Here, Yeshua wasn’t advocating for a particular political stance. While Yeshua was undoubtedly a Jew living in the land of Israel, occupied and oppressed by the Romans, he never engaged in the politics of borders, soil, and land. Instead, His focus was on much deeper matters: the human heart.
The peacemakers Rabbi Yeshua refers to in this Beatitude are those who strive to cultivate true peace and serenity, first within themselves, and strive to foster it in others. You can’t truly make peace with your enemies unless you have peace within you. This pursuit of inner peace is not just an individual quest; it extends to influencing the world around us. Yeshua’s teachings, as presented in the Sermon on the Mount, consistently emphasize this state of inner tranquility. He reassures us with words of peace, urging us not to let our hearts be troubled or afraid. The presence of fear, resentment, or any internal turmoil impedes our ability to attain spiritual and personal growth. Achieving a degree of serenity is crucial for maintaining focus and clarity in our lives.
Pursuing peace assumes the existence of animosity and hostility. Therefore, peace-making means seeking reconciliation with your enemy. Again, this wasn’t about politics but rather about interpersonal relationships. The word ‘peace’ comes from the Hebrew ‘SHALOM,’ meaning ‘completeness.’ When people fight, they essentially tear apart their relationships. Pursuing peace means striving for completeness and harmony, to live in peace with others. Sometimes, peace simply means the absence of war. It’s impossible to force someone to be your friend or to like you, but that doesn’t necessitate conflict.
In the conventional sense of resolving others’ disputes, being a peacemaker is commendable but can be exceedingly challenging. Often, when we intervene in others’ conflicts, our personal biases may inadvertently worsen the situation, or our intervention may hurt our friendships. Achieving a resolution that satisfies all parties, leading to genuine forgiveness and understanding, is the ideal outcome. Compromises driven by self-interest or coercion do not create lasting peace; they merely mask unresolved issues.
Understanding the transformative power of prayer changes the approach to peacemaking. It’s difficult to feel resentment towards someone you pray for regularly. Prayer, especially when it’s focused on love and wisdom, can silently influence situations, guiding parties toward a resolution that is beneficial for all in the long term. This silent invocation of divine guidance can gently dissolve conflicts, paving the way for solutions that are truly peaceful and satisfying for everyone involved.
Yeshua’s message in this Beatitude is profound: true peacemakers not only strive for external harmony but constantly nurture an inner peace that radiates outward, influencing the environment and interactions in a deeply positive and spiritual way. This approach to peacemaking goes beyond mere physical conflict resolution; it’s about transforming the core from which we operate, aligning ourselves and our surroundings with the principles of God’s will, love, and wisdom.
Peacemakers are considered children of God. In the heart of a loving parent lies the deep-seated desire for their children not to quarrel but rather to seek the best for one another, embodying unity and harmony. This familial image beautifully illustrates the essence of this Beatitude. Just as a parent rejoices in seeing their children live in peace and mutual support, so does God find joy and favor in those who foster peace among His creation. In striving for reconciliation and harmony, peacemakers reflect God’s heart, earning the endearing title of His children, united in the spirit of love and peace.
This article is part of the book, “The Kingdom of Yeshua: Christ’s Timeless Wisdom to Revive Your Spiritual Life.”
