Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
What does Matthew 5:9 mean?
Jesus here gives eight characters of blessed people, which represent to us the principal graces of a Christian. The poor in spirit are happy.
Key themes
Read with
Keep this verse inside Matthew 5:8-9 and alongside a few nearby related passages.
Commentary on Matthew 5:9
Blessed are the peacemakers - Those who strive to prevent contention, strife, and war; who use their influence to reconcile opposing parties, and to prevent lawsuits and hostilities in families and neighborhoods. Every man may do something of this; and no man is more like God than he who does it. There ought not to be unlawful and officious interference in that which is none of our business; but without any danger of acquiring this character, every man has many opportunities of reconciling opposing parties. Friends, neighbors, people of influence, lawyers, physicians, ministers of the gospel, may do much to promote peace. And it should be taken in hand in the beginning.
Key words
- Blessed
-
Blessed are the peace makers,.
- peacemakers
-
Blessed are the peacemakerswho not only study peace, but diffuse it.
Context in Matthew 5
Show chapter context
Matthew 5 belongs to the early movement of the book, especially the section often described as birth and preparation. Matthew presents Jesus as Davidic Messiah, new Moses, teacher of the kingdom, suffering Son of Man, and risen Lord who commissions the nations. Read this chapter with the wider themes of fulfillment, kingdom of heaven, and discipleship in view so the individual verses keep their proper weight.
Related topics
Explore by topic
Bible verses about justice and mercy
Key texts on public righteousness, neighbor-love, social ethics, compassion, and the prophetic refusal to separate worship from justice.
Who quoted Matthew 5:9?
Find out who used Matthew 5:9 in their speeches and writings. Which famous people quoted Matthew 5:9?
Franklin D. Roosevelt used Matthew 5:9 in Radio Christmas Greeting to the Nation.
Bill Clinton used Matthew 5:9 in The President's Radio Address.
American Presidency Project: Clinton's 1995 Christmas radio address »
Bill Clinton used Matthew 5:9 in Statement on the Helicopter Tragedy in Bosnia-Herzegovina.
American Presidency Project: Clinton on the Bosnia helicopter tragedy »
Joe Biden used Matthew 5:9 in Statement on Reaching a Cease-Fire and Hostage-Release Deal Between Israel and Hamas.
American Presidency Project: Biden on the Israel-Hamas cease-fire deal »
Donald J. Trump (2nd Term) used Matthew 5:9 in Remarks at the National Prayer Breakfast.
Donald Trump used Matthew 5:9 in Remarks at the National Prayer Breakfast.
American Presidency Project: Trump at the 2026 National Prayer Breakfast »
Quotes found on Wikiquote (match for «blessed are the peacemakers»):
April 8 · Barack Obama · Beatitudes · Ben-Hur (1959 film) · Blessings · Christian pacifism · Christmas · Donald Trump · G. K. Chesterton · Hugh L. Scott · Kingdom of God · Kurt Vonnegut · Might is Right · October 9 · Reward · Ron Paul · Sermon on the Mount · Ten Commandments · World peace