Matthew 5 v 9-10
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called the Sons of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.
Peacemakers and the Sons of God
The common view on this Beatitude is those who bring about peace between two communities in dispute will be called ‘sons of God’.
I struggle with this verse, as I don’t see it. I can’t recall anyone ever saying this about someone who helped negotiate peace or a reconciliation.
Who is a Son of God?
Through antiquity, there have been quite a few people who have been given the title Son of God. These include Alexander the Great, many pharaohs of Egypt and even the Roman Caesars.
At the time of Jesus, there were two Sons of God in the Roman Empire; Himself and Tiberius. Mark sets this out in the first chapter and verse of the Gospel.
Mark 1 v 1
The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God.
By Jesus having this title, He was in direct opposition to the leader of the Empire. And then He also made Christians ‘sons of God’ too.
Though I don’t recall this was as much an issue with the Roman authorities, as they were more concerned that Christians were not sacrificing to the Emperor.
Who are the Sons of God?
Sometimes, translators turn the phrase ‘sons of God’ into ‘children of God’, but I believe this misses the point.
To the Judeans in 1st Century Palestine, they would have understood ‘sons of God’ as a high ranking angel, like an archangel.
So, in this Beatitude, Jesus is saying that peacemakers will be given the Heavenly title, sons of God. Meaning, they will be ranked just below God in the hierarchy of the Kingdom of Heaven and above the angels.
My final point on this, is that as there is no gender in Heaven, ‘sons of God’ is not restricted to men only, but include the women too. Yes, women can be ‘sons of God’.
Who are the Peacemakers?
As I said previously, the common understanding is that the peacemakers act between different human groups, bringing reconciliation. But when I reflect that God (Jesus) is saying this about the Kingdom of Heaven, then I assume He is talking about peace between God and people.
This would mean that if we share the Gospel of Peace to those around us, He will give us the title ‘sons of God’. As subjects in the Kingdom of Heaven, our role is to be His heralds in this World, proclaiming the Gospel.
Persecuted for Righteousness
The final Beatitude tells us that if we are persecuted for righteousness, then we will receive the Kingdom of Heaven.
This does not mean that if we get persecuted for acting outside of God’s will, we will receive the Kingdom. Only if we are acting in a righteous way.
Also who does the persecuting? The mind naturally thinks Jesus is referring to the Roman authorities and the martyrs. But I think it also includes spiritual principalities and demonic powers.
The following verse expands on the Beatitude,
Matthew 5 v 11-12
Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Jesus says that if we get persecuted, our reward is in Heaven. Does this mean we obtain our reward once we get to Heaven? Or does it mean that as we are part of the Kingdom of Heaven, we receive a spiritual reward now?
I think it’s both. We receive a reward both in the Kingdom of Heaven (on Earth) and after death.
What does this look like practically on Earth? I think that as the persecuted Christian relies on God more, they seek His will and enjoy the spiritual blessings which naturally follow from spending time in His presence.
Persecution is part of the Christian walk, whether it comes from earthly or spiritual oppression. If we are persecuted for doing the right thing, God will bless us and also refine us, drawing us closer to Him.
I like your post overall but especially the parts where, if I'm correct, you make the case that -the Gospels were written in a male dominated society in a way that would have been best understood at the time. But that doesn't mean that they are not equally relevant to women.
The part where you voice your opinion (well supported by Christ's and Paul's own words) that the rewards of serving God are both in Heaven and here on earth - also resonated with me