Sermon XXIX - Blessed are Those Who Promote Peace Between People - Matthew 5:9
SERMON XXIX
OR Blessed are Those Who Promote Peace Between People Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God. - Matthew 5:9
It is a truly blessed thing to be an instrument of peace between man and man. I recall the story of Moses in Exodus 2:13-14, where he involved himself in a quarrelsome situation with the intention of making peace. The Holy Spirit later records this in the New
Testament as a significant commendation of Moses. "And when he went out the second day, behold, two Hebrew men were fighting, and he said to the one who did the wrong, 'Why are you striking your companion?'"
Now, Moses could have lived a comfortable life at the court, enjoying all the pleasures it had to offer. Why did he choose to intervene in the disputes among his fellow Hebrews? In Acts 7:26, among the great commendations of Moses, it is written, "And the next day he appeared to two of them as they were fighting and tried to reconcile them, saying, 'Men, you are brothers. Why do you wrong each other?'" The Holy Spirit does not forget that Moses was not content with merely living at the court and indulging in worldly delights.
Instead, he took an active interest in resolving conflicts among his brethren, doing everything possible to reconcile them. The Holy
Spirit remembers this act in later ages. Thus, we must reflect on the matter of making and maintaining peace between individuals.
It is important to note that the blessing does not come upon those who are at peace with sin or seek to make peace with the sins and corruptions of others. Instead, the blessing is bestowed upon peacemakers who foster harmony among brethren and neighbors.
While we should strive to be at peace with all people to the best of our ability, we must never attempt to be at peace with sin. Even though God desires to reconcile the world to Himself, He will never reconcile with sin. God and sin can never be reconciled. Not even
Christ's actions, though not intended to reconcile God and sin, could accomplish such a reconciliation. God will always remain an eternal enemy of sin, and that is His glory. Therefore, when we strive to make peace, we must not seek peace with the corruptions and sins of others. We should not love peace to the extent of accepting it while it is entwined with the filth of guilt and sin. We must not flatter and appease the corruptions of others. There is no blessedness in doing so; it brings a curse upon us. However, although we should never be at peace with the sins of others, we can exercise forbearance towards sinners. When we confront their sins, we must do so using the weapons appointed by God. The magistrate has a role in opposing sin, as does the church. There may be a tendency for people to display more turbulence in opposing the faults and corruptions of others than what God allows. Yet, the focus here is on peace between one person and another.
Therefore, I shall first present some general rules for peace between individuals, followed by more specific rules for family peace and neighborly peace. I must confess that I initially intended to discuss peace within the church and the commonwealth as well, but I will explain later why we will not address those topics now.
First, we should never resort to violence unless it is absolutely necessary. If our goals can be achieved through means other than
violence, we should always explore those options. When we witness disorderly conduct or actions contrary to our expectations, we should first consider whether there are any means to rectify the situation before resorting to violence. Violence should always be the last resort. However, this is not the approach adopted by most people.
When something displeases them about someone, they immediately respond with hostility. Their first instinct is to employ violence as a means to restore order. Yet, this is not the attitude of a child of God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God. As I will explain later, this means they shall be like God. The Lord Himself does not delight in grieving His creatures. Scripture declares that He does not take pleasure in the death of a sinner; He does not willingly inflict punishment. Therefore, we should be like our Father. If there are alternative means available to us besides violence, we should exhaust those options before engaging in violent actions.
Second, if violence becomes inevitable, it should be limited to what is strictly necessary. When I mention the extent of violence, I am referring to both the subject against whom it is directed and the violence itself. The violence should not extend beyond what is necessary, and wherever possible, it should be tempered with gentleness and love, if there is hope for reconciliation through such means. Violence should not be employed recklessly. In terms of the subject against whom the violence is directed, it is essential to ensure that when someone displeases us, we confront that person directly regarding the specific matter in which they have transgressed. It is a common occurrence for neighbors to become angry with an individual within a family and, as a result, harbor animosity towards the entire household. This type of behavior causes significant division. The same applies to towns, churches, and commonwealths.
However, these rules pertain to peace in a general sense.
