The Gospel
of Matthew
Chapter 5
The King’s Peace
Blessed are the Peacemakers, for they shall be called
sons of God. Matthew 5:9
This outline will simply present parallel or complementary verses of scripture to help you arrive at your own conclusion of what peacemaking means.
So Abram said to
Who is the man who desires life, and loves many days, that he may see good? Keep your tongue from evil, and your lips from speaking deceit. Depart from evil and do good; Seek peace and pursue it. Ps34:12 Then on the next day he suddenly appeared to some, who were quarrelling and fighting among themselves, and he urged them to make peace and become reconciled, saying, Men, you are brethren; why do you abuse and wrong one another? Acts 7:26
Peace makers help to dispense peace many times at their own expense. If you step between two brawling parties, you are likely to get hit by a blow or two. Peacemakers stop fights and help to placate rage in it’s various forms. Does strife stop when it comes to you or does it go
to a new level?
It takes a really disciplined soul to hold back from reacting to provocation. How do you hold your tongue from speaking when everything within you wants to say something in return to a hurtful word?
Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord….Do not be overcome by
evil, but overcome evil with good.Rom12:17,21
So let's agree to use all our energy in getting along with each other. Help others with encouraging words; don't drag them down by finding fault. Rom 14:19(Message)
The Bible is quite strong and clear about disagreements. See what Paul teaches the Corinthians:
And how dare you take each other to court! When you think you have been wronged, does it make any sense to go before a court that knows nothing of God's ways instead of a family of Christians?
I say this as bluntly as I can to wake you up to the stupidity of what you're doing. Is it possible that there isn't one level-headed person among you who can make fair decisions when disagreements
and disputes come up? I don't believe it. And here you are taking each other to court before people who don't even believe in God! How can they render justice if they don't believe in the God of justice?
These court cases are an ugly blot on your community. Wouldn't it be far better to just take it, to let yourselves be wronged and forget it? All you're doing is providing fuel for more wrong, more injustice, bringing more hurt to the people of your own spiritual family.1Cor6:1-7
Every Christian should be a strife-stopper and a peace-dispenser in a world full of troubles, quarrels, misunderstandings and fights. When we begin to live out our true nature in Christ, people will notice and call us gods (i.e. children of God)
I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Eph 4:1-3
For further references, please check up Philippians 2:2-3, 2:14-15, 4:2-3, Colossians 3:12-15, 2Timothy 2:24, Hebrews 12:14, James 1:19, 20-27, James 3:16-18, 1Peter 3:10-12.
The key to walking in peace and releasing it wherever you go is; by staying close to Jesus. He said Peace I leave with you, My Peace I give to you, not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. John 14:26. The Lord is saying the HE gives us His type of tranquillity when we come to Him and freely receive His gift of peace.
Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition (definite requests), with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God.
And God's peace [shall be yours, that tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and being content with its earthly lot of whatever sort that is, that peace]
which transcends all understanding shall garrison and mount guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Phil 4:6-7 (Amplified)
A peace-maker is a pace-maker of God’s tranquillity. When we come into the Lord’s Presence, His nature rubs off on us and we carry His Shalom wherever we go. This may take some time but be patient with your gradual progress. Spend time in the Word of God, read it, meditate
it, pray it and practice it. Sooner or later your nature will be transformed. This is the power of the Gospel!
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