What is a Peacemaker?

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God.”
Matthew 5:9

In his Sermon on the Mount, Jesus pronounced a series of blessing statements known as the beatitudes. The seventh of these seems straightforward, but leaves us asking the question, what, exactly, is a peacemaker?

A peacemaker is not just someone who avoids conflict or keeps peace passively but one who actively pursues peace—restoring broken relationships, promoting reconciliation, and working for justice rooted in truth.

In Greek, the word used is εἰρηνοποιοί (eirēnopoioi)—literally, “peace-doers” or “peace-makers.”

This includes making peace between individuals in conflict. It also includes working to reconcile people to God and cultivating peace in society through mercy, truth, and justice. It’s not appeasement, but rather is often sacrificial, courageous, and requires truth and love.

Peacemaking is the essence of God, who made men and women in His image to enjoy a peaceful relationship with them. When Adam and Eve chose to disobey God at the prompting of satan, that relationship was broken. Ever since, God has been working to restore that relationship–to bring true peace to humans. It took the sacrifice of His son, Jesus, to bring about that restored relationship.

Therefore, when Jesus speaks about peacemakers being called the children of God he’s not talking about a person becoming a peacemaker to be saved, but rather that those who already belong to the Kingdom of God exhibit the traits that show the family resemblance to their Father, who is the ultimate Peacemaker’

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, Romans 5:1

All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 2 Corinthians 5:18

Throughout history, church leaders have commented on this beatitude. Augustine emphasized that true peace can only be achieved through order under God. Peacemakers reflect God’s nature, restoring divine order. Aquinas saw peacemakers as those who bring together what is separated, especially by reconciling people to God and to one another.

John Calvin taught that peacemakers are those who seek to resolve conflict not through compromise with evil, but by restoring harmony through justice and truth. He viewed peacemaking as an outflow of a heart transformed by grace—not a work to earn salvation, but a sign of it. None of them inferred that becoming a peacemaker was the way to salvation.

Jesus is not teaching that being a peacemaker earns salvation. Rather, He’s describing the character of those who are already part of His kingdom. Being a peacemaker is a fruit of faith, not the root of salvation. In calling them “children of God,” He’s saying: “These people reflect the character of their Father. They bear the family resemblance.” In John 1:12 we read:

“But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.”

This clarifies that faith in Christ is what makes someone a child of God. That is someone who:

• Has been born again by the Spirit (John 3:3–5).
• Has believed in Jesus (John 1:12).
• Has been adopted into God’s family through Christ (Romans 8:14–17; Galatians 4:4–7).
• Bears the family resemblance—i.e., increasingly reflects God’s character.

If you want to be a true peacemaker, then you will want to be sure that you are a true child of God. If you would like to learn how, read our post: How does one become a Christian?

Image by Dim Hou from Pixabay