PEACE ON EARTH
And suddenly there appeared with the angel a great multitude of the heavenly host,
praising God and saying: “Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peaceG1515 to men on whom His favorG2107 rests!”
Luke 2:13-14
The Complete Word Study Dictionary: New Testament gives us a fuller sense of what is meant by God’s favor:
G2107. εὐδοκία eudokía; gen. eudokías, fem. noun from eudokéō (2106), to please, favor. Good will, good pleasure, good intent, benevolence, a gracious purpose (Matt. 11:26; Luke 10:21). In this sense it is parallel to eulogía (2129), blessing. Eudokía must be an outcome of agathōsúnē (19), goodness, the virtue of beneficence even as works are the product of faith. Therefore, the eudokía, the good will of agathōsúnē, denotes that which pleases, goodness, the tendency to the good. Particular delight in any person or thing and hence good will, favor (Luke 2:14, “good will toward men” on the part of God; (46)
Charles Swindoll makes it clear that God’s favor is a gift gracious bestowed on the recipient, not a reward or payment:
When the Lord’s redemptive plan is complete, He will have restored peace between God and humanity (Rom. 5:1), as well as peace between all individuals. The phrase “with whom He is pleased” comes from a single Greek word, eudokia [2107], which is notoriously difficult to translate. It is loosely based on a classical Greek verb meaning “to take pleasure or delight in” but is otherwise not found anywhere outside biblical literature. Eudokia appears to have been coined by the translators of the Septuagint to render some instances of the Hebrew term rātson [H7522], which often implies divine grace (Pss. 5:12; 51:18; 106:4). The NASB rendering vaguely suggests that something in humanity pleased God, prompting Him to reward us with His favor. The NIV translation, “on whom his favor rests,” captures the expression a little better. Based on no particular merit of our own, God delighted to grace humanity with a Savior. (47)
Obviously, Jesus’s incarnation did not immediately bring peace between people or nations as there have perpetually been numerous wars, feuds, and disagreements since the time of Christ. That peace will only happen when He returns to rule and reign in power eternally. The peace on earth that was made available to all people is the peace with God that is ours when we surrender our lives to Jesus. We do not receive this peace by “pleasing God”—in other words, good deeds or works. God is pleased to graciously bestow that peace on us as His gift when we trust in Jesus’s finished work on the cross and surrender to His will for our lives.
The angels were announcing the birth of the One who would bring peace. Have you trusted in Jesus to bring you peace with God—freedom from the fear of His anger—and the peace of God—tranquility even in the storms of everyday life? If you have that peace, take a moment to thank God and praise Him! If not, you may have it today! Talk to a Bible preaching pastor, a Christian friend, or even us! You may email us at SRSlade2009@gmail.com.
Father, we thank You for Your benevolence toward us that even though we do not deserve it, You granted us salvation and peace!
Worship the Prince of Peace along with the Gaither Vocal Band singing “Gloria”: