"Peacemakers" likewise replicate the work of the Prince of Peace ( Isaiah 9:6-7). Jesus through His life and ministry made peace between God and Prayer of Manasseh , and between man and man. Isaiah predicted this of Messiah ( Isaiah 52:7). The true disciples of Jesus make peace as we herald the gospel that brings people into a peaceful relationship with God and with one another. [source][source][source]
People who seek to make peace behave as true sons of God. God called Israel His "son" ( Deuteronomy 14:1; Hosea 1:10), and He charged the Israelites with bringing their Gentile neighbors into peaceful relationship with Himself ( Exodus 19:5-6). Whereas Israel failed largely in her calling, the Son of God, Messiah, succeeded completely. Those who follow Christ faithfully will demonstrate concern for the peace of humanity by leading people to Him. [source][source][source]
Context Summary
Matthew 5:1-9 - Opening Words Of Grace And Truth
There are many doors into the life of blessedness. It does not depend on outward possessions, such as worldly goods or high birth. There is no soul of man, however illiterate, lonely, or poor, that may not step suddenly into this life of beatitude and begin to drink of the river that makes glad the city of God. Our Lord lived this life before He described it. He has opened the doors for us. If you cannot enter by the gate of purity, can you not come in by that which is reserved for those who hunger and thirst?
Note the passive side of the blessed life. To be poor in spirit, that is, to be lowly in one's self-estimate; to be meek, not always interested in one's rights; to mourn for the evils of one's own heart and for the sin and sorrow around; to hunger and thirst after Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. These dispositions do not purchase blessedness, but to cultivate them is to be blessed. On the positive side are mercy, purity, peace and willingness to suffer all things for Christ. Here is 1 Corinthians 13:1-13 anticipated! [source]
Chapter Summary: Matthew 5
1Jesus' sermon on the mount: 3The Beattitudes; 13the salt of the earth; 14the light of the world 17He came to fulfill the law 21What it is to kill; 27to commit adultery; 33to swear 38He exhorts to forgive wrong, 43to love our enemies; 48and to labor after perfection
Greek Commentary for Matthew 5:9
The peacemakers [οι ειρηνοποιοι] Not merely “peaceable men” (Wycliff) but “makkers up o‘ strife” (Braid Scots). It is hard enough to keep the peace. It is still more difficult to bring peace where it is not. “The perfect peacemaker is the Son of God (Ephesians 2:14.)” (McNeile). Thus we shall be like our Elder Brother. [source]
The peacemakers [οἱ εἰρηνοποιοί] Should be held to its literal meaning, peace-makers; not as Wyc., peaceable men. Thefounders and promoters of peace are meant; who not only keep the peace, but seek to bring men into harmony with each other. Tynd. renders, the maintainers of peace. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Matthew 5:9
Luke 1:35Holy, the Son of God [αγιον υιος τεου] Here again the absence of the article makes it possible for it to mean “Son of God.” See Matthew 5:9. But this title, like the Son of Man It is the title used by the Father at the baptism (Luke 3:22) and on the Mount of Transfiguration (Luke 9:35). The wonder of Mary would increase at these words. The Miraculous Conception or Virgin Birth of Jesus is thus plainly set forth in Luke as in Matthew. The fact that Luke was a physician gives added interest to his report. [source]
John 1:12As many as received him [οσοι ελαβον αυτον] Effective aorist active indicative of λαμβανω lambanō “as many as did receive him,” in contrast with οι ιδιοι hoi idioi just before, exceptional action on the part of the disciples and other believers. To them Dative case explanatory of the relative clause preceding, an anacoluthon common in John 27 times as against 21 in the Synoptists. This is a common Aramaic idiom and is urged by Burney (Aramaic Origin, etc., p. 64) for his theory of an Aramaic original of the Fourth Gospel. The right In John 5:27 εδωκεν edōken (first aorist active indicative of διδωμι didōmi) εχουσιαν exousian means authority but includes power Here it is more the notion of privilege or right. To become Second aorist middle of γινομαι ginomai to become what they were not before. Children of God In the full spiritual sense, not as mere offspring of God true of all men (Acts 17:28). Paul‘s phrase υιοι τεου huioi theou (Galatians 3:26) for believers, used also by Jesus of the pure in heart (Matthew 5:9), does not occur in John‘s Gospel (but in Revelation 21:7). It is possible that John prefers τα τεκνα του τεου ta tekna tou theou for