Sermon XXVIII - The Order of this Beatitude - Matthew 5:9
Therefore, rejoice in this blessing from Christ and exercise your faith in it. Let it occupy your thoughts: Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God."
SERMON XXVIII
OR The Order of this Beatitude "Blessed are those who promote peace, for they will be called the children of God." - MATTHEW 5:9
We recently concluded our discussion on the sixth Beatitude, which promises the vision of God to the pure in heart. Now we turn to the seventh Beatitude: "Blessed are those who promote peace, for they will be called the children of God." It is interesting to note the placement of this Beatitude—it is the seventh in order. In Proverbs 6, we find a list of seven things that the Lord hates, and the seventh item mentioned is "one who sows discord among brethren." In contrast to God's hatred, the seventh blessing pronounced is upon the peace-makers. It follows logically from the previous Beatitude,
"Blessed are the pure in heart," as the impurity in people's hearts leads to discord in the world. If there were more holiness, there would be more peace. Indeed, peace and holiness are intertwined.
Hebrews teaches that without holiness, no one can see God. The Epistle also joins purity of heart and peace-making together. A pure mind and heart contribute to peace. In James 3:17, we see a similar
connection with wisdom: "But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable." Likewise, in this Beatitude, purity of heart precedes peace-making. Corruption in people's hearts causes disturbances and divisions. James 4:1 asks, "Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members?" If we were to ask ourselves where conflicts and divisions originate, our tendency might be to blame specific groups or parties. However, the Apostle's answer is different—he attributes wars and fights to the lusts within our hearts.
Wars and divisions between nations, in communities, and even within the Church are a result of the lusts in people's hearts. Discord in families, cities, and within individuals all stems from the lusts within our hearts. Saul, before his moral decline, had a peaceful disposition. But once corruption entered his heart and conscience, he became cruel and perverse. Those who keep themselves pure, with clean hearts and consciences, are peaceable and capable of making peace with others. On the other hand, corrupt hearts cause disturbances, divisions, and impurity. Wicked individuals, filled with sin, are bound to be troublemakers. Isaiah 57:20 describes the wicked as a troubled sea that cannot rest, casting up mire and dirt.
God declares that there is no peace for the wicked. The fruits of the flesh, as listed in Galatians 5:20, include hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envying, murders, drunkenness, and revilings. All these spring from the flesh.
Therefore, it is clear that the pure in heart, who will see God, are also peace-makers. It is a common perception that those who strive to live conscientiously are blamed for causing trouble. Yet, those who walk according to God's appointed rule, seeking light and refusing to deviate, regardless of personal interests or peace, are considered troublemakers. In the past, those labeled as Puritans were considered troublemakers of the state. However, Christ deems them the best at making peace—first, the pure in heart, then the peace-
makers. Jeremiah, too, experienced being branded as troublesome in Jeremiah 15:10: "Woe is me, my mother, that you have borne me, a man of strife and a man of contention to the whole earth." Though
Jeremiah pleads his innocence, stating that he walked with a pure conscience before all, everyone regarded him as a troublemaker. This is the distorted judgment of wicked people. The same occurred in the early days of Christianity, where Christians were accused of turning the world upside down. Whenever trouble arose, the blame was immediately placed on Christians. Today, those who are accused of causing trouble and disturbances are often the ones who walk closely and strictly with God, according to the rule of His Word, striving to maintain purity and cleanness. Yet, these are the peace-makers and the children of God. Despite what the world may think, these individuals sustain the world. The Lord will eventually vindicate those who walk closely and strictly with Him. However, let us focus on the subject of this Beatitude—those who promote peace.
The peace-makers.
The term "peace-makers" is generally understood by interpreters as those who either maintain peace or actively work towards establishing it. It is indeed a blessed thing to have a peaceful heart within oneself, to cultivate peace in one's own soul. A contrary disposition—one that is stubborn and perverse—is cursed. But a peaceable, gentle, and quiet disposition is blessed. Moreover, it is even more blessed to be an instrument in bringing about peace in the places where we live and among those with whom we interact. In the present times, there is a great need for peace-makers.
Firstly, there are those who strive to make peace between humans and God. When Christ says, "Blessed are the peace-makers," we must understand it primarily in a spiritual sense, although we should not
exclude other aspects. Blessed are those who, having experienced the blessedness of peace themselves and having obtained peace with God, earnestly desire to bring others into reconciliation with Him.
When a husband has experienced God's transformative work in purifying his heart through faith and has tasted the sweetness of peace with God, he desires to see his wife's soul reconciled to God as well. Likewise, a wife who has found peace with God and has a purified heart through faith desires to see her husband's heart turned to God. The same applies to brothers, kin, neighbors, and others.
