📖 Bible Study 12.5: Put On the New Self

Primary Passage

Matthew 5:1–12

Read the Beatitudes slowly in your preferred Bible translation.

Pay particular attention to Matthew 5:9:

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

Biblical Context

The Beatitudes introduce the Sermon on the Mount.

Jesus describes the character and blessedness of those who belong to the kingdom of God. His words often reverse ordinary human expectations.

The world may admire power, control, retaliation, self-protection, and victory over opponents. Jesus blesses the poor in spirit, those who mourn, the gentle, those who hunger for righteousness, the merciful, the pure in heart, the peacemakers, and those persecuted for righteousness.

Peacemaking belongs within this larger kingdom character.

A Christian peacemaker is:

• humble before God

• able to mourn evil and loss

• gentle rather than dominating

• committed to righteousness

• merciful

• pure in motive

• willing to suffer for faithfulness

Peacemaking is not conflict avoidance. It is active participation in the grace, truth, justice, reconciliation, and peace of Jesus Christ.

Study Movement One: The Source of Peace

Human peacemaking begins with God.

Sin creates alienation from God, conflict within the self, broken relationships, and disorder within human community.

Through Jesus Christ, God acts to reconcile sinners to himself.

Read Romans 5:1 and Colossians 1:19–22.

Observe

What is the source of peace with God?

Who takes the initiative in reconciliation?

What did Christ accomplish through his death?

Reflect

Why must Christian peacemaking begin by receiving God’s peace rather than attempting to create peace through personal strength?

How does peace with God affect the way a Christian approaches conflict?

Study Movement Two: Peacemakers and Peacekeepers

A peacekeeper often tries to preserve surface calm.

A peacekeeper may avoid difficult conversations, conceal wrongdoing, pressure people to stop grieving, or ask vulnerable people to remain silent.

A peacemaker seeks a deeper peace grounded in truth and righteousness.

A peacemaker may need to:

• confront sin

• confess wrongdoing

• correct false information

• establish boundaries

• protect vulnerable people

• support consequences

• invite reconciliation

• accept that reconciliation is not presently possible

Compare

Complete the following contrasts.

A peacekeeper avoids _________________________________________

A peacemaker courageously addresses ___________________________

A peacekeeper protects surface ________________________________

A peacemaker seeks peace grounded in __________________________

A peacekeeper may pressure someone to _________________________

A peacemaker respects another person’s ________________________

Study Movement Three: Blessed Are the Peacemakers

The Greek term translated “peacemakers” describes people who actively work toward peace.

Jesus does not say merely, “Blessed are those who prefer peaceful circumstances.”

Peacemakers move toward faithful action.

They may begin with their own conduct:

• confessing sin

• changing harmful behavior

• releasing vengeance

• correcting a false statement

• making restitution

• listening carefully

• speaking truth with love

They may also help others without controlling the outcome.

Observe

What title does Jesus associate with peacemakers?

What might peacemaking reveal about the character of God?

Why is peacemaking more active than simply avoiding conflict?

Study Movement Four: Peacemaking and Righteousness

Matthew 5:6 blesses those who hunger and thirst for righteousness. Matthew 5:9 blesses peacemakers.

Jesus holds righteousness and peace together.

Biblical peace is not achieved by sacrificing what is right. Peace that protects injustice is not the peace of Christ.

Read James 3:13–18.

Observe

How is wisdom from above described?

What kind of harvest is produced by peacemakers?

How does selfish ambition interfere with peace?

Reflect

What righteous concern should not be ignored in your present situation?

How can you pursue righteousness without personal vengeance?

Study Movement Five: Peacemaking and Mercy

Matthew 5:7 says:

“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.”

Peacemakers understand that every person needs mercy.

Mercy does not call wrongdoing good. It refuses unnecessary cruelty, humiliation, and permanent condemnation.

Mercy may appear as:

• extending forgiveness

• allowing time for repentance

• offering a responsible path toward repair

• refusing public humiliation

• praying for an offender

• remembering one’s own need for grace

Reflect

Where do you need to receive mercy?

Where do you need to extend mercy?

How can mercy operate without removing appropriate responsibility?

Study Movement Six: Peacemaking and Mourning

Matthew 5:4 blesses those who mourn.

Peacemaking does not rush past grief.

Broken trust, damaged relationships, lost opportunities, betrayal, abuse, and community conflict may create real losses.

A person may forgive and still mourn.

