Matthew 5: 9-12; Hebrews 12: 1-4
by Rev. Carson Overstreet
Van Wyck Presbyterian Church
February 26, 2017
‘Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
‘Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
‘Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. - Matthew 5: 9-12
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God.
Consider him who endured such hostility against himself from sinners, so that you may not grow weary or lose heart. In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. - Hebrews 12: 1-4
The Beatitudes bless us by giving us a new lens in which to see. That lens trains the spiritual eyes of our hearts to become poor in spirit and more fully dependent upon God (Matthew 5: 3). As our spiritual sight develops then our spirits mourn as we see what breaks God’s heart (Matthew 5:4). We lament the condition of the world around us and we ache for God’s kingdom to fully come.
Those who are powerless – meek - and those who hunger and thirst for righteousness open our hearts to see our highest calling to love God and to love our neighbors as ourselves – no matter the risks (Matthew 5: 6-7).
Therefore, Jesus teaches us that a disciple is to walk in concrete acts of mercy because God’s steadfast and covenant love have already claimed us in the mercy and self-giving love of Jesus Christ (Matthew 5:7). As we walk in Christ’s blessed teachings then our hearts continue to be reshaped to be pure. Remember pure does not mean sinless or perfect. To have a pure heart means to strive to work for the well-being of others (Matthew 5:8).
The Beatitudes come into full focus as Jesus tells his disciples, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God” (Matthew 5:9). Throughout the Beatitudes we have seen how Jesus leans into Old Testament wisdom. When the Old Testament speaks of peace it is brought about by God and in Hebrew is it called “shalom.”
Peace does not come from an absence of conflict. It comes about as God’s works through division to bring about complete well-being that reconciles what is broken. Peace is a gift of God’s promised wholeness.
Those who work to bring about God’s shalom are the peacemakers. Now, peacemakers are not conflict-avoidant and passive. They are committed to “positive actions of reconciliation.”[1]
Rev. Beth Lindsay Templeton of Greenville, SC says making peace is not the same as keeping peace. “Keeping peace means that people ‘play nice’ to each other’s face. Making peace is harder. We do the hard work of reconciling hostile individuals and situations. We strive to return good for evil and to love those we do not like. We painstakingly build bridges when every fiber of our being would rather build walls.”[2]
The peacemakers are blessed with a permanent joy in joining God’s desire for reconciliation among all God’s children.
Over the course of our lives we have all felt the estrangement that the human condition of sin brings between our relationships with God and with one another. As we strive to bring about God’s peace in real ways Jesus knows that the work of faith costs something of us. That estrangement should motivate us to extend the peace of Christ with others. It is not easy but faith empowers us to do the hard things.
Following Jesus’ example is not a popular journey. Jesus says, “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 5:10).
That word persecuted is not to be taken lightly. Persecution is not when someone disagrees or debates with our perspectives or faith convictions. In the Greek that word persecuted means to be zealously hunted down, harassed, and maltreated. Jesus knew persecution would come in unjust ways when his disciples commit their lives to work for causes that are in line with God’s kingdom vision for justice and right relationships.
Anyone who has been in our Bible study of Isaiah knows that God’s ultimate concern is for the vulnerable and the marginalized to be treated with just relationships which honor, uphold, and protect the image of God in them.
Rev. Beth Lindsay Templeton reminds us that, “Ghandi was persecuted when he stood up for his people in India to be treated fairly as valuable human beings. Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated when he stood up against racism and war. Nelson Mandela served decades in prison for standing up against apartheid in South Africa.”[3]
To answer the call of discipleship to follow Christ means to follow in the footsteps that our Teacher and Savior walked which lead to the costly grace of the cross.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer is one of my favorite theologians and pastors. He says, “The cross is where the poorest, the most tempted, the meekest of all can be found.”[4]
It is on the old rugged cross that we see the merciful One who claims us in God’s unconditional love that will never let us go. Christ was God’s suffering servant who had such compassion that he was wounded for our transgressions in order for his wounds to bring God’s healing gift of salvation as a ransom for many.
It is where the beams of the cross meet - the vertical beam symbolizing our relationship with God and the horizontal beam symbolizing our relationships with one another – that we see Christ’s pure heart.
That sacred center shows us the way Christ entrusted his whole life to God and how to live more fully into his covenant love. The love Christ shows us through the cross breaks down all the dividing walls that estrange us. The power of sin and death are no more as God’s resurrection hope and peace of Christ rule through the empty grave.
As we lean into a deeper trust of God’s covenant love, God’s Spirit nurtures us on days like today when we gather at the Lord’s Table. The Spirit strengthens us, and convicts us to put our faith into action to join God in reconciling the world.
May the Beatitudes bring about a change in our hearts and minds to see the world, our sisters and brothers, and our very selves as God sees.
There is something at stake in order for us to follow Jesus’ teachings.
What is at stake is the costly grace of the cross. It is there and only there that the Spirit gives us a true glimpse of God’s righteous kingdom and the permanent joy we are given to belong to it.
In the name of God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.
Sources Referenced:
[1] New Interpreter’s Bible Commentary, “Volume VII: Matthew” (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2015), p. 111.
[2] Beth Lindsay Templeton, “Loving Our Neighbor: A Thoughtful Approach to Helping People in Poverty” (New York: iUniverse, Inc., 2008), p. 11.
[3] Beth Lindsay Templeton, p. 11-12.
[4] Dietrich Bonhoeffer, “The Cost of Discipleship” (Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2003 ), p. 109.
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