Thirdly, if you desire peace in the world, you must be prepared to accept that it may come at a cost. Everyone claims to desire peace. As Augustine commented on the Psalms, when the topic of peace is raised, all of humanity expresses their immediate desire for it. With one voice, they say, "I desire it, I wish for it, I want it, I love it."
Everyone longs for peace, but they are unwilling to pay the price for it. What does this mean? Well, they want peace, but they want everyone else to conform to their own opinions. They want to have free reign to do whatever they please without anyone opposing them.
But when the heart is devoted to peace and is influenced by Christ to be a peacemaker, that person is so determined to pursue peace that they are willing to pay a high price for it, except when it comes to sin.
The truth is, peace is never too costly unless sin is involved. We often say that we can buy gold at too high a price, and the same applies to peace. If we betray our consciences or compromise the truth for the sake of peace, it is too high a price to pay. But we should be willing to sacrifice what belongs to us and not to God, especially when it concerns public peace. If every man and woman firmly resolved, saying, "As long as I live, wherever God places me, I will strive to bring peace where I reside, and I am willing to pay any price to achieve it," and if they were willing to pursue any means of peace that is not sinful, then we would see the glory of God, the advancement of the common good, and the welfare of our brothers' souls. For where there are conflicts and disputes, there is an abundance of sin, as I have experienced. Now, when I have the opportunity to prevent sin and do good, I am determined, no matter the cost, not to be negligent in promoting this. This resolution must be present in every person, to be willing to pay a high price for peace, for peace is a precious commodity that is not obtained through mere desires or by pointing fingers at each other. So, I ask those who cry out for peace, what has it cost you?
The fourth rule for fostering peace is that every man and woman should consider it the most honourable thing to yield first. The wicked principle that exists in the hearts of people, which suggests that it is disgraceful to be the first to yield, is what causes disturbance in the world and in all societies. But if people were guided by the principle that the one who begins to yield in the face of a breach is the most honourable, it would greatly contribute to peace.
Believe me, it is so. Just as it is a great part of God's honour to initiate reconciliation with us, as Scripture states, "God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself," and God was in Christ even from eternity. If God had not taken the initiative with us, we would have resisted Him for all eternity. Mankind would have remained an eternal enemy of God if God had not first sought reconciliation. Now, if it is God's honour to initiate reconciliation with us, then it is the honour of His creature to initiate reconciliation with fellow creatures. You may say, "Let him come to me and yield, for I am superior to him, or he has wronged me, and the inferior ought to yield." But if God had taken that approach with you and said, "Let the creature yield, for he is inferior, and let any creature who has been unjust and wronged Me yield," what would have become of you? If you desire to be called a child of God, then be a peacemaker like God. Initiate the work of reconciliation. If another person initiates it, you have lost the honour of doing so and a significant part of the reward. It is not praiseworthy when another person starts to make peace, and then you join in. Even my base nature can do that.
But if, for the sake of peace, you can yield to someone inferior to you and be the first to seek peace, that is truly honourable in the eyes of God and man. This is the fourth rule.
Fifthly, address breaches early. When there is a breach between you and another person, whether it is within a state, church, neighborhood, or family, take immediate action to mend the breach.
Do not allow it to escalate before attempting to resolve it. Scripture compares contention and strife to the breach of waters. When there is a breach, you cannot simply stand and watch, thinking that you will stop it later. No, you must act promptly. You never know what the consequences may be. Great breaches often arise from small beginnings, and addressing the issue early on can prevent immense evils that later become irreparable. This is another rule for peace.
Sixthly, if you find it difficult to achieve peace, persevere. Pursue peace and try various approaches. Do not be satisfied with saying,
"Well, God knows I desire peace, and I have made some feeble attempts." Have your efforts resulted in the desired outcome? If not, go on and try again. Explore different possibilities. Whatever a person's heart is set on, they will exhaust all possibilities to achieve it. If your heart is set on peace, even if you face setbacks the first and second time, you will continue to persevere. The Scripture instructs us to pursue peace and follow after it. Consider my text: "Blessed are the peace-makers," it does not say, "Blessed are the peace-wishers."
