Shroro

The Syriac Orthodox Christian Digest - June, 2005

Bible Study - Commentaries
Matthew Chapter 5: 9-12 

from Kaniyamparmabil Achen, the Great Teacher of Malankara

Verse 9: “Blessed are the cultivators of peace: for they shall be called sons of God!”
[Also refer Matthew 5:45; Luke 6:45; Romans 8:14] 

Ultimate cultivation of peace is the incarnation of God’s only begotten Son. Man who had lost communion with God has been joined to God with this. He preached peace His whole life. Look at some instances which gets our attention 1) First heavenly word to Virgin who conceived Him – ‘Peace’ 2) During his birth – heavenly song ‘Peace be on earth’ 3) Resurrected Christ visits the disciples – ‘Peace be to you’. 

It is our Lord’s command that man has to live ‘in harmony with others, be sympathetic, love as brothers, and be compassionate and humble’ (1 Peter 3:8, Romans 12:16). Let us hear his commandments “be reconciled to your brother” (Mat 5:23-25 also refer Mat 18:6-7; Mark 9:42; Luke 17:1-2)

We should live in “ peace with each other” (1 Tests 5:13) and in “ peace with everyone” (Romans 12:18)

Christians should not only be a disciple of Christ, but should also emulate Him too. It is our duty to take out the separation between man and God and avoid the rivalry between man and man. “Seek peace and pursue it” (Psalm 34:14). The start of enmity stems from distancing from God. 

We live in a world where nations are ready to fight each other. The popular wisdom is ‘get ready, for the war is the way to peace’ (or war for peace). But only people who get peace from God can bring forth peace in the world. The qualities of people who can bring worldly peace are 1) One who attained heavenly peace. 2) One without selfish motives, which means people who care for their words and actions. 3) One who deals with love and humbleness. So people who depend on laws than the noble motives can only make peacemaking more difficult. 

The peacemakers should first be in harmony with God. Second, he should seek and remove the causes of the root of the conflict. This could be most difficult, but should be the first thing to do. 

People who oppose God will fight each other. People who demolish the wall which stood in the midst (of conflict), (Eph 2:14) and who bring the presence of Christ in oneself and then confer it to others are the true peacemakers. 

Reward of peace making 

You will receive the dignified position as the sons of God. This world, which builds memorials for the winners of the war, may not remember them. But in the view of God, they are His dear sons and inheritors. How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news (Isaiah 52:7).

Verse 5:10: “People who are persecuted because of righteousness"
[Also refer: 2 Tim 3:12; 1 Pet 3:14; 1 Peter 4:14] 

We have discussed about righteousness before. Here we discuss about people who suffer for Christ.

1. Christ was persecuted ( Psalm 69:26, Isaiah 50:6, John 5:16)
2. People who live a godly life in Jesus Christ will suffer (2 Timothy 3:12)
3. The followers of Christ will have to suffer ( Acts 22:4)
4. But God will save you from all this ( 2 Timothy 3:11, Daniel 3:25, 28; 2 Cori 1:10)
5. Any persecution cannot separate one from Christ. (Romans 8:35)
6. Those who suffer for the Lord or because of His name:

i. Should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do well. (1 Peter 4:19)
ii. Rejoice and glorify God. (Matthew 5:11; 1 Peter 4:13, 16)
iii. Pray for the prosecutors (Matthew 5:44)
iv. Blessed are the people who are suffer for the God (Mat 5:10; Luke 6:22)

A Christian persecutor Emperor Julion ( AD 350) said “The one wish for all Christians is to discard everything and suffer till death.”

The ones persecuted in light of Scriptures:

· Apostle St. Peter (Acts 4:3), apostles (5:18)
· Early church (Acts 8:1), St. Paul and Barnabas (Acts 13:50)
· Silas (Acts 16:23)

Early Church suffered from the fanatic Jews and Gentiles and many were martyred. Then the non-Christian kings and rulers persecuted the church innumerable times. This persecution even continues today in many parts of the world. 

Many times our Lord warned about the impending sufferings for His followers. Remember the statements ( by our Lord ) that one has to ‘carry the cross’ and will ‘suffer in my name’, etc. 

The early Christian church members suffered innumerable persecution at work, family, and in society. They were subjected to cruelties unthinkable now. During the execution of St. Polycarp, bishop of Smyrna, at the age of 81, he prayed, “O Almighty Lord God, Father of thy beloved and blessed Son Jesus Christ, by whom we have received the knowledge of thee, God of angels, powers, and every creature, and of all the race of the just that live in thy presence! I bless thee for having been pleased in thy goodness to bring me to this hour. …. Wherefore, for all things I praise, bless, and glorify thee, through the eternal high priest Jesus Christ, thy beloved Son, with whom, to Thee and the Holy Ghost is glory now and forever. Amen." 

His contemporary St. Ignatius, when led to the cage of hungry lions prayed: 
"Allow me to be eaten by the beasts, which are my way of reaching to God. I am God's wheat, and I am to be ground by the teeth of wild beast, so that I may become the pure bread of Christ.” 

Reward for those persecuted for the Lord: Kingdom of God

You have to remember three things regarding suffering:
1) You have to faultless. 
2) There should not be any truth in the allegations about you.
3) Above all, you should suffer for Christ.

Verse 5:12 The prophets are also persecuted 

1) Our Lord shows Jerusalem as a town that kills prophets (Mat 23:37; Acts 7:52)
2) The Jews have killed many prophets (Mat 23:29-31; 1 Thess 2:15; Heb 11:35; James 5:10)
3) Prophet Micah who lived from BC 748 to BC 697 suffered a lot. Prophet Daniel also suffered a lot. Prophet Isaiah was slain in the persecution of Manasses (2 Kings, 22:16). Prophet Jeremiah was stoned to death. John the Baptist, whom our Lord praised as the greater amongst prophets, was beheaded. (2 Chronicles 36:16, 1 Kings 18:13, 19:10, 22:27, Jeremiah 32:2, 37:15-16).