Matthew 5:9 Meaning of Blessed Are the Peacemakers

Matthew 5:9
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.”

Explanation and Commentary of Matthew 5:9

While it is a right and good thing to translate words like man, as mankind, brothers, as brothers and sisters, and sons as children when the Greek or Hebrew has room for it, in this particular case, the meaning would have been better served if it had been written as sons of God. This would not have excluded women, the daughters of God, but would have included them as sons in Christ along with men. By virtue of our relationship to God through his Son, Jesus Christ, we have received a Spirit of Sonship (Ro 8:15), both men and women. It is important to see it this way because we all want to be found in Christ, the Son, the firstborn of all creation (Col 1:15), the firstfruits of the resurrection (1 Cor 15:23).

The ultimate peacemaker was and is Christ, the Prince of Peace (Isa 9:6). By his blood, he has brought us peace with God (Ro 5:1), and with one another. He has even demolished the dividing wall of hostility between people groups, most notably the Jews and the Greeks (Eph 2:14). Because of this, the children of God are called to be peacemakers. We are called to preach the Gospel and be ministers of reconciliation to the lost (2 Cor 5:18). We are called to put away all wrath and malice, and so become experts at deflecting anger and hatred and turning it to love. In this way, we are acting out our role as the image-bearing, Christlike, children of God.

Breaking Down the Key Parts of Matthew 5:9

#1 “Blessed are…”
The word here means happy, or fortunate. The grammar supposes not that the subject will be blessed for showing making peace, but that they already are. It is a blessing to be Christlike, no matter the outcome.

#2 “…the peacemakers,”
The peacemakers are those who are saved and carrying out the ministry of Jesus to preach the Gospel to those in need of peace. In this way, for those who respond to our message, peace is made with God and with others, as love and forgiveness take place. Peacemakers are also those who seek to soothe an angry person and de-escalate a conflict (Prov 15:1).

#3 “for they will be called children of God.”
The peacemakers will be recognized by others and by God as his children when they are seen acting like their Father in heaven. As mentioned above, both men and women could be called “Sons of God,” as the literal translation suggests, because it is only in Christ, the Son of God in whom we are hidden and abide, that we relate to our Holy Father.

Expert Overview of Matthew Ch. 1-13

Biblical Translations of Matthew 5:9

NIV
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.”

NLT
“God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God.”

ESV
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.”

KJV
“Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.”

NKJV
“Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God.”