Some individuals possess good intentions and claim, "I wish there were peace," and perhaps they make some feeble attempts. But has their work achieved peace? They should not rest until they have accomplished it. If there are any means left untried, explore those options.
Seventhly, if, after exhausting all means, you still cannot achieve peace because some individuals persist in their contentious spirits, then observe this rule: Determine to conduct yourself in a convincing manner before them. They may have troublesome spirits, and every word you speak seems to provoke them. Nevertheless, resolve to behave in a convincing and upright manner, even if it causes you trouble. However, break off with this resolution: "I will do my best to convince them through a consistent display of goodness, holiness,
justice, and righteousness. Perhaps, by doing so, I can heap coals of fire upon their heads and soften their hearts. I am determined that, regardless of the evil they do to me, I will do good to them." As Calvin once said of Luther, who had a passionate and fiery temperament, "Let Luther call me a devil, let him call me whatever he likes, I will still acknowledge Luther as a precious servant of God, whom God uses as an instrument for great good." That is a peacemaking spirit. This is the way to make peace when all other means have been exhausted and people's spirits cannot be pacified.
Walk before them in a convincing and consistent manner, even if it takes months, or even years. Your conduct will eventually prevail upon their hearts more than any other means you attempted to make peace between you and them. In truth, in these times, the people of God are facing as many trials in this regard as in any other age. I wish God would impress this one thing I am speaking of upon their hearts. There are so many clamors, outcries, and reports among us that one wonders how so much dust has been raised. It is astonishing to see the bitterness and madness that has taken hold of individuals who once seemed to be godly and religious. But the best course of action is to wait upon the Lord, follow His ways strictly and without offense, commit your cause to God, and in due time, all these clamors and disputes will fade away, coming to nothing. Your light will shine brightly, and God will incline the hearts of others toward you. They will be convinced and say, "Truly, this person is a child of God. Let us observe their conduct and ways. The Spirit of God is evident in everything they do." This is our way: to walk in a convincing and consistent manner, especially when we cannot bring peace to others by any other means.
Lastly, engage in fervent prayer. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem, pray for peace in the kingdom, cities, churches, neighborhoods, and families. Devote much time to prayer for peace. This is a powerful
spiritual aid. I could provide scriptural references for each of these points, but the topic is so extensive, and I have previously spoken about it. Therefore, I will only mention the main aspects. Many of you lament the troubles of the times and the contentions among people, the bitterness of spirits. But I appeal to your consciences today, in the name of God, and ask: How much time have you spent privately pouring out your hearts to God, complaining to Him in secret, just between you and Him? Perhaps some individuals may pray with others and mention the contentions, but it is done with a spirit of contention. However, when you are alone, have you fervently prayed to God, earnestly pleading with Him to find means of reconciliation? "O Lord, we cannot see how people can be reconciled. Their hearts are so far apart. But You, who know how to reconcile heaven and earth, surely You know how to reconcile people with one another." Pray fervently for this, and know that your prayers will eventually return to your own bosom. This concludes the general points.
Now, let's discuss the specifics. For peace within families, observe the following rules.
Firstly, pay attention to the temperaments of the individuals in your family. Husbands should consider the temperament of their wives and indulge them accordingly. Likewise, wives should consider the temperament of their husbands. Parents should consider the temperament of their children, and masters should consider the temperament of their servants. Everyone should observe the temperaments of one another, even fellow servants, as it greatly contributes to family peace.
Secondly, be mindful of the appropriate times to discuss matters within the family. Do not engage in hasty debates at any given
moment. Husbands should refrain from debating with their wives when they are upset, and the same goes for wives. Instead, exercise restraint. If a wife desires a peaceful life and complains about certain misconduct in her husband, I appeal to her: What do you do when your husband misbehaves? Do you immediately react and engage in arguments with him while he is angry? Instead, wait for the most suitable time, when he is most receptive, to discuss the unjust actions. Present it to him in a loving manner. Husbands should follow the same principle with their wives. If something has been done incorrectly, wait for the most opportune moment to address it in a manner that is more likely to be received positively. This greatly contributes to peace within the family.
