9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. 

10 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. 

13 You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet. 

14 You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. (Matthew 5:9–16, ESV)

• Jesus has a gift he is excited to give this world.
  • Matthew will end with Jesus announcing his absolute authority in heaven and on earth, from which he sends his people out to make disciples of all nations to the end of the age (Matthew 28:18-20).
  • With heavenly authority and power, Jesus gifts his people to this world, people who have committed to an upside down version of life.
    • So far, we learned, these people are poor in spirit, mourn, are meek, are hungry and thirsty for righteousness, are merciful, and are pure in heart.
• This passage: Believers are (1) children of God, (2) in the line of the great prophets of old, (3) the salt of earth, and (4) the light of the world. So we must be what we are.
  • So who are we?

1. Children of God (5:9)

9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.

Peacemakers reflect the character of God.

• He is:
  • The God of all peace (Rom. 15:33).
  • The God of all comfort (2 Cor. 1:3).
• He did everything He could to reconcile us to himself
  • He took the initiative
  • He made the plan
  • He risked everything
• They shall be called sons of God (5:9).
  • Some translations: children of God.
  • Later in the sermon: Jesus will explain that imitating our Father is of paramount importance (Matt. 5:43-48).

What it is: Jesus pronounced a blessing on peacemakers. What are peacemakers?

• Biblical concept of Shalom:
  • Extends far beyond the absence of conflict, but encompasses wholeness, flourishing, and a right relationship with God and neighbor.
• Peacemakers receive God’s peace within and attempt to bring his peace to their sphere of influence.
  • Reconciling people to God.
  • Reconciling people to one another.
  • Not peacekeeping, but peacemaking.
• Definition: A person who, in their sphere of influence, works to bring peace between people and God, but also between people and other people.

What it looked like in Jesus.

• Being a peacemaker who commands disciples to love enemies (5:43-45).
• The cross!

Some ingredients as found in 1 Samuel 25:18-25 (Nabal and Abigail episode):

• Abigail demonstrates the ingredients of peacemaking:
  • Proximity (she rode out to meet him).
  • Honesty (she acknowledged Nabal’s folly).
  • Humility (she took responsibility).
  • Tenacity (she worked hard for peace).

Relevant today:

• Peacemaking is a countercultural act.
• Peacemaking is a complex act (requires wisdom).
• Peacemaking is our aspirational act.
  • We likely have feelings of regret over times we did not make peace, or, worse, were the divisive party.

2. In the Line of the Great Prophets of Old (5:10-12)

10 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

This is the final beatitude, with expanded commentary.

• First and last beatitude end in the same way: theirs is the kingdom of heaven (5:3, 10).
• Sometimes the peacemaker—after all their efforts—cannot make peace!
  • “If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.” (Romans 12:18, ESV)

This is meant as a shocking end to the beatitudes!

• The poor, sorrowful, meek, hunger, merciful, pure in heart, peacemaker is sometimes persecuted for righteousness’ sake! What?
• But we are blessed when reviled, persecuted, or have all kinds of evil falsely uttered against us (11).
• Jesus was setting their expectations.
  • The goal: faithfulness to the Lord.
  • They were in good company (the prophets) and had a good reward (theirs is the kingdom of heaven…your reward is great in heaven) for their trouble.
• Definition: A person who lives rightly before God, but who is hated, despised, and rejected by some because of that style of life.
• What is persecution?
  • Level 1. Verbal and social hostility (revile, utter).
    • Spoken against, slandered, and maligned (1 Pet. 2:12, 3:16, 4:4).
    • Believers were often cut off from their community.
      • They will put you out of the synagogues… (John 16:2, ESV).
  • Level 2. Economic deprivation.
    • Hebrews 10:34 — the plundering of your property.
  • Level 3. Physical violence and/or imprisonment.
    • Both are found often in Acts—and in our world today (note: includes death).

Jeremiah’s example:

• His hometown conspired to kill him (Jeremiah 11:18-23).
• Called to singleness (16:1-4).
• Socially isolated from mourning or feasting (16:5-9).
• Beaten and put in stocks, mocked by the populace (20:1-8).
• Seized by a religious mob who demanded his death (26:7-11).
• Publicly humiliated by a false prophet named Hananiah (28:10-11).
• Accused of treason and disloyalty to his nation (37:11-14).
• Put in a dungeon (37:15-26).
• Imprisoned in a muddy cistern (38:1-6).
• Kidnapped to Egypt (43:1-7).

