The document provides an overview of Jesus' teachings on peacemaking from the Sermon on the Mount. It discusses the qualities of a peacemaker based on the Beatitude "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God." It outlines three aspects of peacemaking: peace with God, peace with others, and peace within the church. It notes that peacemakers may face persecution but will be rewarded in heaven. Respondents to questions indicate they best demonstrate "unexpectedly forgiving" and feel "spiritually bankrupt" most needs improvement.
8. 1. When Jesus uttered the Beatitudes, which do you think
better expresses what he was doing?
Setting a new standard of
50% 50%
holiness and asking the
disciples to rise to meet it
Giving the disciples hope for
God's approval in spite of
their unworthiness
9. Blessed are …
Spiritually • Matthew 5:3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for
Bankrupt theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
• Matthew 5:4 Blessed are those who mourn, for
Deeply Dismayed they will be comforted.
Totally • Matthew 5:5 Blessed are the meek, for they will
Inadequate inherit the earth.
10. Blessed are …
• Matthew 5:6 Blessed are those who hunger and
Crying for Justice thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
Unexpectedly • Matthew 5:7 Blessed are the merciful, for they
Forgiving will be shown mercy.
Absolutely • Matthew 5:8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for
Innocent they will see God.
13. Blessed are …
Promoting • Matthew 5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for
Harmony they will be called children of God.
14. Isaiah 9:6
For to us a child is born, to us a son is
given, and the government will be on his
shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful
Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting
Father, Prince of Peace.
16. Romans 16:20
The God of peace will soon crush
Satan under your feet. The grace
of our Lord Jesus be with you.
17. Philippians 4:9
Whatever you have learned or
received or heard from me, or
seen in me--put it into practice.
And the God of peace will be with
you.
18. 1 Thessalonians 5:23
May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify
you through and through. May your whole
spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the
coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
19. Three aspects of Peacemaking
Romans 5:1 Since we
have been justified
God
through faith, we have
peace with God through
Peace our Lord Jesus Christ,
20. Three aspects of Peacemaking
2 Corinthians 5:18-20 God
…has committed to us the
message of reconciliation.
God 20 We are therefore
Christ's ambassadors, as
though God were making
Peace his appeal through us….
Be reconciled to God.
21. Three aspects of Peacemaking
Others
Hebrews 12:14
God Make every effort
to live in peace
Peace with all men.
22. Three aspects of Peacemaking
1 Thessalonians 4:11-12
Others Make it your ambition to
lead a quiet life, to mind
God your own business and to
work with your hands, just
as we told you, 12 so that
Peace your daily life may win the
respect of outsiders.
23. Three aspects of Peacemaking
1 Peter 3:8-11 all of
Others
you, live in harmony
God
One with one another; … 9
Another Do not repay … insult
with insult, but with
Peace blessing, … 11 seek
peace and pursue it.
24. Three aspects of Peacemaking
Others
Romans 14:19 Let us
One therefore make every
God
Another
effort to do what leads
to peace and to
Peace
mutual edification.
25. Three aspects of Peacemaking
Others Romans 12:16-18 Live
One
in harmony with one
God another. … 18 If it is
Another
possible, as far as it
Peace depends on you, live at
peace with everyone.
26. Three aspects of Peacemaking
Others Colossians 3:15 Let the
peace of Christ rule in
One
God
Another your hearts, since as
members of one body
Peace you were called to
peace.
27. Blessed are …
Promoting • Matthew 5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for
Harmony they will be called children of God.
29. Blessed are …
Promoting • Matthew 5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for
Harmony they will be called children of God.
Mistreated for • Matthew 5:10 Blessed are those who are
persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is
Doing Right the kingdom of heaven.
30. Persecution
“to
accuse”
to treat
“to
cruelly or
pursue”
unfairly
διώκω
32. 1 Peter 3:14, 17
If you should suffer for what is right, you are
blessed. … 17 It is better, if it is God's will, to
suffer for doing good than for doing evil.
33. 1 Thessalonians 3:2-4
We sent Timothy… to strengthen and encourage
you in your faith, 3 so that no one would be
unsettled by these trials. You know quite well
that we were destined for them. 4 In fact, when
we were with you, we kept telling you that we
would be persecuted. And it turned out that
way, as you well know.
34. Blessed are …
Promoting • Matthew 5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for
Harmony they will be called children of God.
Mistreated for • Matthew 5:10 Blessed are those who are
persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is
Doing Right the kingdom of heaven.
36. Blessed are …
Promoting • Matthew 5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for
Harmony they will be called children of God.
Mistreated for • Matthew 5:10 Blessed are those who are
persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is
Doing Right the kingdom of heaven.
Mistreated for • Matthew 5:11 "Blessed are you when people
insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds
Jesus of evil against you because of me
37. Differences between verses 10 and 11
Expanded
Different cause
mistreatment
Adds insult Because of Because of
Persecution
and slander doing right Jesus
(vs. 10)
(vs. 11) (vs. 10) (vs. 11)
38. John 15:18-21
If the world hates you, keep in mind that it
hated me first. ... If they persecuted me, they
will persecute you also. …They will treat you
this way because of my name.
39. 1 Peter 4:14
If you are insulted because of the
name of Christ, you are blessed.
40. 2002 Barna Group Poll of Non-Christian Favorability
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
Favorable Unfavorable
41. 1 Peter 4:15-16
If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or
thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a
meddler. 16 However, if you suffer as a
Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God
that you bear that name.
42. 1 Peter 3:15-16
Always be prepared to give an answer to
everyone who asks you to give the reason for the
hope that you have. But do this with gentleness
and respect, 16 keeping a clear conscience, so
that those who speak maliciously against your
good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their
slander.
43. Matthew 5:12
Rejoice and be glad, because
great is your reward in
heaven, for in the same way they
persecuted the prophets who
were before you.
44. Hebrews 11:13-16
All these people were still living by faith when they died.
They did not receive the things promised; they only saw
them and welcomed them from a distance. And they
admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth. 14
People who say such things show that they are looking for
a country of their own. … 16 they were longing for a
better country--a heavenly one. Therefore God is not
ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city
for them.
45. Blessed are …
Promoting • Matthew 5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for
Harmony they will be called children of God.
Mistreated for • Matthew 5:10 Blessed are those who are
persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is
Doing Right the kingdom of heaven.
Mistreated for • Matthew 5:11 "Blessed are you when people
insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds
Jesus of evil against you because of me
46. 2. Which of the Beatitudes do you feel you best demonstrate in
your life?
0%
0%
Spiritually Bankrupt
25% 23% Deeply Dismayed
Totally Inadequate
0% 2%
Crying for Justice
19% Unexpectedly Forgiving
21%
Absolutely Innocent
10% Promoting Harmony
Mistreated for Doing Right
Mistreated for Jesus
47. 3. Which of the Beatitudes do you feel needs most
improvement in your life?
0% 4%
6% 11% 9% Spiritually Bankrupt
6% Deeply Dismayed
11%
Totally Inadequate
Crying for Justice
13%
Unexpectedly Forgiving
Absolutely Innocent
40%
Promoting Harmony
Mistreated for Doing Right
Mistreated for Jesus
48. Comparison of Responses as to Strongest vs. Weakest Areas
20
18
16
14
12
10
8
6
4
2 Strongest
0
Weakest
49. 4. Rank your progress in developing the disciple's character in
your own life, from your strongest area to your weakest.
6.51 6.55 6.70
5.30 5.76 5.63
4.48 4.12
3.88
The New Testament tells us about the things that Jesus taught his followers as he tried to change their way of thinking to get them to think from God’s perspective instead of from a limited human perspective. Today we continue our study of the “Sermon on the Mount” found in Matthew 5-7. Today we look at the last three beatitudes.
^ Mahatma Gandhi (1869-1948) – Hindu. 1930 - Time Magazine’s “Man of the Year” Runner-up to Albert Einstein as “Person of the Century” Employed non-violent civil disobedience to lead India to independence. He inspired movements for non-violence, civil rights and freedom across the world. Assassinated in 1948. He said, “There is no way to peace. Peace is the way.”^ Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929-1968) – Baptist preacher. 1964 - Received Nobel Peace Prize for combating racial inequality through nonviolence. Assassinated in 1968. He said: “Peace is not merely a distant goal that we seek, but a means by which we arrive at that goal.”^ 14th Dalai Lama (1935-) – Buddhist monk. Awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989. Exiled from his native Tibet in 1959 and living in exile in India since then. He said: “We can never obtain peace in the outer world until we make peace with ourselves.”
^ If we were to ask the question 150 years ago, we might say a peacemaker looked like this.^ Or, if we were to ask the question today, we might say it looks like this (Peacekeeper missile)
Would you think of someone like Dietrich Bonhoeffer, the Lutheran preacher and theologian?^ He said “We are disciples of Christ, or we are not Christians at all.”I sent you a link to a YouTube video about Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Would you ever think a peacemaker looked like him? For those who didn’t get to watch the video, here’s a brief overview of Bonhoeffer.
Thoroughgoing pacifist. When asked what he would do if called to military service, he said: “I will pray that God will give me the strength not to take up arms”1933 - At 26, the first voice to speak out publicly against Hitler, in a radio address two days after Hitler became ChancellorOther church leaders allowed selves and churches to be co-opted by the Nazis. Bonhoeffer never bowedPart of resistance; participated in plots to assassinate Hitler.How to reconcile this with pacifism? Reasoned the death of one madman necessary to spare millions who would otherwise dieDid not rationalize his action: “When a man takes guilt upon himself in responsibility, he imputes his guilt to himself and no one else. He answers for it ... Before other men he is justified by dire necessity; before himself he is acquitted by his conscience, but before God he hopes only for grace.”^ Lived up to his words: “When Christ calls a man, He bids him come and die”Hanged April 9, 1945 at order of Hitler. Last words: “This is the end. For me, the beginning of life.”Two weeks later, Allies liberated Flossenberg where he was imprisoned and died. Three weeks after his death, Hitler committed suicide.
I’ve called this “The Disciple’s Handbook” because it tells us what Jesus expects of his disciples in the Kingdom of God. In Bonhoeffer’s words, “We are disciples of Christ, or we are not Christians at all.”The Sermon on the Mount is an instruction manual for Jesus’ disciples. It touches all areas of our lives.
The Disciple’s Handbook begins with the characteristics of disciples. There are nine phrases that describe the kind of people Jesus expects us to be. These nine phrases are sometimes called “The Beatitudes” because they each begin with the word “Blessed” and describe how happy you will be when you realize what God’s kingdom is like. The word “makarios” means someone who should be congratulated. So if you’ve developed these characteristics, then congratulations! You’re the kind of person Jesus expects his disciples to be. But the characteristics Jesus describes are a little surprising. The beatitudes are commonly thought of as characteristics that we must strive to attain so that we may qualify for the blessings of the kingdom. But I’m not sure that’s what Jesus has in mind.
When Jesus uttered the Beatitudes, which do you think better expresses what he was doing?50% - Setting a new standard of holiness and asking the disciples to rise to meet it50% - Giving the disciples hope for God's approval in spite of their unworthinessMaybe he was doing both. First, he shows that God’s standard is absolute perfection. He gives us a standard of excellence to which we aspire. Second, he assures disciples that God will approve us, in spite of our unworthiness, because of his grace and our relationship to Jesus.This was the introduction to his lesson, designed to meet people right where they were and give them hope that God’s kingdom will satisfy their deepest needs and fulfill their deepest desires no matter how unworthy they might be.
First week, we talked about disciple’s needs
Second week, we talked about disciple’s desiresBut all these people are going to inherit the kingdom strictly out of God’s grace, not because they have mastered the disciple’s character.
Today we come to the final set of three beatitudes. They each have to do with the disciple’s relationship to the world – to those who are not disciples. Paradox: citizens of the Kingdom are called to pursue peace with citizens of the world, but Jesus says that their peaceful overtures will generally be answered with hatred and violence. The life of a disciple in this world is a life of peace without honor. If you are experiencing these three things in your relationships with the people around you, then congratulations! What you are experiencing is normal for a disciple. That’s exactly the way God’s Kingdom works.
The seventh beatitude is found in Matthew 5:9
This verse is not about those who are peaceful nor about pacifists, but about those who actively try to promote peace in the world. Dietrich Bonhoeffer is an example of a peacemaker who shows us that making peace is not passive. Sometimes it requires confrontation when we would personally feel more peaceful if we simply ignored the problem and walked the other way. Sometimes making peace requires taking a tough stand and not giving up. Making peace is a pursuit. It is action, not apathy.
A disciple is a peace peddler, representing Jesus, the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6)
A disciple represents the God of Peace (Romans 15:33).Notice how often God is described as “the God of peace”.
