Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. ‘Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Matthew 5:9-12
The climax of the Beattitudes should really be seen as something shocking.
What proceeds it is a six character traits that most of us would find thoroughly unobjectionable. Even the seventh seems pretty benign.
To say that such people will be persecuted, and that they should consider themselves blessed if they are seems totally out of kilter.
But if we look closer, we will see that it is not. Not at all.
You see, we have ascended the Beattitude ladder and now we have reached the final rung – the highest point. And what a high point!
Jesus says that peacemakers are blessed. But what does this mean?
To the Greek mind, the word peacemakers is derived from the verb ‘to join’, meaning that a peacemakers was someone who joined opposing sides together to end struggle and opposition, and thereby brought about a tine of well-being and quiet.
For the Jews, it meant so much more. The Hebrew word shalom means a state of absolutely well-being with ourselves, with God and with others. It is the utmost of states.
So what we can understand from this is that Jesus is talking about people who end struggles and make peace and well-being a priority.
What a task!
No wonder they were proclaimed as ‘blessed’ and ‘children of God’!
And here’s the thing: it was the task of the First Church to proclaim, and to make, peace between the two most opposed factions of their day: Jews and Gentiles (Ephesians 2:14-22).
Paul gave very specific teaching to enable this, arguing hard against the Jewish notion of superiority (Romans 2:17-24) and even providing detailed instructions of what people should eat to avoid offending each other (Romans 14; 1 Corinthians 10:23-33).
It’s clear, then, that Christians should be involved in bringing society together, not tearing it apart, and that the only difference between us should be whether or not we are saved – something only God knows, because only He knows our heart.
So we have seven beautiful, and thoroughly, benign and innocuous, characteristics.
Which makes the next three verses all the more confusing.
Who on earth would want to persecute someone like that?
Before we examine this in any detail, we must get one thing very clear. These people are persecuted, according to Jesus, ‘because of righteousness’.
Not because they have been rude or disrespectful.
Not because they have been needlessly provocative.
Not because they have sought their way to the disadvantage of others.
They have been righteous. Yet they have been persecuted.
But why are they persecuted?
Jesus has a simple reason:
But this is to fulfil what is written in their Law: “They hated me without reason.”
John 15:25 NIVUK
There is not – and can never be – any reason why such people are persecuted. There is no justification for it. It is simply inexcusable.
As Peter says:
Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. ‘Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened.’ But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behaviour in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. For it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.
1 Peter 3:13-17 NIVUK
Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name.
1 Peter 4:12-16 NIVUK
If you have lacked gentleness or respect, if you have been abrasive or provocative, if you have been harsh and unloving, then there is no way you can say that you have been suffering as a Christian because Christ was none of those things.
So you should not expect at all to be blessed.
Why should God bless you? Your behaviour has discredited the Gospel and led people to blaspheme Christ! Why would God bless that?
But if you suffer for doing good, if you are persecuted for righteousness, then you are blessed when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you.
Why?
Because of the company you keep.
All of God’s servants the prophets were treated this way.
Even John the Baptist was mistreated.
Even Jesus was persecuted.
There is still more.
The Kingdom of Heaven is yours.
You have a safe place, a home, to go to that no-one can ever take away from you.
You have an everlasting reward that will never fade (1 Peter 1:3-9).
You have a Father God who will mete justice on those who abused you (Revelation 6:9-11).
You have a Father God who uses every blow they inflict on you for your ultimate good (Romans 8:28).
So yes, you are blessed. You are blessed indeed.
But only when you suffer because of righteousness.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, help me to be a peacemaker, even when it's hard. And when people turn against me, help me to keep going and entrust myself to you. I know I have much to feel blessed about. Help me to see that the eventual victory is mine, in You. Amen.
Questions
1. How can you be a peacemaker in your context?
2. Why are the people who have these characteristics persecuted?
3. Name a few reasons why people who are persecuted are blessed. Should we actively seek to be persecuted by being abrasive or provocative? Why?
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