A church may pursue repair and still grieve what happened.

A family may develop peace without returning to its former pattern.

Reflect

What loss needs to be acknowledged?

Have you been tempted to treat grief as evidence that forgiveness has failed?

What would it mean to bring this grief honestly before God?

Study Movement Seven: Peacemaking and Gentleness

Matthew 5:5 blesses the gentle.

Biblical gentleness is not weakness. It is strength governed by love.

A gentle person can speak firmly without humiliation. A gentle person can maintain a boundary without hatred. A gentle leader can receive correction without retaliation.

Read Galatians 6:1–2.

Observe

How should a person caught in wrongdoing be restored?

What warning is given to the person helping?

What burdens are Christians called to carry?

Reflect

Where do you need greater gentleness?

Where might gentleness require firm and truthful action?

Study Movement Eight: As Much as It Depends on You

Read Romans 12:17–21.

Paul calls Christians to reject personal vengeance, pursue honorable conduct, seek peace where possible, and overcome evil with good.

Romans 12:18 includes an important limitation:

“If it is possible, as much as it is up to you, be at peace with all men.”

You are responsible for your conduct. You are not responsible for controlling another person’s response.

Identify What Belongs to You

☐ Tell the truth
☐ Confess personal wrongdoing
☐ Seek forgiveness
☐ Extend forgiveness
☐ Make appropriate repair
☐ Maintain wise boundaries
☐ Refuse personal vengeance
☐ Seek qualified help
☐ Protect vulnerable people
☐ Pray for wisdom

Identify What Does Not Belong to You

☐ Forcing another person to repent
☐ Forcing another person to forgive
☐ Creating immediate trust
☐ Producing reconciliation alone
☐ Controlling another person’s emotions
☐ Removing every consequence
☐ Determining the final judgment
☐ Guaranteeing a particular outcome

What responsibility belongs to you in the present situation?

What outcome must be entrusted to God?

Study Movement Nine: Ambassadors of Reconciliation

Read 2 Corinthians 5:17–21.

God reconciles people to himself through Christ and gives believers a ministry of reconciliation.

Christians are described as ambassadors for Christ.

An ambassador represents the character and message of the one who sends them.

Observe

Who initiates reconciliation in this passage?

What message has been entrusted to believers?

What does it mean to act as an ambassador for Christ?

Reflect

How can you represent Christ’s grace and truth in a present relationship?

What behavior would misrepresent Christ’s character?

Study Movement Ten: The Cost of Peacemaking

Matthew 5:10–12 follows the blessing of peacemakers with a blessing for those persecuted because of righteousness.

Faithful peacemaking may carry a cost.

A person who tells the truth may be criticized.

A leader who accepts responsibility may lose status.

A wounded person who establishes a boundary may be accused of unforgiveness.

A Christian who refuses retaliation may appear weak.

A church that addresses misconduct may experience conflict before experiencing greater health.

The presence of difficulty does not necessarily mean peacemaking has failed.

Reflect

What cost may accompany your faithful next step?

Are you avoiding a righteous action because you fear another person’s reaction?

What promise of Jesus gives you courage?

Peacemaking Discernment

Consider one relationship or situation.

What happened?

What truth needs to be acknowledged?

What responsibility belongs to you?

What mercy is appropriate?

What justice or accountability is appropriate?

What boundary may be needed?

What repair is possible?

Is reconciliation presently:

☐ Appropriate
☐ Possible but gradual
☐ Dependent on another person’s response
☐ Unsafe
☐ Outside my control
☐ Unclear

What is your next faithful peacemaking step?

Personal Peacemaking Commitment

Complete the following:

Because I have peace with God through Jesus Christ, I will:

I will pursue truth by:

I will pursue mercy by:

I will pursue justice by:

I will refuse personal vengeance by:

I will practice wise boundaries by:

I will entrust the outcome to Christ by:

Commissioning Prayer

God of peace, thank you for reconciling me to yourself through Jesus Christ. Make me a peacemaker who reflects your character.

Give me humility to confess, courage to tell the truth, mercy toward those who have failed, and wisdom to protect those who are vulnerable.

Keep me from confusing peace with silence, forgiveness with immediate trust, mercy with permission for harm, or reconciliation with the removal of responsibility.

Teach me to do what belongs to me and entrust what does not belong to me into your hands.

Send me into my relationships and community as an ambassador of the crucified and risen Christ.

Amen.