That is why those who promote peace are called “sons of God” because they act just like their Father, the inventor of peace. There are three aspects of peacemaking.
First of all, the peace that we promote on earth is peace with God. We have peace with God
We are also meant to help others find peace with God. We bring a message to the world we live in. God is not their enemy. He loves everyone and wants to have a relationship with them. Part of making peace is promoting harmony between man and God.
Then, thereispeacewithothers. There seems to be a good deal of antagonism these days between the American church and the people of the world. There’s a lot of “us vs. them”. But listen to what the Bible says about the desired relationship between the church and the people of the world.
Even in the healthiest church, there will be conflicts and clashes. A peacemaker is one who works for reconciliation and harmony between brothers and sisters in the fellowship.
Are you a peace promoter? Do your words and actions bring people into harmony with God, with you and with each other? If so, then congratulations! You are just like your Father, the God of Peace. You are developing one of the qualities that Jesus looks for in his disciples.
Unfortunately, however, your attempts to promote peace will not always be met in kind. The eighth beatitude is in Matthew 5:10,
My parents told me growing up that doing the right thing is its own reward. But sometimes, doing the right thing will bring you trouble. That’s the message behind this beatitude. If you have ever been mistreated because you did the right thing, then congratulations! You have just experienced another one of the qualities that characterizes Jesus’ disciples. However strongly you try to promote harmony in your relationships with those outside the kingdom, you are destined to experience their hatred, their abuse and perhaps even their violence.
When we read the word “persecution” in the Bible, we usually think of people who have been tortured or even executed because of their faith. ^ The word used here for “persecute” certainly includes torture and murder, but it is not limited to the most extreme forms of persecution. ^ Diwkw means “to pursue”, to chase after something or someone. In this context, it is pursuing someone to hunt them, mistreat them or hassle them. While persecution can be torture, it could also be teasing someone, discriminating against someone, or refusing to tolerate them. ^ In Greek, it was used in the legal profession as a technical term which meant “to accuse” someone. ^ We use the English word as “to treat someone in a cruel or unfair way.”This beatitude says that if you are mistreated because you did the right thing, then you are to be congratulated. Your mistreatment is evidence that you are Jesus’ disciple.
If you do the right thing, sometimes you will suffer for it. That’s OK. In fact, congratulations! That’s part of being a disciple. Acts 17 tells the story of Paul’s trip to the Greek city of Thessalonica. He was there only three weeks but during that time several people became Christians and a church was formed. However, at the end of three weeks, citizens opposed to Christianity started a riot and arrested some of the new believers, accusing them of treason against Caesar. They were released after posting bond. A few months later, Paul wrote a letter to the newly formed church.
Posing as persecuted is a favorite stunt. The kingdom of heaven belongs only to those who suffer for the sake of doing right, not those who are guilty of doing wrong.Experiencing persecution for doing the right thing is a normal part of being a follower of Jesus. If you’re persecuted because of righteousness, congratulations!
The ninth and final beatitude is similar, but it makes a slightly different point. It is in Matthew 5:11.
Notice the differences between verses 10 and 11. ^ For one thing, the mistreatment has broadened. ^ Verse 10 mentions “persecution”. ^ Verse 11 has a whole menu of mistreatment: insults, persecution, and slander (spreading lies about someone that damages their reputation). We have added to persecution two forms of verbal attack. Insult has the idea of saying something damaging directly to someone. Slander has the idea of saying untrue, smears about you to someone else. ^ The second difference is a cause of the mistreatment. ^ In verse 10, it is mistreatment because of doing the right thing. ^ But in verse 11, it is mistreatment because of Jesus. No prize awaits one there who deserves all the evil said of him and done to him here.
In the same way that a follower of Jesus will imitate Jesus by promoting peace, a citizen of God’s Kingdom will also imitate Jesus in another way. Just as he was mistreated, so will we be mistreated.
But suffering mistreatment because of Jesus is an honor. (same word for insult).