the spiritual children of God whether Jew or Gentile (John 11:52) because of the community of nature But one cannot follow Westcott in insisting on “adoption” as Paul‘s reason for the use of υιοι huioi since Jesus uses υιοι τεου huioi theou in Matthew 5:9. Clearly the idea of regeneration is involved here as in John 3:3. Even to them that believe No “even” in the Greek, merely explanatory apposition with αυτοις autois dative case of the articular present active participle of πιστευω pisteuō On his name Bernard notes πιστευω εις pisteuō eis 35 times in John, to put trust in or on. See also John 2:23 and John 3:36 for πιστευω εις το ονομα αυτου pisteuō eis to onoma autou This common use of ονομα onoma for the person is an Aramaism, but it occurs also in the vernacular papyri and εις το ονομα eis to onoma is particularly common in the payment of debts (Moulton and Milligan‘s Vocabulary). See Acts 1:15 for ονοματα onomata for persons. [source]
Colossians 1:20Having made peace [εἰρηνοποιήσας] Only here in the New Testament. Having concluded peace; see on John 3:21. The participle is parallel with to reconcile, and marks peace-making and reconciliation as contemporaneous. The kindred εἰρηνοποιός peacemakeronly in Matthew 5:9. The phrase making peace, in which the two factors of this verb appear separately, occurs only Ephesians 2:15. [source]
Colossians 1:20Unto himself [αυτον] Unto God, though αυτον auton is not reflexive unless written ειρηνοποιησας hauton Having made peace (ειρηνοποιος eirēnopoiēsas). Late and rare compound (Proverbs 10:10 and here only in N.T.) from ποιων ειρηνην eirēnopoios peacemaker (Matthew 5:9; here only in N.T.). In Ephesians 2:15 we have πληρωμα poiōn eirēnēn (separate words) making peace. Not the masculine gender, though agreeing with the idea of Christ involved even if ευδοκησεν plērōma be taken as the subject of τεος eudokēsen a participial anacoluthon (construction according to sense as in Colossians 2:19). If ευδοκησεν theos be taken as the subject of ειρηνοποιησας eudokēsen the participle τεος eirēnopoiēsas refers to Christ, not to δια του αιματος του σταυρου αυτου theos (God). Through the blood of his cross This for the benefit of the Docetic Gnostics who denied the real humanity of Jesus and as clearly stating the causa medians (Ellicott) of the work of reconciliation to be the Cross of Christ, a doctrine needed today. Or things in the heavens (eite ta en tois ouranois). Much needless trouble has been made over this phrase as if things in heaven were not exactly right. It is rather a hypothetical statement like Colossians 1:16 not put in categorical form (Abbott), universitas rerum (Ellicott). [source]
Colossians 1:20Having made peace [ειρηνοποιος] Late and rare compound (Proverbs 10:10 and here only in N.T.) from ποιων ειρηνην eirēnopoios peacemaker (Matthew 5:9; here only in N.T.). In Ephesians 2:15 we have πληρωμα poiōn eirēnēn (separate words) making peace. Not the masculine gender, though agreeing with the idea of Christ involved even if ευδοκησεν plērōma be taken as the subject of τεος eudokēsen a participial anacoluthon (construction according to sense as in Colossians 2:19). If ευδοκησεν theos be taken as the subject of ειρηνοποιησας eudokēsen the participle τεος eirēnopoiēsas refers to Christ, not to δια του αιματος του σταυρου αυτου theos (God). [source]
James 3:18For them that make peace [τοις ποιουσιν ειρηνην] Dative case of the articular participle of ποιεω poieō See Ephesians 2:15 for this phrase (doing peace), and Colossians 1:20 for ειρηνοποιεω eirēnopoieō of Christ, and Matthew 5:9 for ειρηνοποιοι eirēnopoioi (peacemakers). Only those who act peaceably are entitled to peace. [source]
2 Peter 3:5Compacted [συνεστωσα] See Paul‘s συνεστηκεν sunestēken (Colossians 1:17) “consist.” Second perfect active (intransitive) participle of συνιστημι sunistēmi feminine singular agreeing with γη gē (nearest to it) rather than with ουρανοι ouranoi (subject of ησαν ēsan imperfect plural). There is no need to make Peter mean the Jewish mystical “seven heavens” because of the plural which was used interchangeably with the singular (Matthew 5:9.).Out of water and amidst water (εχ υδατος και δι υδατος ex hudatos kai di' hudatos). Out of the primeval watery chaos (Genesis 1:2), but it is not plain what is meant by δι υδατος di' hudatos which naturally means “by means of water,” though δια dia with the genitive is used for a condition or state (Hebrews 12:1). The reference may be to Genesis 1:9, the gathering together of the waters.By the word of God Instrumental case λογωι logōi “by the fiat of God” (Genesis 1:3; Hebrews 11:3 ρηματι τεου rēmati theou). [source]
What do the individual words in Matthew 5:9 mean?
