Blessed Are The Peacemakers, but. . .

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. – Matthew 5:9

In one of the most incredible achievements in recent history, President Donald J. Trump, the forty-seventh president of the United States of America, corralled the leaders of the Israel, Gaza, and the Middle East and much of the world and achieved what no other previous president has been able to achieve, a brokered peace in the Middle East. The terms of the treaty are laid out in The Trump Declaration for Enduring Peace and Prosperity.[1] Children are dancing in the streets of Gaza.[2] Prisoners released after two and a half years of captivity under Hamas’ torture are testifying that “When Trump won the Presidency, they stopped spitting on me. . . . because Hamas was very scared of Trump. . . and wanted Kamala to win.” [3] Greg Gutfield of Fox News confronted Never-Trumpers demanding they apologize for calling President Trump “Hitler” and mocking him. He asked, “Where’s Cheney? Kinzinger? Kristol? ALL GONE!”[4] Yes, this was a great political victory.

The achievement is undeniable. The magnitude of the achievement is seen in causing (forcing) even his Democratic political enemies to acknowledge the achievement. Former president Joe Biden,[5] Bill Clinton,[6] Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer,[7] and even Hillary Clinton[8] all acknowledged the achievement. Conspicuous in his not mentioning President Trump in his words about the peace deal was former President Barack Obama. [9] I guess not everyone is pleased with such a political victory, even if it means rescuing hostages and preventing innumerable more losses of life. The pettiness of some politicians, even when the reality of such a monumental peace plan is present, betrays their addiction to power. It’s sad.

The visuals of the event are stunning and majestic. The people of Israel welcomed President Trump with a gigantic “THANK YOU” on the shore of the Mediterranean. [10] The kinetic 79-year-old (!) president has now returned home to Washington where he will present the Presidential Medal of Freedom award posthumously to Charlie Kirk on Kirk’s birthday. [11] Friday he is scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Zelensisky of Ukraine at the White House to discuss making peace through strength in another war zone. [12]

President Trump is a masterful negotiator, but that is not all he is. President Trump has a heart for hurting people. He demonstrated that heart by meeting with the hostages and their families before he went on the next leg of his peace mission. [13] Steve Bannon posted some of President Trump’s words:

“After two harrowing years in darkness and captivity, 20 courageous hostages are returning to the glorious embrace of their families… And after so many years of unceasing war and endless danger, today, the skies are calm, the guns are silent, the sirens are still, and the sun rises on a Holy Land that is FINALLY AT PEACE—a land and a region that will live, God willing, in peace for all eternity.”[14]

President Trump stated at the beginning of His second term that he wanted to be known as a peacemaker. He wants to be known for the wars he was able to stop as well as for the wars that were avoided altogether. [15] President Trump has also brought peace to the streets of our cities domestically. He’s done this by sending the national guard there to fight crime and establish peace.[16] What is President Trump’s motive for all of this? The President references Matthew 5:9 – “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.” [17] Yes, he wants to be a peacemaker. Good for him. Good for us. Good for the world. Good for everyone.

All of this is wonderful, and Biblical, but. . .. What do you mean, “but”? What could be wrong with peace in the Middle East? What could be wrong with stopping the death and destruction, pain and suffering, loss, and threat of more losses? Nothing is wrong with that. That is all good. The Bible tells us, “If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men” (Romans 12:18). Romans 12 is a transitional chapter from the doctrinal to the practical application in life of what has been taught thus far in the letter to Rome. Peace is something we should seek with all people. Peace is good.

“Peace” (Greek eirene) means, peace, prosperity, quietness, rest, harmony, concord, safety, security. It means to set at one again. Peace is exemption from the rage and havoc of war. Peace is good. We should all be rejoicing with the people of Israel and their combatants in the Gaza area and all those who will benefit from this peace deal. There’s a reason why Jesus, in arguably His greatest sermon, introduced His message in part with the words, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.” Jesus wanted people to know that if you were going to be a follower of His, being a peacemaker would be part of the deal.

Pursuing peace is important. In fact, truly seeing God with our mind and heart, truly knowing Him involves pursuing peace. In Hebrews it states, “Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled” (Hebrews 12:14-15). What do these verses mean?

To “pursue” (Greek dioko) means to run with all your might to catch something. Peace is something we should make every effort to acquire and promote. We are to make every effort to acquire and be at peace with “all people,” not just Christians; not just family members; not just friends; not just those who agree with us; but with ALL PEOPLE. Peace is coupled with “holiness” (Greek hagiasmos) which is purity of heart, sanctification, consecration. Peace and a pure heart go together.

