Literally, “sons of God.” The Jews thought of themselves as the “children of God” (Deut. 14:1; Hosea 1:10; etc.), a concept that Christians equally follow (1 John 3:1). To be a son of God means to resemble Him in character (1 John 3:2; cf. John 8:44). “Peace-makers” are the “sons of God” because they are at peace with Him themselves, and are devoted to the cause of leading their fellow men to be at peace with Him.

 Gr. eirēnopoioi, from eirēnē, “peace,” and poieō “to make.” Christ here refers particularly to bringing men into harmony with God (DA 302-305; MB 28). “The carnal mind is enmity against God” (Rom. 8:7). But Christ, the Master Peacemaker, came to show men that God is not their enemy (see MB 25). Christ is “The Prince of Peace” (Isa. 9:6, 7; cf. Micah 5:5). He was the messenger of peace from God to man, and “justified by faith, we have peace with God” through Him (Rom. 5:1). When Jesus had completed His appointed task and returned to the Father, He could say, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you” (John 14:27; cf. 2 Thess. 3:16).

 In order to appreciate what Christ meant when He spoke of “peacemakers” it is helpful to take note of the meaning of peace in Semitic thinking and speech. The Hebrew equivalent of the Greek eirēnē, is shalom, meaning “completeness,” “soundness,” “prosperity,” “condition of well-being,” “peace.” In view of the fact that Christ and the common people used Aramaic, a language closely akin to the Hebrew, Jesus doubtless used the word with its Semitic connotations. Christians are to be at peace among themselves (1 Thess. 5:13) and to “follow peace with all men” (Heb. 12:14). They are to pray for peace, to work for peace, and to take a constructive interest in activities that contribute to a peaceful state of society.