Those who have known the peace of God will do everything possible to bring their brothers and sisters into peace with God. They will share their own experiences and warn them about their current condition. They will explain how they themselves were once enemies of God and how they abhorred their previous state. They will exhort others to consider their ways and the enmity in their hearts toward the blessed and eternal God. They will teach them what God's Word reveals about the glorious work of reconciling sinners to Himself.
Such peace-makers will plead, pray, and instruct others to be at peace with God. Blessed is the person who, in a gracious manner, labors to draw others into peace with God and whom God blesses in these endeavors. They can thank God that they have been instrumental in reducing enmity towards God by even a single enemy. They may rejoice knowing that, through their efforts, they have blessed the world. It is indeed a blessed thing to labor for the reconciliation of souls with God.
Consider the immense evil from which you deliver the souls of your brothers and the great good you bring to their lives. The souls of your brothers will bless you if you are instrumental in making peace between them and God. When you lie on your deathbed, passing into the infinite ocean of eternity, you will bless God that you ever knew such peace-makers. Even in heaven, you will continue to bless God
for knowing them. Is it not a blessed thing to labor to draw others into peace with God?
The work of the ministry is a blessed and honourable calling. How beautiful are the feet of those who bring the glad tidings of peace!
People should regard it as such. The first duty of a minister when entering a new place is to proclaim peace. As Paul says, "To us is committed the word of reconciliation." This is our great mission, the work that God has appointed some individuals to undertake. God sends them to those who are currently enemies of Him but in whom
He has thoughts of peace. He commands them to bring the message of peace, to reveal His desire for reconciliation, and to show people the way to be reconciled to Him. They are to strive with all their might, even to the point of giving their lives, to bring others into peace with God. Such labor is worth more than a thousand lives if it leads to peace between souls and God. Ministers must be diligent in this work, for it is a cursed thing to be negligent in such a great work.
When the ministry has succeeded in making peace, the word has accomplished its purpose. Ministers should be careful and faithful in their work, knowing that if they win even one soul to peace with God, that soul will bless them forever. Ministers deserve the blessing and prayers of those whose lives they have touched.
Indeed, blessed are the peace-makers in all these senses.
And if so, oh, how blessed is that great peace-maker Jesus Christ, who is designated by the Father to reconcile man with Him. All human beings have fallen from God in Adam and are in a state of enmity against Him, that's certain. Neither the angels in heaven nor the creatures on earth can reconcile even a single sinful soul with God; it is a task too great for any creature. However, Jesus Christ, the wisdom of the Father, the second person, looks upon the wretched
and miserable state of humanity and realizes that if left to themselves, they are all doomed to eternal enmity with God, and God would become their eternal enemy. Therefore, He steps in and mediates between wretched man and God, as appointed by the Father, to make peace. He stands as the great Mediator of the second
Covenant. His heart is so dedicated to the task of making peace between man and God that He is willing to lay down His life for it.
Colossians 1:20 states, "And having made peace through the blood of His cross." Indeed, Jesus Christ's heart is so committed to being a peace-maker between the world and God that He willingly sheds His blood and even becomes a curse. Consider, you children of men, the vast distance that existed between God and you, and how Christ— both God and man—had to intervene to make peace between you and God. He shed His blood and became a curse to accomplish this great work of God. This, my brethren, is the great mystery of godliness. We should spend our days in admiration, standing, wondering, and blessing our Saviour, the great peace-maker. If it were not for Him, we would all be eternal enemies of God. Let our souls bless Jesus
Christ, and the greater the curse upon Him in this work, the more let our souls bless Him. This work will be the eternal exercise of angels and saints, offering blessings, honor, praise, worship, and service to Him who sits upon the Throne and to the Lamb forevermore, for He has redeemed us by His blood, as stated in Revelation 5. Those who have experienced the blessing of peace with God know how to bless
God for Jesus Christ. To all of you who sometimes bless God for outward peace, abundance, and comfort in this world, I appeal to your consciences with this question: When did you spend time in your closets, admiring the glory of God in the great work of the mediation of Jesus Christ, who makes peace between your souls and God? When did your hearts truly focus on this great work above all else in the world, and when were your spirits lifted in admiration, worship, and praise of God and Jesus Christ, the great peace-maker?
