honestly relate to one another. Ephesians 4:25 challenges the peace-fakers among us when it says, “Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are members of one body.” So there are peace-breakers and peace-fakers and then finally,
C. Some people respond to conflict and tension as peace-makers.
And as I said, a Peacemaker is exactly that. They are people who strive to make peace. You see peace must be made. It must be actively, intentionally made because it never happens by chance. No, when left to ourselves we lean toward divisiveness, so a peace-maker goes against the flow. He or she does what it takes to establish and maintain real peace.
Warren Wiersbe said, “Hatred looks for a victim, while love seeks a victory. The man of war throws stones and the peacemaker builds a bridge out of those stones.” And please listen to my next sentence. It’s very important. Peace making requires divine power. Real peace, lasting peace is impossible to “make” without God’s help. You can’t make what you don’t have. You can’t spread peace if you’re at war inside. And the only way to have inner peace is to make your peace with God through faith in Jesus Christ. Our Holy God is the source of all genuine peace. As He tells us repeatedly in His written Word He is a peace-loving, peace-making God.
I don’t know about you but I’ve seen this particular facet of God’s character as I’ve read through the Bible chronologically this year. From the beginning of my reading on January 1 when we looked at the familiar story of how Adam and Eve fell into sin and their relationship with God was fractured, from that moment on the Bible is the historical record of God reaching out to man, wooing him back into fellowship with Him, climaxed with the sending of His only Son to die for our sins. We’ll get to that part of the story in our reading in just a few more weeks. God’s strategy-His plan-has always been to bring about a just and lasting peace between rebel man and Himself and then between man and man.
In the first chapter of Colossians the Apostle Paul talks about this and says that due to our sin we were once alienated from God. Our sinful nature and actions made us the enemies of our Holy God. But God sent Jesus into the world to die for our sins and in so doing reconcile all things to Himself. As we illustrated with the ordinance of communion last week, in dying on that Roman cross Jesus paid for our offenses so that we could come home to God.
Romans 5:1 says, “Having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through the Lord Jesus Christ.” And the fact is, we must each experience the peace of God through faith in Jesus in order to be experience the blessedness of this beatitude. Only when the Prince of Peace lives inside us do we have the power to counteract our sinful tendency toward conflict such that we become peacemakers.
Hadden Robinson rightly says, “No peace will exist between nations until peace reigns in each country. And no country will have peace until peace dwells with the people. And no people will have peace until they surrender to the Prince of Peace.”
Philip Keller, himself a shepherd and author of the classic book A Shepherd Looks at the 23rd Psalm, writes,
“Hundreds of times I have watched an old, austere ewe walk up to a younger one which might have been feeding contentedly or resting quietly in some sheltered spot. She would arch her neck, tilt her head, dilate her eyes and approach the other with a stiff-legged gait. All of this was saying in unmistakable terms, ‘Move over! Out of my way! Give ground or else!’ And if the other ewe did not immediately leap to her feet in self-defense, she would be butted unmercifully. Or, if she did rise to accept the challenge, one or two strong bumps would soon send her scurrying for safety. But one point that always interested me very much was that whenever I came into view and my presence attracted their attention the sheep quickly forgot their foolish rivalries and stopped their fighting. The shepherd’s presence made all the difference in their behavior.”
Keller is right. It is the Shepherd’s presence living in us that enables us to “make peace.” Only those who have first tasted peace with God at the cross of Christ and then die to self and let Jesus live through them, can become peacemakers. In his book, Mere Christianity, C. S. Lewis puts it this way.
“A car is made to run on petrol (gasoline), and it would not run properly on anything else. Now God designed the human machine to run on Himself. He Himself is the ‘fuel’ our spirits were designed to burn, or the ‘food’ our spirits were designed to feed on. There is no other. That is why it is just no good asking God to make us happy on our own way without bothering about religion. God cannot give us happiness and peace apart from Himself, because it is not there. There is no such thing.”
As Lewis so beautifully puts it, we can’t be peacemakers on our own strength. Well, how can we obey this command? And by the way, that’s what it is! In each of these beatitudes Jesus is listing the attitudes that anyone who would be His disciple must embrace. Now, I despise easy formulas just as much as you do. But I want to close by giving you five things to remember that will help you obey Jesus’ command here and be a peace maker. In his typical fashion Rick Warren has taken the word peace and made it into an acronym to remind us of five biblical steps we can take in an effort to restore fractured relationships, five aspects of making peace. Because of our time constraints, we’ll move through these quickly. Here’s the first. When you find yourself at enmity with someone, first ask for God’s help and then:
(1) Plan a peace conference.
In Matthew 5:23-24 Jesus said, “If you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.” In other words our Lord says, “Don’t wait for the other person to make the first move. You take the initiative!” In Matthew 18 Jesus says that in times of conflict, it doesn’t matter of you’re the offended or the offender, you make the first move. Schedule a face-to-face meeting. Jesus says, “Go and be reconciled to your brother.” He doesn’t say, “Write them a letter. List your grievances. Send an e-mail. Pick up the phone.” No, He says go to the person, because the most satisfying solution is coming face to face with that person to work out your differences. Remember peace doesn’t just happen. It is made-and if conflict is ignored things just get worse. This is why in verse 25. Jesus says, “Settle matters quickly with your adversary.”
