In the seventh beatitude, Jesus continues to encourage us to reflect on how our inner life affects how we interact with those around us:
‘Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.’ Matthew 5:9.
Peace, in the biblical sense, is more than the absence of conflict. It is the presence of wholeness, restoration, and right relationship—what Scripture often refers to as shalom. It speaks of life being brought back into harmony with God’s will. A peacemaker, then, is not simply someone who avoids conflict, but someone who actively works to eliminate strife and restore what is broken.
It is possible to be peace-loving without being a peacemaker. Avoiding tension, remaining silent, or keeping distance can preserve a surface-level calm, but it does not bring true peace. Peacemaking is active and sometimes costly. It requires entering into difficult situations, addressing what is wrong, and as much as lies with us, living peaceably with all (Romans 12:18).
Throughout Scripture, God is described as one who brings peace (Romans 15:33; 2 Corinthians 13:11), not by ignoring sin, but by dealing with it so that relationship can be restored. This is most clearly seen in Jesus, who made the way for humanity to be at peace with God. We who participate in that reconciliation are called to reflect it in our relationships with others.
Peacemaking doesn’t mean compromising what is right. Just as mercy doesn’t dismiss justice, true peace is not built on avoidance or denial of someone’s harmful actions. It is grounded in truth, shaped by righteousness, and sustained by a genuine desire for restoration and recompense.
The promise attached to this beatitude is unique: ‘they shall be called the children of God’. This doesn’t mean that peacemaking earns us a place in God’s family. That has already been determined. Rather, it reveals our identity within it. To be called a child of God is to be recognised as reflecting his character.
The paradox in this is that the world often equates strength with dominance, control, or the ability to win conflict. Yet Jesus teaches that true blessedness belongs to those who pursue peace, even at personal cost. It is not the ones who overpower others who are seen as God’s children, but those who reflect his reconciling heart.
As we learn to pursue peace—not merely to preserve our comfort, but to restore what is broken—we reflect the image of our Father. Ultimately, the pursuit of peace is the definitive proof that we are citizens of a different kingdom and children of a different King.
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