Bless and magnify and praise the name of God and bless His Son, who is God blessed forever, for this great work of making peace between your souls and God. It would be a good indication that Christ has been a peace-maker for your souls if you have been deeply affected by it. However, if the work of Christ in making peace between man and God means nothing more to you than mere hearing, and the great mystery of godliness in the Gospel passes lightly away when you hear it without your hearts being moved, it is much to be feared, nay, it can be concluded with certainty that peace has not been made between your souls and God to this day. We do not know what His blood may accomplish or its subsequent effects, but it has not yet had this gracious effect on you. Now we turn to the second matter.
Blessed are the peace-makers.
Peace-makers between man and man are blessed. I confess that I had intended to speak very briefly about this matter at this time, and not from this Scripture. I have preached many sermons on the subject of heart divisions, covering almost every necessary aspect of it— the evil of divisions, the causes of them, and the means to heal them.
Therefore, I thought to pass over this topic briefly. However, since there are many who have either not heard or have no current use for those previous sermons, and because of the necessity of the topic, I shall speak a little about peace-making between man and man.
Engaging in this work is especially delightful, particularly in these times. To meddle with the subject of peace between man and man is one of the most challenging tasks for any minister, especially during such times. It is difficult because people's hearts are impure, filled with filth and uncleanness, and how does one go about making peace with them? It is difficult because hardly anyone can bring themselves
to acknowledge that they are in any way responsible for the lack of peace among others. If all the people in England were gathered together, and you were to go from one person to another asking if they were contributing to the divisions in the country, they would vehemently deny it. Each person would disavow any involvement.
They would cast blame upon each other, with neither side willing to yield. All cry for peace, and many times, even those who cry out for it are the main obstacles to achieving it. They cry for peace in a manner that hinders it when they speak about it. It is very difficult to address this matter because a person cannot discern how to approach it practically without offending one side or the other. Some form of concession is necessary for peace to exist between two conflicting parties. The Spaniards have a proverb: "Stone and mortar make a wall," because one yields, but two hard things do not. Since it is so challenging for anyone to yield, it is equally difficult to meddle in the subject of peace. Moreover, it is even more difficult now than ever because those who are the greatest contributors to division and conflict all claim the National Covenant as justification for their parties and the promotion and maintenance of disunity. It is reminiscent of the situation with the Sacrament, which God ordained to be a means of unity in the churches. It is called the Communion because it is intended to unite the churches. However, due to human corruption, nothing has caused as much disunity as the Sacrament.
Similarly, although the Covenant was undoubtedly intended for unity, through human corruption, if precautions are not taken, it may lead to even greater divisions. To approach parties in conflict and division requires great care in one's conduct. Indeed, considering it initially, I was almost discouraged from speaking about it due to the current disposition of people's hearts toward peace. The Prophet Hosea states in Hosea 7:7 that the people were as hot as an oven. It means that the people were so committed to their own ways and courses that whatever the Prophet said to them was in
vain. It was as if he threw a few sticks into a red-hot oven, and they were instantly devoured and reduced to ashes. As if to say, all my words have no effect on them, and they do not respond to anything I say, just like a little straw that is cast into a hot oven. Truly, my brethren, are not people's hearts similarly heated in their divisions?
Some are resolute and seemingly set on fire at this time, so that what is said to them is instantly devoured and comes to nothing. It is as unprofitable at this time as anything else, though nothing is more necessary. Although it may be so unprofitable, because there is so much blessedness in it, I shall address the topic a little. It is a blessed thing to be a peace-maker. Certainly, those who handle it well demonstrate a gracious disposition of heart and are therefore blessed. It indicates a very gracious, holy, and spiritual disposition of heart to be a peace-maker between man and man, provided it is done in a spiritual manner and for spiritual purposes. A person who wishes to meddle in matters of peace among others must first ensure that their own relationship with God is well. They must possess a peaceable disposition themselves. If someone of a froward or turbulent disposition were to speak of peace and denounce divisions, everyone would be ready to challenge them. They must exhibit much self-denial, not considering themselves or their own party in any way, but aiming purely for God's glory and the public good.
Therefore, it is evidence of much grace in the heart, and thus the person is blessed. They are blessed when they handle matters wisely, prudently, and graciously.