Blessedthepeacemakersfortheysonsof Godwill be called
Greek Commentary for Matthew 5:9
Not merely “peaceable men” (Wycliff) but “makkers up o‘ strife” (Braid Scots). It is hard enough to keep the peace. It is still more difficult to bring peace where it is not. “The perfect peacemaker is the Son of God (Ephesians 2:14.)” (McNeile). Thus we shall be like our Elder Brother. [source]
Should be held to its literal meaning, peace-makers; not as Wyc., peaceable men. Thefounders and promoters of peace are meant; who not only keep the peace, but seek to bring men into harmony with each other. Tynd. renders, the maintainers of peace. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Matthew 5:9
Here again the absence of the article makes it possible for it to mean “Son of God.” See Matthew 5:9. But this title, like the Son of Man It is the title used by the Father at the baptism (Luke 3:22) and on the Mount of Transfiguration (Luke 9:35). The wonder of Mary would increase at these words. The Miraculous Conception or Virgin Birth of Jesus is thus plainly set forth in Luke as in Matthew. The fact that Luke was a physician gives added interest to his report. [source]
Effective aorist active indicative of λαμβανω lambanō “as many as did receive him,” in contrast with οι ιδιοι hoi idioi just before, exceptional action on the part of the disciples and other believers. To them Dative case explanatory of the relative clause preceding, an anacoluthon common in John 27 times as against 21 in the Synoptists. This is a common Aramaic idiom and is urged by Burney (Aramaic Origin, etc., p. 64) for his theory of an Aramaic original of the Fourth Gospel. The right In John 5:27 εδωκεν edōken (first aorist active indicative of διδωμι didōmi) εχουσιαν exousian means authority but includes power Here it is more the notion of privilege or right. To become Second aorist middle of γινομαι ginomai to become what they were not before. Children of God In the full spiritual sense, not as mere offspring of God true of all men (Acts 17:28). Paul‘s phrase υιοι τεου huioi theou (Galatians 3:26) for believers, used also by Jesus of the pure in heart (Matthew 5:9), does not occur in John‘s Gospel (but in Revelation 21:7). It is possible that John prefers τα τεκνα του τεου ta tekna tou theou for the spiritual children of God whether Jew or Gentile (John 11:52) because of the community of nature But one cannot follow Westcott in insisting on “adoption” as Paul‘s reason for the use of υιοι huioi since Jesus uses υιοι τεου huioi theou in Matthew 5:9. Clearly the idea of regeneration is involved here as in John 3:3. Even to them that believe No “even” in the Greek, merely explanatory apposition with αυτοις autois dative case of the articular present active participle of πιστευω pisteuō On his name Bernard notes πιστευω εις pisteuō eis 35 times in John, to put trust in or on. See also John 2:23 and John 3:36 for πιστευω εις το ονομα αυτου pisteuō eis to onoma autou This common use of ονομα onoma for the person is an Aramaism, but it occurs also in the vernacular papyri and εις το ονομα eis to onoma is particularly common in the payment of debts (Moulton and Milligan‘s Vocabulary). See Acts 1:15 for ονοματα onomata for persons. [source]
The verb is used in the following senses: 1. To give a name, with ὄνομα name Matthew 1:21, Matthew 1:22, Matthew 1:25; Luke 1:13, Luke 1:31; without ὄνομα Luke 1:59, Luke 1:60. To salute by a name, Matthew 23:9; Matthew 22:43, Matthew 22:45. -DIVIDER- -DIVIDER- 2. Passive. To bear a name or title among men, Luke 1:35; Luke 22:25; 1 Corinthians 15:9. To be acknowledged or to pass as, Matthew 5:9, Matthew 5:19; James 2:23. -DIVIDER- -DIVIDER- 3. To invite, Matthew 22:3, Matthew 22:9; John 2:2; 1 Corinthians 10:27. To summon, Matthew 4:21; Acts 4:18; Acts 24:2. To call out from, Matthew 2:15; Hebrews 11:8; 1 Peter 2:9. -DIVIDER- -DIVIDER- 4. To appoint. Select for an office, Galatians 1:15; Hebrews 5:4; to salvation, Romans 9:11; Romans 8:30. -DIVIDER- -DIVIDER- 5. Of God's creative decree. To call forth from nothing, Isaiah 41:4; 2 Kings 8:1. -DIVIDER- -DIVIDER- In this last sense some explain the word here; but