Thirdly, if anyone is angry with another family member for a specific reason, they should be cautious not to become angry with them for everything just because of one mistake. It is often observed that if something is amiss in a family, a contentious spirit causes individuals to become angry with everything and everyone in the family. Wisdom should guide you to recognize that just because one thing upsets you, it does not mean that everything else is displeasing.
Other actions might be done just as well as they were when you were pleased. You are presently displeased with one thing, so confine your displeasure to that particular matter. Do not allow bitterness to overflow. This is a common ailment that physicians observe in the body when gall spills over and does not remain in its proper place.
Likewise, when something displeases you, do not let your heart become angry and bitter towards everything. It is a major cause of strife within a family.
Fourthly, superiors should desire obedience out of love rather than fear, and inferiors should obey out of love rather than fear or necessity. The cause of disturbance within families lies in servants
and children only obeying out of fear or when compelled by necessity. They do not genuinely care about obedience. Meanwhile, governors treat their children and servants as if their love does not matter at all; they only care about having their will obeyed. If you adopt such principles within your family, it will undoubtedly cause great turmoil. However, if the superiors desire and strive for obedience out of love rather than fear, and if the inferiors obey and serve out of love for their superiors rather than out of necessity, peace will abound in the family.
Fifthly, remember that when there is a need to oppose others within the family due to wrongdoing, show the most love during that time.
Demonstrate your greatest love to them, especially then, so they may be convinced that you genuinely intend their good. As the proverb goes, "Let a man love me and beat me." If you find it necessary to express displeasure within your family, make sure that your concern is to exhibit love. The individuals you express displeasure towards should be convinced that even during those moments, you still love them. This approach significantly reduces bitterness. Otherwise, if you oppose them out of bitterness, even if the cause for opposition is just, bitterness will only breed more bitterness. Instead of subduing their faults, you will only provoke them further. However, if you oppose them in a way that reproves them or, if necessary, punishes them, while making it evident that you have their best interests at heart and mean them no harm, it will greatly affect their spirits and promote peace within the family. A quiet habitation is a great blessing upon a family. It is desirable for peace and tranquility to prevail from morning to night, from the beginning of the week to the end, and from the start of the year to its conclusion. Everyone should know their duties, with governors performing theirs and children and servants fulfilling theirs, resulting in a quiet habitation.
Now, let's turn our attention to neighbors. Anyone involved in neighborly matters must possess great self-denial, wisdom, love, and meekness when dealing with others. The following rules are to be observed for peace between neighbors.
Firstly, do not harbor ill feelings towards a neighbor solely based on hearsay. Much strife and commotion arise between neighbors, but often, upon examination, there is no substance to the conflict—it was merely a figment of the imagination. It is similar to false alarms in the military; there is no truth to it, and as soon as they discuss it, they shake hands and become friends. Be cautious not to entertain grudges based solely on hearsay. Consider that the peace between you and your neighbor is precious, and you are reluctant to lose its benefits and sweetness over nothing. Therefore, inquire whether the hearsay is true or not. If necessary, approach your neighbor directly to clarify, rather than fostering resentment that may lead to contention. This is the first rule.
Secondly, be careful not to be stubborn in your judgment regarding your own cause. Be willing to listen to those who are not personally involved in the matter. Above all, be cautious about forming judgments while in a state of anger. Although people tend to be resolute in their judgments when angry, the truth is that their ability to judge is weakest when anger arises. During such times, do not rely on your own judgment. When anger takes hold, judgment dissipates.
People have the feeblest judgments when consumed by anger, yet they become most resolute in their judgments at that time. This is the second rule. If you desire peace among neighbors, do not be overly insistent on your own judgments regarding your own cause, particularly in moments of anger. Instead, take a step back, reflect, and pray over it.
Thirdly, before engaging in disputes with a neighbor, pray first. Pray to God for guidance in the matter. Say, "Here is a situation that is likely to cause great disturbance. Lord, guide me. Lord, help me.
