Bible Studies in the Gospel of Matthew

Bible Studies in the Gospel of Matthew
XII

Matthew 5:9; Romans 12:18-19; Hebrews 12:14; 1 Corinthians 6:1-7: Abraham said to Lot, “If you go to the right, then I will go to the left.” Matthew 5:38-41; 2 Timothy 2:22. The peacemaker pursues peace with all men. He makes the utmost effort in order to maintain peace.

When it concerns earthly things, e.g., money, honor, and a comfortable life, it is always possible to keep the peace with everyone by suffering injustice and being willing to be defrauded. 1 Cor. 6:1-7. There will be peace when the person who thinks he has a right to the coat also gets the cloak.

When it concerns spiritual things, it is possible to keep the peace with as many as call on the Lord out of a pure heart, but you cannot always keep the peace with other worshipers of God. I cannot keep the peace with someone who wants me to go along with a lie, an injustice, an act of ruthlessness, etc. Neither should I keep the peace if someone preaches unbelief or when souls are led astray.

We must fight for God’s honor, the truths of the gospel, and the eternal benefit of souls. When it affects me as a person, I can and I should keep the peace; but when it affects God’s honor, the truth of the gospel and souls’ eternal well-being, it ought to be impossible for me to keep the peace.

The older person also keeps the peace with the younger one by not always letting his greater light shine into the younger person’s words and actions. It could be more than the younger person can bear, so that there might be a breach of the peace in this way—(do not provoke unto wrath). Imperfections must, for the most part, be overlooked, and must only be addressed once in a while, according to one’s understanding.