Sermon on the Mount – Blessed are the Peacemakers • FOUNDED IN TRUTH

In this insightful Bible teaching from Founded in Truth Fellowship, Matthew Vander Els delves into the profound meaning of one of Jesus’s Beatitudes from the Sermon on the Mount: “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God.” The speaker emphasizes that understanding the Beatitudes requires seeing them not as a list of directives or achievements to strive for, but as declarations of who God aligns with. These statements reveal the kind of people God is close to and the nature of the good and flourishing life.

The teaching begins by highlighting that “blessed” in this context signifies the good life or the flourishing life. Jesus, or Yeshua as referred to in the teaching, is not instructing people to become poor in spirit, mourn, or be afflicted as a means to attain this blessedness. Instead, he is identifying those who already experience these conditions as being in a position where they have a clearer understanding of the world’s brokenness and, consequently, are closer to God’s heart. God, throughout the biblical narrative, demonstrates a particular attentiveness to those who are exploited, marginalized, and suffering.

The speaker illustrates this point by referencing several Old Testament examples. In Genesis 4, God hears the cry of Abel’s blood after he is murdered, signifying that injustice cries out and God hears it. Similarly, in Genesis 18, God responds to the outcry from Sodom and Gomorrah. The traditional understanding of Sodom and Gomorrah’s destruction often focuses on homosexual acts. However, this teaching expands on that, drawing from later prophetic texts like Ezekiel 16, to suggest that arrogance, hoarding of resources, and a lack of concern for the poor and needy were also significant factors in God’s judgment. The forced homosexual acts are presented as an act of domination and a symptom of a deeper societal problem rooted in pride and a desire to assert power.

By reading the Bible as a continuous story, a grand epic, we gain a clearer understanding of God’s character and his ongoing rescue mission for humanity. The Beatitudes, in this light, reveal that God is with those who recognize the world is not working justly for everyone. Those who are poor in spirit, mourning, afflicted, and hungering for justice are blessed because they have a unique perspective on the coming new creation where things will be made right. Theirs is the access to the kingdom, the comfort, and the inheritance.

The focus then shifts to the specific Beatitude of the peacemakers. The speaker draws a crucial distinction between peacekeepers and peacemakers. Peacekeepers often rely on force and the threat of violence to maintain order, exemplified by the ironic naming of a nuclear missile as a “Peacekeeper.” This approach, like the Roman Empire’s Pax Romana, often creates a superficial peace for those in power while pushing violence and suffering to the margins. True peacemakers, however, actively engage with conflict, not by running away or remaining neutral in the face of injustice, but by inserting themselves into the situation with love for all parties involved.

Peacemakers strive to thwart division and find third ways to resolve conflict. Their peacemaking is not passive; it involves speaking truth and calling out injustice, understanding that true peace cannot exist where injustice prevails. This radical approach, the speaker argues, is what makes them the “children of God.” It challenges the world’s systems, much like Jesus’s entire ministry did.

The teaching emphasizes that peacemaking is hard work that requires empathy. Empathy is defined as the effort to understand the motives and perspectives of others, even those with whom we disagree. It involves seeing the humanity in everyone, recognizing that their viewpoints are often shaped by their life experiences. By approaching others with empathy rather than judgment, we can break down the “us versus them” mentality and open the door for genuine dialogue and resolution.

To illustrate the complexities of peacemaking, the speaker recounts the story of the Rainbow Coalition, a coalition formed in the late 1960s between the Black Panthers, the Young Patriots (a group of white Southerners), and the Young Lords (a Puerto Rican group) in Chicago. Despite significant differences, including the Young Patriots’ use of the Confederate battle flag, these groups united to fight for the poor and working class, establishing free healthcare clinics and breakfast programs for children. Fred Hampton, a leader in the Black Panthers, believed that by working together, they could expose how the systemic oppression affected various groups, even if it meant engaging with uncomfortable symbols. This example highlights the challenging and sometimes paradoxical nature of peacemaking, where finding common ground for a greater mission might involve navigating deep-seated divisions.

The speaker concludes by challenging the listeners to examine their own lives and the conflicts they are involved in. Are they contributing to division and animosity, or are they actively seeking to understand and build bridges? Christians are called to stand against violence and war, not by taking up arms, but by embodying the Prince of Peace through forgiveness and the pursuit of justice. By refusing to objectify and judge others, we can show the world a different way, a way that reflects the love and peace of Jesus. If we fail to be peacemakers, we risk allowing others, with potentially different ideologies, to address the cries of the oppressed, leaving us with no ground to criticize them. The promise for those who choose the path of peacemaking is that they will be called the children of God, embodying the very character of their heavenly Father. This requires sacrifice, humility, grace, patience, and mercy.

To find more Bible Teachings, click the link.

Application for Everyday Life:

• Practice Empathy: Make a conscious effort to understand the perspectives and motivations of those you disagree with or are in conflict with. Try to see their humanity and the experiences that have shaped their views.
• Actively Engage in Conflict: Don’t ignore or avoid conflict, but rather, step into challenging situations with a desire to find peaceful resolutions that uphold justice for all parties.
• Speak Truth and Challenge Injustice: True peace is not the absence of conflict but the presence of justice. Be willing to speak out against wrongdoings and advocate for those who are marginalized.
• Seek Common Ground: Even with those who hold vastly different opinions, look for shared values or goals that can serve as a foundation for dialogue and cooperation, as exemplified by the Rainbow Coalition.
• Resist Division and “Us vs. Them” Thinking: Be mindful of the tendency to create rigid boundaries between groups and actively work to bridge those divides by recognizing the shared humanity of all people.
• Choose Forgiveness and Reconciliation: In personal conflicts, prioritize forgiveness and seeking reconciliation, even when it is difficult or comes at a personal cost, mirroring Christ’s example.
• Listen to the Cries of the Oppressed: Pay attention to the suffering and injustice in the world around you and be willing to acknowledge and act against it, rather than ignoring it.

References:

• Genesis 4: biblehub.com/genesis/4.htm
• Genesis 18: biblehub.com/genesis/18.htm
• Psalm 10: biblehub.com/psalms/10.htm
• Jeremiah 8: biblehub.com/jeremiah/8.htm
• Ezekiel 16: biblehub.com/ezekiel/16.htm