Direct me in this, that I may not do anything dishonorable to Your great name, nor anything contrary to Your will." I appeal to your consciences on this matter. Those of you who have dealt with neighbors, I appeal to your consciences. Can you honestly say that whenever you had a falling out with a neighbor, you first sought
God's guidance and asked Him to teach you how to conduct yourself in the situation, resolving to act according to the directions granted through His Word and Spirit? Surely, contentious and unpeaceable individuals seldom pray and commit their causes to God.
Consequently, God leaves them to themselves, bringing much trouble not only to themselves but also to others.
Fourthly, do not bring a matter into the public eye before exhausting private means of reconciliation. Regardless of any offense between neighbors, the following rule must be observed: First, employ private means to address the issue. Christians are specifically instructed that if a brother offends them, they should address the fault privately. If the offender persists in their wrongdoing, then take two or three witnesses in private. Only after these attempts should the matter be brought to the church. Therefore, private means should be exhausted before making any faults or weaknesses of our brothers public.
However, if the offense is public in nature, then public means may be employed without further delay. But if the matter is private, refrain from publicizing it until you have tried to resolve it privately.
The fifth means of peace is this: Make an effort to engage one another in acts of love. Consider it a great benefit when God provides an opportunity for you to engage with your neighbor. We should actively pursue peace. When individuals are engaged with one
another, they are less likely to break the peace. Conversely, when they live as strangers to one another, even small matters can lead to peace being shattered.
Sixthly, another rule to promote peace is this: If my benefit clashes with my neighbour's convenience or interests, I should consider it an affliction for myself. Although I may have a lawful right to pursue my own interests, if it leads to contention with my brother, I should view it as a great affliction for myself. While God does not forbid us from seeking our rights, if we see that obtaining them will cause affliction to our brothers, we should regard it as our own affliction.
Seventhly, take delight in doing good yourself and rejoice in witnessing others doing good. This is the path to peace. When a spirit of envy prevails in people's hearts, it undermines peace. One person envies another, seeing them acquire more than themselves or receiving greater recognition and honor. When envy takes hold, contention arises. However, when individuals strive to do good in their appointed positions and genuinely rejoice in the good that others accomplish as instruments of God, they can appeal to God, saying, "Lord, you know the joy it brings to my heart to hear or see how You use others as instruments of good, just as You use me." This attitude is pleasing to God.
Eighthly, the final suggestion I propose is that there should be regular gatherings among neighbours to maintain peace and reconcile any breaches of peace. This is especially important for those in leadership positions within towns and communities. These meetings should take place in their own homes, as it is most honorable, safe, and fitting. Meeting in one's own residence is likely to be more beneficial. People in parishes and towns should gather at their own homes rather than in taverns. While meeting in taverns is
not inherently wrong, it is more honorable for town leaders to convene in their own dwellings. Meeting in one's own home is an expression of love, unlike meeting in a tavern. Additionally, it is less risky. Even though there may be no ill intentions when going to a tavern, there is a greater temptation present. Although sometimes only a small amount is consumed, on other occasions, excess may occur. Thus, matters of peace and love may become entangled with excessive eating, drinking, and indulging the flesh. This hinders the pursuit of good and can result in disputes among those partaking in liberal use of alcohol. Therefore, although meeting in taverns is not inherently evil, you are aware of the Apostle's instruction: "Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things."
Certainly, those who act as instruments of peace bring about great good and are blessings to their communities. Many will thank God for them. If only a few influential individuals in a parish or town were to commit to this approach, what abundance of good could they achieve? They should not say, "I have my own affairs to attend to, what do I have to do with them?" I must confess, this resembles the language of Cain when God inquired about his brother Abel, and Cain replied, "Am I my brother's keeper?" Let no one say, "Am I my brother's keeper?" It is your responsibility if you want to prove yourself to be a child of God. Just as God considers reconciling the world to Himself the greatest work, so you, in positions of influence, should consider it your own work to reconcile differences within your parishes. Do not allow matters to escalate into bitterness, violence, and rage. What good is accomplished then? Many times, during meetings, everything may be progressing well, with unanimous agreement for the advancement of the Gospel and the benefit of the community where God has placed you. However, a single resentful word can ignite a fire, wasting the opportunity for great glory that