And then blessed, because by this means, they shall prevent an abundance of evil. Oh, the woeful evils that result from disputes and divisions—national divisions, sea divisions, church divisions, family divisions, personal divisions, divisions between neighbours, and the like. I had intended to speak briefly about each of them. Oh, the abundance of sin committed during times of division. In former
times, there were many great sins committed among the people of God, but I firmly believe that in no thirty-year period since the Gospel was known in England has there been as much sin among godly people as in these past three years. God's people have defiled themselves with sinful dispositions more in these last three years than in any thirty-year period since the Gospel was known in England. It is like a family where more sin can be committed in one hour of brawls, contentions, and strife than in another family in an entire year. I truly believe that sometimes in certain individuals, a single person, in a fit of passion and contention, can commit more sin in one hour than they would in a whole quarter of a year. That hour may accumulate more guilt than all the sins they commit in that quarter of a year combined. I fear that many of you may have experienced this personally. Just as we read of Moses, who, in a fit of anger, broke the two tablets when he came down from the mountain, although his anger was holy and for God's sake. Likewise, many men and women, in the grip of sinful anger, break all ten commandments at once. Oh, the abundance of sin committed through divisions! The Apostle James says in James 3:16, "For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work." Oh, my brethren, it is this abundance of sin that causes the devil to agitate our divisions because he sees the vast amount of sin that is committed— the reviling, the hatred, the brawling, the sinful thoughts, plotting, contriving, and counseling, the wicked words and actions. People only strive to harm one another as much as they possibly can. The devil looks at the sin and aims for that. It is not so much the division itself that the devil is concerned about, but the sin that accompanies it. Austin used a simile that I have found helpful: when a fowler wants to catch birds, he sets his net on the other side of the hedge and throws stones into the hedge. He doesn't expect to kill the bird with the stones, but rather to cause a disturbance and make the bird fly out, hoping to catch it in the net on the other side of the hedge.
That is his aim. Similarly, when the devil stirs up divisions and strife, he tempts people to throw stones at each other, provoking strife and creating a great commotion. But what the devil aims for is the net on the other side of the hedge. He knows that this will be the cause of an abundance of sin—bitterness of spirit, wrath, wicked words, wicked actions. And thus, he catches poor souls. When you are tempted to a fit of passion, know that the devil expects a great deal of sin to follow.
Now blessed are the peace-makers, for they are the means to prevent an abundance of sin. That is a most blessed thing. What greater blessing can a person have than to be an instrument in preventing sin? It is a blessed thing to prevent even one sin, but to be an instrument in preventing so much sin must undoubtedly be blessed.
Blessed are the peace-makers, for they are also instrumental in bringing about an abundance of good. All things flourish where there is peace—spiritual things flourish, and little things grow to great heights. Oh, blessed are the peace-makers! They are the cause of much good. To demonstrate both the evil of its absence and the goodness of peace would require a lengthy discussion, but I have covered those topics elsewhere and will not mention them now.
Blessed are the peace-makers, for they are instrumental for God in a work that He greatly delights in. When you read the Scriptures, you will find no duty more emphasised, backed by arguments, motives, and persuasions, and no duty that has stronger exhortations than peace. Read the Epistles to the Philippians, Ephesians, Colossians,
Romans, and Corinthians, and you will consistently find that peace is what the Holy Spirit most persuades men to pursue. Even Christ
Himself, the great peace-maker, is concerned not only with peace between God and us but also between man and man. He takes pride in this title. Other great captains used to boast of the places where they engaged in wars, like Scipio Africanus. But Christ derives His name from peace. He was prefigured by Solomon, the Prince of Peace. He came into the world during a time of peace, and the angels
sang a song of peace, "Glory to God on high, peace on earth." His ministers were appointed to go and preach peace. His kingdom consists of righteousness and peace. His blessing is a blessing of peace. When He rose again, He spoke peace. His legacy is a legacy of peace: "My peace I leave with you." And the apostolic benediction is still "grace and peace." Therefore, we can conclude easily that there is nothing God's heart desires more than to see peace. Blessed, then, are the peace-makers, for they are instrumental in something that brings the Lord much glory. Certainly, they shall also be blessed by many. Just as when David had an unpeaceable disposition towards
Nabal and intended to harm him, but when Abigail came and, through her wisdom and peaceable spirit, calmed David's anger, bringing him to a state of peace and tranquillity, David immediately blessed God for Abigail and blessed Abigail herself. He said, "Blessed be thou, which hast kept me this day from coming to shed blood, and from avenging myself with mine own hand" (1 Samuel 25:33). If people do not have wicked and vile hearts, when their corruption is stirred, and they have bitter thoughts and desperate resolutions, if God sends a person of peace to them—someone who approaches them with a calm and peaceable spirit, persuades them with scripture, and quells their boiling emotions, cooling their passionate hearts and dampening their desperate resolutions—then, if they are not desperately wicked, they will see cause to bless God for it. They will say, "Well, blessed be God who sent such a person to prevent me.
I now see that I would have done something I would have later regretted." Blessed are the peace-makers, for they shall be called the children of God.