When it substantiates our pursuit of peace and holiness by stating, “without which no one will see the Lord,” I do not believe it is talking about a works-righteousness way of relating to God. No. We are saved by God’s grace through faith in Jesus and His completed atoning work on the cross and His resurrection from the dead (1 Corinthians 15:1-4; Galatians 1:3-10; Ephesians 2:1-9). I believe the proper interpretation here is that without a heart that pursues peace with people and without a heart filled with God’s love and pure motives, we will never truly “see” the Lord. I say this based to a great extent on the meaning of the word “see.” “See” (Greek optanomai) means to gaze with wide open eyes, to look at and behold, to see something or someone as they really are. If you want to really know God, seek with all your might, peace and to live a holy life.[18]

We don’t want to “fall short of the grace of God.” If we have the wrong perspective on peace it can lead to a “root of bitterness springing up” that will “cause trouble, and by this many become defiled.” Therefore, while I do not want to be a wet blanket or harbinger of ill will, I have two cautions relating to this new peace deal.

First, we are not saved by making peace. President Trump has said he hopes that by his peace deals and good works he somehow makes it to heaven.[19] While this peace deal is a great achievement, and President Trump has done some wonderful things already as president, his getting into heaven will not be based on things he’s done on this earth in this life. Thinking that is in fact offensive to God. It is offensive to God to try and work your way to heaven because such thinking overlooks and minimizes the redemptive sacrificial work of Jesus on the cross. God is Holy. He is just; perfectly just. He will assess sin and punish sin righteously. No human being is righteous. Even “good” people are not good enough (Romans 3:10, 23). Sin separates us from God (Isaiah 29:1-2). Sin causes pain and suffering and so God hates sin (Habakkuk 1:13).

Separated from God by our sins we have a warped view of reality (1 Corinthians 2:14: 2 Corinthians 4:3-4). We don’t understand that “heaven” is a place where people have an eternal personal relationship with God (John 17:3). Instead we think and reduce heaven and getting there to my achievements or works while God who is Holy and perfect looks at our efforts and sees them as totally imperfect and inadequate. Indeed, God looks at our efforts to be righteous on our own as a filthy rag in contrast to what is truly needed to deal with our sins (Isaha 64:6). Sin is like an indelible stain that we just can’t rub off on our own. And heaven is white as snow, pure and holy. How can we rid ourselves of our stain of sin so we can enter heaven?

The Bible says that sinless Jesus, the Son of God, has come into the world and paid our penalty for sin for us. When we trust in Him, and His atoning work on the cross, God will then remove our sin-stains and wipe our ledger clean (John 3:16; 2 Corinthians 5:21). God offers salvation from our sins as a gift of His grace that we receive by trusting in Jesus as Savior (Titus 3:4-7). The wage or penalty of our sins is death. But God offers as a free gift of forgiveness and salvation from our sins through faith in Jesus (Romans 6:23). We know that Jesus’ atoning sacrifice on the cross is acceptable to God as our means of salvation from sin because Jesus rose from the dead (1 Corinthians 15:1-4). Salvation is by grace through faith, not works.

This faith in Jesus and His atoning work is not a mere assent or casual acceptance. Demons believe God is real, but they will one day perish (James 2:19). No, saving faith involves heeding the conviction for one’s sinfulness that the Holy Spirit conveys to us (John 16:8-11), and turning (i.e., repenting) to God from our sinful ways. Saving faith involves a change of mind which directs us from going away from God to looking to God for salvation through faith in Jesus (Romans 2:4). Saving faith is a response to the word of God (Romans 10:17). Saving faith is believing in your heart that Jesus rose from the dead and confessing Jesus as your Lord (Romans 10:9-13). So as wonderful a work as President Trump has achieved, it is not enough to get him to heaven. Pray for the salvation of our President.

Secondly, the only peace that is lasting is peace based on the Prince of Peace. Centuries before Jesus’ incarnation the prophet Isaiah received a word from the Lord regarding the coming Messiah. He was moved by the Holy Spirit to refer to Him with the following words, “For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6). “PRINCE OF PEACE” is Who Jesus is.

