Matthew 5:9

Thursday, 14 November 2024

Blessed are the pure in heart,
For they shall see God. Matthew 5:9

“Blessed – the pacificatory,
For they – sons of God – they will be called” (CG).

In the previous verse, Jesus referred to the pure of heart. Now He next says, “Blessed – the pacificatory.”

The word is found only here in Scripture, eirénopoios. It is an adjective coming from two words meaning “to make peace.” No translations, even the most literal, however, properly use an adjective form in their translation. However, the word pacificatory is such an adjective. 

The word pacificatory signifies something that tends to promote peace or is conciliatory. It was first used in the late Middle Ages, somewhere around the late 1500s. It comes from the Latin word pācificātōrius.

The words of Jesus are taken to unintended and unhealthy extremes by liberal churches. This is not speaking of battle or intensely correcting wrongdoing. Jesus has done or will do both. He vigorously rebuked those who mistreated God’s word, He went into a tirade of sorts when He turned over the tables of the moneychangers and merchants in His Father’s house. He will return again and destroy vast armies coming against Israel.

This is not an all-out call for “peace, brother” like the hippies. It is exactly what the word means, to promote peace or make conciliation. Those who work to bring peace between God and man are the particular focus. There is a state of enmity between the two. Without that being restored through a right relationship with Him, there can be no peace.

Under the Old Covenant, Malachi gives a marvelous example of this. After rebuking the priests for their unholy conduct in the presence of the Lord, he says –

“He will sit as a refiner and a purifier of silver;
He will purify the sons of Levi,
And urge them as gold and silver,
That they may offer to the Lord
An offering in righteousness.” Malachi 3:3

Only after there is proper mediation between God and man can the offerings of righteousness be brought before the Lord. Jesus has done this in its fullest sense through the New Covenant. Now, those who work to reconcile others through the word concerning Jesus are the truly pacificatory. They are the peacemakers that are bringing about the kingdom, one soul at a time.

Of such, Jesus next says, “For they – sons of God – they will be called.” The term “sons of God” first goes back to Genesis 6 –

“Now it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born to them, 2 that the sons of God saw the daughters of men, that they were beautiful; and they took wives for themselves of all whom they chose.” Genesis 6:1, 2

This is not referring to giants walking around with knurl brows and clubbed feet. It is a reference to the godly line of Seth which is then noted repeatedly through the rest of Scripture. It is those who live by faith in what God has done for His people. Job (Job 1:6 & 2:1) is called such a son.

Those who expend themselves in making peace through reconciling men to God will, indeed, be called sons of God.

Life application: The sons of God in Genesis 6 is one of the many highly abused descriptors in Scripture. The reason for this comes down to a single word, sensationalism. And that leads to another matter, popularity and prosperity. By mishandling the word of God through sensationalism, people are thought of as great teachers because they have an ear-tingling message.

But there is nothing sensational about mishandling the word of God. Rather, we should pay attention to the surrounding context, understand the type and form of literature being presented, and then make our evaluations based on that. Such teachings are unpopular because they require hard work and diligent study, but they will show us the heart of God as we continue through the pages of Scripture.

If you want to know more about the sons of God, two sermons in particular from the Superior Word should be viewed: Genesis 6:1-4 (The Nephilim) and Deuteronomy 14:1, 2 (Sons of the Lord God).

Be sure to rightly handle the word of God, and also be sure to be pacificatory in your walk with the Lord. Tell others about the goodness of God in Christ Jesus.

Lord God, may it be our desire and yearning to pursue You through Your word properly at all times. Help us to maintain context, and to evaluate carefully the things that we are looking into. May this be to Your Glory. Amen.