“Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.”
is sown in peace
The farmer that sows seed is the farmer that reaps a harvest. The seed is divine viewpoint (God’s wisdom). It is not the fruit we sow but the seed of the wisdom of God’s peace we sow that produces fruit.
The fruit of righteousness demands climate and conditions of peace. The climate of bitterness and self-seeking is not good for producing spiritual fruit. Peace is the spiritual process for arriving at righteousness.
by those who make peace
Peace comes from peacemakers. Peacemakers are those who function on divine viewpoint. They cultivate peace by holding the tension between a tolerant process and a presentation of righteousness. Peacemakers do not diminish the seriousness of sin in this process, but they communicate truth in love. Peace is the process of achieving righteousness.
PRINCIPLE:
If we sow righteousness, we make peace because unrighteousness is the source of self-seeking and envy.
APPLICATION:
There is no conflict between righteousness and peace. Both can and should exist together. It is not necessary to forgo justice because of political sensitivity. Jesus harmonized righteousness and peace on the cross. He both met the absolute righteousness of God, and He also made provision for salvation.
Ps 85:10, “Mercy and truth have met together;
Righteousness and peace have kissed.”
There is a tendency for those who stand for righteousness to forsake a peaceful process in reaching their goal. It is not necessary to be nasty to achieve righteousness. Righteousness does not come by strife.
Using the right process to achieve righteousness does not necessitate that a mature believer gloss over sin. A medical doctor must objectively diagnose the disease, “I am afraid that I have bad news for you; you have cancer.” He owes honesty to his patient, and anything less would violate his patient’s health. On the other hand, he does not callously blurt out the bad news but prepares his patient properly. Surgery may hurt the patient, but it is for his own good.
