Peacemakers vs Peacekeepers: What It Really Means to Be a Peacemaker (Matthew 5:9)
Inside: True peace isn’t avoiding conflict—it’s walking in truth, grace, and reconciliation. A reminder from Matthew 5:9 on being a peacemaker who reflects God’s heart.
We live in a world that often confuses peacekeeping with peacemaking. As Christian women, wives, mothers, and homemakers, it’s easy to slip into avoiding conflict just to “keep the peace.” But Jesus calls us to something far deeper. In Matthew 5:9, He reminds us that true peacemakers reflect their Heavenly Father—walking in truth, grace, and reconciliation.
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
Matthew 5:9
As we reflect on the Beatitudes, this verse gives us a beautiful reminder of how each one builds upon the last. They show us what the life of a true Christ-follower looks like—what God is working in us as He shapes us to be more like His Son. And today, as we reflect on Matthew 5:9, we’re reminded that those who are peacemakers are called sons of God—they resemble their Father.
Before we move further, let’s pause and remember: these Beatitudes aren’t a checklist of how to enter the kingdom of heaven. They’re the qualities of those already in the kingdom—those who’ve been changed by the gospel and are being shaped by Christ from the inside out.
So what does it mean to be a peacemaker?
It’s easy to confuse peacemaking with peacekeeping. Peacekeepers often try to avoid conflict, hoping that if nothing gets stirred up, then things will just settle down on their own. But that’s not the kind of peace Jesus is talking about here. True peace isn’t the absence of conflict—it’s the presence of reconciliation.
A peacemaker is someone who’s first made peace with God:
Before we can be peacemakers, we need to have bowed our knees before the Lord—confessing our sin and putting our full faith in Christ alone for salvation. The gospel is the foundation of all true peace.
And once we’re in Christ, we’re called to resemble our Heavenly Father. He is the God of peace. He sent His Son, the Prince of Peace, to reconcile us to Himself. And now He calls us to be His ambassadors—to bring the message of peace to others (2 Corinthians 5:18).
Peacemakers don’t avoid conflict—they walk into it with truth, grace, and humility:
They don’t stir up strife, but they also don’t sacrifice truth for the sake of keeping everyone happy. They’re not afraid to have hard conversations when needed. They pursue purity of heart first—because without a pure heart, we won’t bring true peace. James reminds us that godly wisdom is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and full of mercy (James 3:17).
Peacemakers don’t avoid conflict—they walk into it with truth, grace, and humility. True peace begins with a heart changed by the gospel. Matthew 5:9Being a peacemaker is active:
The original Greek gives the picture of someone who binds together that which is broken or divided. That’s what Jesus did for us—He made peace between us and God. Now, we follow His example by being instruments of peace in our homes, churches, and communities.
That might mean starting gospel conversations with our children or extended family. It might mean addressing an ongoing issue in love rather than ignoring it. It means pursuing unity within the church, and not being the one who stirs up division or quarrels. Sometimes it means being willing to risk pain for the sake of peace.
As R. Kent Hughes writes:
“How beautiful true peacemakers are. Filled with peace themselves, they are honest about the state of the relationships around them… They refuse to be satisfied with cheap peace, to say ‘peace, peace’ when there is not. They are willing to risk pain and misunderstanding to make things right.”
R. Kent Hughes, The Sermon on the Mount: The Message of the Kingdom
Peacemaking is costly:
It cost Jesus His life. It will cost us our pride. But in the end, peacemakers are blessed—not just with peaceful relationships but with the beautiful truth that they will be called sons of God. They bear the family resemblance. They look like Jesus.
Let’s take time to examine our hearts:
- Am I truly at peace with God through faith in Christ?
- Do I pursue peace in my relationships, or do I avoid hard things just to “keep the peace”?
- Am I willing to speak the truth in love when needed, or do I sacrifice truth for comfort?
- Do I resemble my Father by being a peacemaker in my home and church?
To be a peacemaker is to reflect the heart of God. It’s to pursue reconciliation grounded in truth, marked by humility, and led by grace. True peacemakers don’t ignore problems or brush sin aside; they lovingly pursue what leads to lasting peace—peace that only comes through Jesus Christ. This is the family resemblance of those who belong to Him.
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