This newest peace achieved in the Middle East is wonderful, but I doubt it will last. We should rejoice at the cessation of hostilities. We should rejoice that the pain and suffering are stopping. The prospects and hope of President Trump to fumigate the Middle East from its predators and replace them with prosperity is something we should support in prayer and every other way. But there are already concerns about this plan. Part of the peace deal included freeing two thousand Palestinians who had been previously jailed for their attacks against Israel is cause for concern. [20] Islam is not going to stop its pursuit of its caliphates. Russia, China, and Islamic nations will continue their pursuit of domination of the world. We know how this all pans out from the last book of the Bible (cf. Revelation 6-19). The truth of the matter is NO JESUS – NO PEACE / KNOW JESUS – KNOW PEACE. No peace will last without the Prince of Peace at the center of it.

The Bible warns of a time saying, “For when they say, ‘Peace and safety!’ then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape” (1 Thessalonians 5:3). The world right now is shouting in its headlines, “Peace and safety!” What follows is up to the Lord. But I refer to this verse only as a caution. Pray for and rejoice in peace when it is attained. Just always remember, politically brokered peace deals are always temporary, and they are very fragile. Peace today could erupt into catastrophe tomorrow. That is why we should not put our faith in such peace “deals,” but in the Prince of Peace Jesus. “But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief” (1 Thessalonians 5:4). Don’t let what I just said scare or dishearten you or rob you of your peace. If your peace is in Jesus, nothing can steal it away.

This peace deal brokered by President Trump is an incredible achievement. It’s something to be applauded. It is something we should rejoice over and thank the Lord for. It is an answer to prayer or at least should have been an answer to prayer. We should never let our eschatological worldview cause us to pray for catastrophes and war. That is contrary to Jesus’ will for us. Jesus warns there will be wars and rumors of wars as we approach the end. But Jesus doesn’t tell us to pray for or hope for or encourage war! He calls us to be peacemakers. Our President may be foggy on the Gospel and how to get to heaven, but he has properly interpreted Christ’s call to be a peacemaker. He is doing a fine job of that! We should always be peacemakers and peace seekers praying for and working for peace in this world. This is what characterizes the sons and daughters of God.

We don’t know how much time we have left in this world. Individually your last day could be today or a short time away. Globally, the last days could be today, tomorrow, or someday soon; it could be weeks, months, years, decades away. We just don’t know. How should we live then? I would encourage you to take to heart the words the Apostle Peter was inspired to share with people who had been persecuted, lost everything, and were reduced to being pilgrims in this fallen world. That’s really how we should see ourselves. He said:

1 Peter 3:8–12 (NKJV) – ⁸Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; ⁹not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing. ¹⁰For “He who would love life And see good days, Let him refrain his tongue from evil, And his lips from speaking deceit. ¹¹ Let him turn away from evil and do good; Let him seek peace and pursue it. ¹² For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their prayers; But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”

“Seek peace and pursue it.” Pray for peace. Work for peace. Rejoice when peace is achieved. Be a peacemaker. But have a proper understanding of peace too.

Lord, please make peacemakers. Please make us what we need to be, to do what You call us to do, for Your glory, until Jesus returns. In Jesus’ name. Amen!

[1] https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/10/the-trump-declaration-for-enduring-peace-and-prosperity/

[2] https://www.myanmaritv.com/news/children-dance-gaza-celebrate-ceasefire-announcement

[3] https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2025/10/when-trump-won-presidency-they-stopped-spitting-me/

[4] https://www.instagram.com/reel/DPw67V0kmZC/

[5] https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5553901-biden-lauds-trump-israel-peace/

[6] https://www.foxnews.com/politics/bill-clinton-says-trump-others-deserve-great-credit-israel-hamas-ceasefire

[7] https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5553689-chuck-schumer-bill-clinton-trump-gaza/

[8] https://www.cbsnews.com/news/hillary-clinton-condoleezza-rice-on-trump-israel-hamas-deal-watch-live-today-2025-10-10/

[9] https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/maga-fumes-barack-obama-ignoring-012845871.html

[10] https://gettr.com/post/p3t1z2v8445 See also https://x.com/scavino47/status/1977625249811509636?s=46

[11] https://www.theepochtimes.com/us/trump-to-award-presidential-medal-of-freedom-to-charlie-kirk-posthumously-5913664?utm_medium=DigitalMkt&utm_source=google&utm_campaign=PM_max-Peacedeal_gl-mik-20250819&gl=reg&gad_source=5&gad_campaignid=22919180798&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIsd-ukdKjkAMV9KEgBR0_qx-0EAAYASAAEgKt3vD_BwE

[12] https://www.politico.com/news/2025/10/13/trump-zelenskyy-meeting-00607196