The overview of Matthew 5:2-12 can be found here, while an important word study on the term blessed can be found here. You can find the overviews of the previous verses in from Matthew 5:2-8 at the following links:
For any person who does not have easy access to Bible software you can look up all cross references listed in this blog at the Bible Gateway website.
It is easy and quick to use and you can choose from many different
translations. The cross references are a big part of any Bible Study
that we may undertake!
Matthew 5:9
"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God."
(Matthew 5:9)
Grammatical Considerations
Cause and effect: Effect is that those who are peacemakers will be blessed! The cause is that "they shall be called sons of God."
ARE and FOR:
As in all the previous Beatitudes, Jesus makes it clear that what He is
NOT stating probabilities. What He is stating are truths and they will
occur given the
circumstances He sets forth.
Important Terms
All definitions were culled from the Complete Word Study Dictionary from AMG Publisher, Vine's Expository Dictionary and/or Mounce's Complete Expository Dictionary.
Blessed:
- see word study at this link.
- This actual word is only used once in the NT as Peacemaker.
- It comes from two Greek words; 1) Peace and 2) to make (do rightly) or (even band together).
Peace:
- ESword Concordance Search--- Joh 14:27 Rom 5:1 Rom 8:6
- State of peace (tranquility) of the believer's soul assured of its salvation through Christ. Content with where they are on earth.
- Mat 6:25-34 (In these verses from Matthew, Jesus is again telling us to focus on and strive for the kingdom of God and God's righteousness! That is where our state of tranquility comes from.
- SO..does this mean that peacemakers in this context are those who help others find their way to Jesus and thus this state of peace?? Yes, I think so! This has a broader grander meaning than just someone who makes peace between two parties.
- In this verse it means to be, regarded as, accounted as!
- ESword Concordance Search--- Luk 20:36 Rom 8:14 Rom 8:9 Rom 9:8 Rom 9:26 Gal 3:26 Gal 4:6 1Jn 3:1 1Jn 3:10 1Jn 5:2 1Jn 5:19 Rev 12:17
- Definition--- Those whom God loves and cherishes as a father. (those who are in right relationship with God through His Son Jesus Christ!)
Other relevant cross references:
- Psa 120:6 Rom 12:8 Rom 14:17-19 1Co 6:6 Gal 5:22 Php 2:1-3Col 3:13 2Ti 2:22-24 Heb 12:14 Jas 1:19-20 Jas 3:16-18 Mat 5:45 Mat 5:48 Luk 6:35 Eph 5:1-2 Php 2:15-16 1Pe 1:14-16
Summation
The larger and more important picture of peacemakers seems to be those who have the peace of God through His Son Jesus Christ AND are attempting to help bring others to that same peace. It would be inferred that those people who have that peace (tranquility) from being assured of their own salvation through Christ would also help to broker peace between those in conflict as well. (even conflicts that may arise within the Church: Rom 14:1-7 ) It does seem that the bigger picture is that of having the peace of God (through His Son Jesus Christ) and then helping guide others (by preaching and sharing the Gospel) towards that same relationship with God as well.
And those will be accounted as children (sons) of God! God will cherish them and love them as a Father.
Scripture quotations are from The
Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by
Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by
permission. All rights reserved.
No comments:
Post a Comment