Albert Barnes Commentary Matthew 5:9

"Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called sons of God." — Matthew 5:9 (ASV)

Blessed are the peacemakers. These are 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 neighbourhoods. Every man may do something of this, and no man is more like God than he who does it.

There should not be unlawful and officious interference in what is not our business; without any danger of acquiring this character, every man has many opportunities for reconciling opposing parties. Friends, neighbours, men of influence, lawyers, and physicians may do much to promote peace. And it should be addressed in the beginning.

Solomon says, The beginning of strife is like the letting out of water. The English proverb states, "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." Long and most deadly quarrels might be prevented by a little kind interference in the beginning. They are Children of God—those who resemble God, or who manifest a spirit like his. He is the Author of peace (1 Corinthians 14:33), and all those who endeavour to promote peace are like him, and are worthy to be called his children.