3. The Salt of the Earth (5:13)

13 You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet.

An Understanding of Salt

• A preservative
• A flavoring agent
• Here, Jesus highlighted the taste of salt (5:13).

An amazing statement: you are the salt of the earth.

• Imagine everyone standing around him at that moment—“You all are the salt of the earth.”
• Jesus: When you live the way I’ve described, you have an important relationship with this world because you bring out the true flavor of what it means to be human. Your upside down life is what displays genuine humanity to a world living striving to define it in lesser, imperfect ways. You are reflecting me, the Son of Man, the perfect human. You are important to this earth.

A hypothetical warning: If salt loses its taste, it is no longer good for anything except to salt the roads.

• Though we are salt, there is pressure to be an insipid (flavorless) version.
  • This is one reason meditation on the beatitudes is important—they help us recall who we are meant to be (saltiness).
• Emphasis: Be a real believer.
  • This is a metaphor of substantive warning against nominal (in name only) discipleship.

4. The Light of the World (5:14-16)

14 You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

Another—similar—amazing statement: You are the light of the world (14).

• A constant emphasis of Jesus—and the Christian message—is to be who you are.
• We don’t have to become the light, we are the light. Our aim is merely to be on display.
• Collective: all of us together are the light of the world.

The mission is transferred to us!

• Isaiah’s Servant, who is Christ, is spoken of as “a light for the nations” (Is. 42:6, 49:6).
  • He took up the mission of ancient Israel and would succeed where they failed.
• But now we become that light, which stems from him!

Main idea: Let your effectiveness happen.

• Salt warning: be real.
• Light encouragement: you’ll be effective!
  • Jesus: Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.
• Sometimes a struggle for our church.
  • More engaged?
  • More public?
  • More service?
  • More evangelism?
• But many of us are living in proximity—just be what you are.

Close: Let’s be an illuminated city on a hill together.

• • Amazingly encouraging words from our Lord.

• Be who you are.

• • We aren’t optimists who think we can fix everything.
  • We aren’t pessimists who think everything is doomed.
  • We are realists who know the great light has dawned.
• In the darkness, our little church community can shine.
  • Peacemakers
  • Like the prophets
  • Salt of the earth
  • Light of the world

Study Questions

Head (Knowledge & Understanding)

1. Ingredients of Peacemaking: In 1 Samuel 25:18-25, Abigail demonstrated four ingredients of peacemaking: proximity, honesty, humility, and tenacity. How do these qualities help us understand what Jesus means by “peacemakers” in Matthew 5:9, and why does being a peacemaker result in being “called sons of God”?
2. The Nature of Persecution: Jesus specifies that believers are blessed when persecuted “for righteousness’ sake” and “on my account” (Matthew 5:10-11). What forms of persecution did Jeremiah experience that illustrate what Jesus is describing, and what does Jesus promise to those who endure such treatment?

Heart (Feelings, Impressions & Desires)

1. Imitating the God of Peace: God is described as “the God of all peace” and “the God of all comfort” who took the initiative to reconcile us, risking everything (Romans 15:33, 2 Corinthians 1:3). When you consider how God pursued peace with you, what emotions or desires does this stir regarding your own role as a peacemaker in the spheres of relationships, church, and society?
2. Identifying with the Prophets: Jesus says those persecuted for righteousness are in the line of “the prophets who were before you” (Matthew 5:12), and Jeremiah’s story shows the severe social isolation, physical suffering, and rejection faithful prophets endured. How does knowing you’re in “good company” with the prophets and have “great reward in heaven” affect your willingness to face opposition for Christ?

Hands (Actions, Commitments & Decisions)

1. Being Real Salt: Jesus warns that if salt loses its taste, it’s “no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled” (Matthew 5:13). This serves as a warning against nominal (in name only) discipleship. What is one area where you’re tempted to be an “insipid (flavorless) version” of your faith, and what would it look like to embrace being real salt in that situation?
2. Shining as Light: Jesus declares “you are the light of the world” and commands, “let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father” (Matthew 5:14-16). Since we don’t have to become the light but already are the light, what is one way you can simply “let your effectiveness happen” this week rather than hiding your identity in Christ?