Spurgeon Morning and Evening March 17 PM

Biblical Context

The Book of Matthew is one of the four Gospels, telling us about the life, teachings, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It’s believed that Matthew, one of Jesus’s twelve disciples, wrote this book. Matthew used his background as a tax collector to record Jesus’s words and deeds with great care, often showing how Jesus fulfilled Old Testament prophecies. He wrote mainly for a Jewish audience, often quoting from Hebrew scriptures to show that Jesus was indeed the Messiah they had been waiting for.

Our verse today, Matthew 5:9, comes from a famous section of Matthew’s Gospel called the Sermon on the Mount. This sermon, found in chapters 5, 6, and 7, is a collection of Jesus’s teachings on how His followers should live. It’s not just a set of rules; it’s a picture of what life in God’s kingdom looks like for His people. The Sermon on the Mount starts with the Beatitudes, a series of blessings that describe the character and rewards of those who follow God. These aren’t just nice sayings; they’re radical statements that turn the world’s values upside down, setting a new standard for true happiness and godliness.

Key Word Study

Let’s look at the word “peacemakers.”

In the Greek language, the word used here is eirēnopoios (εἰρηνοποιός). This word is a compound of two parts: eirēnē (peace) and poieō (to make or do). So, a peacemaker is literally someone who ‘makes peace’ or ‘does peace.’ It’s more than just being peaceful; it’s about actively working to bring peace where there is conflict. It’s about building bridges, mending broken relationships, and bringing calm to tense situations. This isn’t a passive quality; it’s an active calling to step into disorder and bring God’s order and harmony.

The Seventh Beatitude: A Step Towards Perfection

Today’s verse, Matthew 5:9, presents us with the seventh of the Beatitudes: “Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.” Among the Hebrews, seven was a number that spoke of completion and perfection. It’s possible that the Savior put the peacemaker seventh on the list because this person comes closest to being the perfect man in Christ Jesus. If you really want a full and complete blessedness, as much as you can have it here on earth, you must get to this seventh blessing and become a peacemaker.

Purity Comes First, Then Peace

There’s a real meaning in where this text sits in the Bible. The verse right before it talks about the blessing of “the pure in heart: for they shall see God.” (Matthew 5:8). It’s important for us to get this: we’re to be “first pure, then peaceable.” Our peaceableness can’t ever be a deal we make with sin, or a way to put up with evil. We’ve got to stand firm against anything that goes against God and His holy ways. Once purity is a settled thing in our souls, we can then move on to being peaceable.

Peaceful Yet Persecuted

It seems like the verse that comes after Matthew 5:9 was put there on purpose too. No matter how peaceable we might be in this world, we’re still going to be talked about badly and misunderstood. And that’s no surprise, because even the Prince of Peace, by His very peaceful nature, brought fire upon the earth. He Himself, even though He loved everyone and never did anything wrong, was “despised and rejected of men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.” (Isaiah 53:3). So, the Lord doesn’t want those who are peaceable in heart to be shocked when they run into enemies. That’s why the next verse adds, “Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:10).

Surrounded by Blessings

So, peacemakers aren’t just told they’re blessed; they’re surrounded by blessings. The Lord wants to help us climb to this seventh beatitude. He wants to clean up our minds so we can be “first pure, then peaceable.” And He wants to make our souls strong, so our peaceableness won’t make us cowards or lead us to give up when we’re picked on for His sake.