2002 Barna Research Group polled non-Christians’ feelings about 11 groups. Of 11 groups, evangelicals came in 10th, trailing lesbians and lawyers but beating out prostitutes.”Dan, if it’s any consolation, lawyers fared better than Republicans. And, Sheila, real estate agents fared better than both. Less than half of the non-Christian public has a favorable impression of religious groups. Just 44% have positive views of ministers, only one-third (32%) have a positive impression of born again Christians and just one-fifth (22%) have a positive view of evangelicals. We’ve all heard reports on the news or seen movies that portraybelievers as backward, stupid, gullible, naïve, prudish, judgmental, insensitive and cruel. When these insults are not true and they are delivered as a result of our association with Jesus, then we are to be congratulated, because we have just experienced something that confirms our discipleship. Our world is becoming increasingly intolerant of anyone who believes in absolute truth and dares to advocate a moral position. When that behavior is slandered, you are being mistreated for following Jesus. Congratulations!
Unfortunately, sometimes when Christians are criticized as backward, stupid, gullible, naïve, prudish, judgmental, insensitive and cruel, it’s because they are! Peter says that not all suffering is noble. Sometimes we suffer because we bring it on ourselves. It makes me cringe when I hear a so-called Christian leader in government or a publicly known church leader open their mouths and say backward, stupid, gullible, naïve, prudish, judgmental, insensitive and cruel things about other people. That kind of behavior justly brings the ridicule of the world and that is not being persecuted because of doing the right thing or because of having a relationship with Jesus.
Jesus says this is cause for celebration! Providing that the insults, the persecution and the slander are really because of Christ and not because we deserve it, this kind of mistreatment is actually cause for celebration.If you are being insulted, persecuted or slandered because of Jesus, congratulations! You’re in good company. Many have gone before you who endured the same experiences because they too were following God, trying to do the right thing and proclaiming the message of peace. What awaits both them and us is a great reward: the Kingdom of God.
Hebrews 11 tells the stories of men and women who believed God and suffered for it, looking forward to the reward that awaits them.
2. Which of the Beatitudes do you feel you best demonstrate in your life?23% - Spiritually Bankrupt (“Poor in spirit”)2% - Deeply Dismayed (“Mourn”)19% - Totally Inadequate (“Meek”)10% - Crying for Justice (“Hunger and thirst for righteousness”)21% - Unexpectedly Forgiving (“Merciful”)0% - Absolutely Innocent (“Pure in heart”)25% - Promoting Harmony (“Peacemakers”)0% - Mistreated for Doing Right (“Persecuted because of righteousness”)0% - Mistreated for Jesus (“People falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me”)
3. Which of the Beatitudes do you feel needs most improvement in your life?9% - Spiritually Bankrupt (“Poor in spirit”)0% - Deeply Dismayed (“Mourn”)4% - Totally Inadequate (“Meek”)11% - Crying for Justice (“Hunger and thirst for righteousness”)13% - Unexpectedly Forgiving (“Merciful”)40% - Absolutely Innocent (“Pure in heart”)6% - Promoting Harmony (“Peacemakers”)6% - Mistreated for Doing Right (“Persecuted because of righteousness”)11% - Mistreated for Jesus (“People falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me”)
This is a comparison of the responses to questions 2 (strongest area) and 3 (weakest area)Most of us feel pretty good about peacemaking, spiritual poverty, mercy and meekness.We feel worst about being absolutely innocent (pure in heart).We’re evenly split on this business of seeking justice/righteousness.
4. Rank your progress in developing the disciple's character in your own life, from your strongest area to your weakest.Strongest areas: Promoting Harmony (“Peacemakers”)Unexpectedly Forgiving (“Merciful”)Crying for Justice (“Hunger and thirst for righteousness”)Weakest areas:Absolutely Innocent (“Pure in heart”)Mistreated for Jesus (“People falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me”)Mistreated for Doing Right (“Persecuted because of righteousness”)Middle-of-the-road:Spiritually Bankrupt (“Poor in spirit”)Deeply Dismayed (“Mourn”)Totally Inadequate (“Meek”)
Are you promoting harmony? Are you also being mistreated either because you’re doing right or just because you belong to Jesus? If so, then congratulations! You are living the life of a disciple.Don’t worry. Be happy. Your reward is great and it’s worth whatever you have to endure while we’re here on our layover on planet earth. Our invitation song is “Where He Leads, I’ll Follow” Before we sing it, I want to share some relevant quotes from Dietrich Bonhoeffer.
Whatever is holding you back from obeying Jesus is holding you back from discipleship – and from the blessings of the Beatitudes.