it can scarcely be said that God creates things that are not as actually existing. Others explain, God's disposing decree. He disposes of things that are not as though existing. The simplest explanation appears to be to give καλεῖν the sense of nameth, speaketh of. Compare Romans 9:7; Acts 7:5. The seed of Abraham “which were at present in the category of things which were not, and the nations which should spring physically or spiritually from him, God spoke of as having an existence, which word Abraham believed” (Alford). In this case there may properly be added the idea of the summons to the high destiny ordained for Abraham's seed. -DIVIDER- -DIVIDER- [source]
Only here in the New Testament. Having concluded peace; see on John 3:21. The participle is parallel with to reconcile, and marks peace-making and reconciliation as contemporaneous. The kindred εἰρηνοποιός peacemakeronly in Matthew 5:9. The phrase making peace, in which the two factors of this verb appear separately, occurs only Ephesians 2:15. [source]
Unto God, though αυτον auton is not reflexive unless written ειρηνοποιησας hauton Having made peace (ειρηνοποιος eirēnopoiēsas). Late and rare compound (Proverbs 10:10 and here only in N.T.) from ποιων ειρηνην eirēnopoios peacemaker (Matthew 5:9; here only in N.T.). In Ephesians 2:15 we have πληρωμα poiōn eirēnēn (separate words) making peace. Not the masculine gender, though agreeing with the idea of Christ involved even if ευδοκησεν plērōma be taken as the subject of τεος eudokēsen a participial anacoluthon (construction according to sense as in Colossians 2:19). If ευδοκησεν theos be taken as the subject of ειρηνοποιησας eudokēsen the participle τεος eirēnopoiēsas refers to Christ, not to δια του αιματος του σταυρου αυτου theos (God). Through the blood of his cross This for the benefit of the Docetic Gnostics who denied the real humanity of Jesus and as clearly stating the causa medians (Ellicott) of the work of reconciliation to be the Cross of Christ, a doctrine needed today. Or things in the heavens (eite ta en tois ouranois). Much needless trouble has been made over this phrase as if things in heaven were not exactly right. It is rather a hypothetical statement like Colossians 1:16 not put in categorical form (Abbott), universitas rerum (Ellicott). [source]
Late and rare compound (Proverbs 10:10 and here only in N.T.) from ποιων ειρηνην eirēnopoios peacemaker (Matthew 5:9; here only in N.T.). In Ephesians 2:15 we have πληρωμα poiōn eirēnēn (separate words) making peace. Not the masculine gender, though agreeing with the idea of Christ involved even if ευδοκησεν plērōma be taken as the subject of τεος eudokēsen a participial anacoluthon (construction according to sense as in Colossians 2:19). If ευδοκησεν theos be taken as the subject of ειρηνοποιησας eudokēsen the participle τεος eirēnopoiēsas refers to Christ, not to δια του αιματος του σταυρου αυτου theos (God). [source]
Dative case of the articular participle of ποιεω poieō See Ephesians 2:15 for this phrase (doing peace), and Colossians 1:20 for ειρηνοποιεω eirēnopoieō of Christ, and Matthew 5:9 for ειρηνοποιοι eirēnopoioi (peacemakers). Only those who act peaceably are entitled to peace. [source]
See Paul‘s συνεστηκεν sunestēken (Colossians 1:17) “consist.” Second perfect active (intransitive) participle of συνιστημι sunistēmi feminine singular agreeing with γη gē (nearest to it) rather than with ουρανοι ouranoi (subject of ησαν ēsan imperfect plural). There is no need to make Peter mean the Jewish mystical “seven heavens” because of the plural which was used interchangeably with the singular (Matthew 5:9.).Out of water and amidst water (εχ υδατος και δι υδατος ex hudatos kai di' hudatos). Out of the primeval watery chaos (Genesis 1:2), but it is not plain what is meant by δι υδατος di' hudatos which naturally means “by means of water,” though δια dia with the genitive is used for a condition or state (Hebrews 12:1). The reference may be to Genesis 1:9, the gathering together of the waters.By the word of God Instrumental case λογωι logōi “by the fiat of God” (Genesis 1:3; Hebrews 11:3 ρηματι τεου rēmati theou). [source]