(2) Empathize with the feelings of others.
Answer this question. When I’m upset, who am I most likely thinking about? Me! My feelings! My hurts! My rights! My daughter’s dorm room happiness! Well, in Philippians 2:4, Paul says this is backwards thinking. He says, “Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.” Now, Paul is not saying that your interests are irrelevant and unimportant. No he’s saying, “Have an equal concern for the feelings and needs of others, not just yourself.” Stephen Covey, in his book Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, has a principle that says, “Seek first to understand and then to be understood.” And, that’s good advice, because to make peace happen we have to try to see the situation from the other side’s perspective.
Yesterday we visited with my daughter and learned that her third roommate has a job that requires her to work on her computer several hours a week, much like a telecommuter. So she needed extra study space, she needed extra privacy. I’m sure her parents were thinking of this when they re-did the room and understanding this makes it easier for me to be a peacemaker.
(3) Attack the problem, not the person!
Friends, we can’t focus on fixing the problem and fixing the blame at the same time. I mean, if you go to a peace conference thinking, “I’m really going to give that person a piece of my mind! I’m going to punish them for what they did to me!” Well, if you go to a “peace conference” with that mindset, forget it! You’re going to do more harm than good. Remember, in Proverbs 15:1 Solomon said, “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” Translation: “Engage your mind before you engage your mouth!”
(4) Cooperate as much as possible.
In other words, be a bridge-builder, not a bridge tear-er-downer! In Romans 12:18 Paul says, “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” Now, implied in this passage is the reality that you won’t always be able to resolve your conflicts with others. Some people thrive on arguments. They’re quarrelsome. Some people refuse to settle for a solution that everyone can be happy with; they have to win, you have to lose, even if it means compromising the truth. But Paul says, “You me more mature than that. You hold out the olive branch.” Don’t sacrifice your convictions or the truth but cooperate as much as possible in an attempt to make peace.
(5) Emphasize reconciliation, not retaliation.
To reconcile means to make an effort to repair and reestablish a broken relationship. To retaliate means to “get even” and “hurt back.” Again, in Matthew 5 our Lord said, “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I say to you, do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.”
In my view, the greatest example of this principle in the 20th century was Martin Luther King Jr. During the Civil Rights Movement of the 60’s when marchers put their bodies on the line before sheriffs with night-sticks, fire hoses, and snarling German shepherds, King never wavered from his commitment of bringing about change through non-violent confrontation. He didn’t believe in retaliation. As riots broke out in places like Los Angeles, Detroit, Chicago, and Harlem, King traveled from city to city trying to cool tempers and reminding demonstrators that nothing good could come from violence. Against all odds, against all instincts of self-preservation, he stayed true to this principle of peacemaking.
Well, where do you think he learned that? Where did he get the power to restrain himself? This came from His relationship with his Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace , my Savior and Lord Who, ” took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, was pierced for our transgressions crushed for our iniquities; The punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; He was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so He did not open His mouth.”
Now, when we learn to practice these five steps when we learn to be peacemakers two things happen. First, we are happy. And be honest, have you ever been involved in a conflict with someone and been happy? Have you slept well? Have you been content? Of course not! No, only true peacemakers experience true happiness. Peace-breakers and peace-fakers are never happy. They’re never at peace!
Second, we are known as sons and daughters of God. When we help bring people together who have been estranged-when we make peace between men and especially when we make peace between men and God by leading them to Christ well that is the most Christ-like thing to do. And it marks us as God’s children.
Well, let me ask you how are your relationships with others? As we’ve studied this verse about peacemaking, has the Holy Spirit been nudging you in your spirit about a rupture in a relationship with your spouse, a family member, one of your children, a work associate, a neighbor, or someone in the church? How much sleep have you lost this last week because you couldn’t get it off your mind? How much time have you wasted stewing over it? Are you running from something you need to get settled? Are you hoping it will just disappear? Is there any problem in a relationship that you have that could not be solved by allowing the peace of Christ to prevail?
Would you pray the prayer St. Francis of Assisi with me?
“Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love. Where there is injury, pardon. Where there is doubt, faith. Where there is despair, hope. Where there is darkness, light. Where there is sadness, joy. O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console. To be understood, as to understand. To be loved, as to love. For it is in giving we receive. It is in pardoning that we are pardoned. It is in dying that we are born to eternal life.”
Today God may be leading you to make a public decision. If you’re not a Christian, He’s inviting you to make your peace with Him to confess your sin and your belief that Jesus Christ is His only Son-and that He died for your sin. In that simple prayer you’ll experience a peace that truly passes understanding. If you make that decision walk this aisle and share it with me.
God may be leading you to walk this aisle and join this church because as a Christian you need the peace that being a part of a loving church family can bring. Or God may be telling you not to walk one of these aisles but rather to walk up to someone with whom you need to make peace.
Won’t you walk now .in the direction God leads?
BENEDICTION:
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts since as members of one body you were called to peace. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly and whatever you do in word or in deed Do it all in the name of Christ giving thanks to God the Father through Him.