Did Jesus Bring Peace On Earth?

Most of us know these verses:

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men. Luke 2:13-14

But when Jesus left Heaven and was incarnated as a human baby, did He bring peace?

The answer is “no.”  He didn’t bring peace to Earth; He was the peace on Earth.  Now, please let me explain.

On Earth Peace vs Peace on Earth

The following Bibles translate Luke 2:14 as “on earth peace.”  (“B” stands for Bible and “T” for translation unless otherwise specified.)

NIV, ESV, BSB (Berean Standard), BLB (Berean Literal), KJV, NKJV, NASB, LSB (Legacy Standard), ASV (American Standard), DRB (Douay-Rheims), ERV (English Revised),  AB (Aramaic Bible in Plain English), GWT (God’s Word Translation), LSV (Literal Standard), MSB (Majority Standard), NSB (New American), NET, NRSV (New Revised Standard), YLT (Young’s Literal), WBT (Webster’s), WNT ( Weymouth New Testament), WEB (World English)

These Bibles translate the verse “peace on earth.” 

CSB (Christian Standard), HCSB (Holman Christian Standard), CEV (Contemporary English Version), GNT (Good News),  ISV (international Standard), NLT (New Living)

Even Linus quoted the Bible saying, “On earth peace.”

There is a Difference

It was Pax Romano when Jesus was born. That means there was peace under Roman rule, but that was not true peace. It was a peace conditioned on Rome’s control and subjugation of all areas of its empire.  In Israel, Roman rule allowed the Jews to practice their faith and live according to their laws and practices  — albeit under the regulations and control of Rome.  That is not the kind of peace the angels heralded.

“On Earth Peace”

I suggest that the angel’s proclamation was about Jesus. When Jesus was born, peace had come to earth — that is, the Prince of Peace was on earth.  And, as the verse continues, His incarnation was God’s “goodwill toward men.”

The peace the angels proclaimed was not based on circumstances. It was based on a Person — the Person of Jesus.  We could read the angel’s proclamation as, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth [the Prince of Peace], [God’s] good will toward men.” (Luke 2:14)

Jesus Confirmed This

In His commission of His disciples, Jesus confirmed that He did not bring circumstantial peace to earth.

Mat 10:34  “Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword.

And again, recorded in Luke, we find Jesus said, 

Luke 12:51  “Do you suppose that I came to give peace on earth? I tell you, not at all, but rather division.

Jesus came as the Peace of God.  

He was Peace, true peace.  And He is peace, and He always will be peace because He is holy, and set apart from a fallen world.

Jesus offers peace with God to those who come to Him in faith.  He said, 

Mat 11:28-30  “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

This rest that Jesus offers is not the rest of sleep or the peace of good circumstances.  It is a rest for the soul, a peace for the mind, and a calm for the heart.  It is peace through salvation.  And it is experienced by confidence in Jesus, knowing and believing who He is, and trusting in Him.  It’s a rest and peace that comes from knowing one’s eternal destiny is determined, and it is eternal peace with God.  

No Peace on Earth…Yet

Since sin entered the world, there has not been true peace on earth.  Sin broke what God had created perfectly.  And although Jesus paid for mankind’s sins and opened the way for peace with God, He did not bring peace on earth and there will never be peace on this earth until He returns. In Jesus’ first coming, He came with a sword.  In His second coming, He will come with a scepter (Gen 49:10).

Heb 1:8    to the Son He says: “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your Kingdom.

When Jesus returns, He will rule in righteousness.  He will reign as King of kings and Lord of lords, and there will be “on earth Peace” — the Prince of Peace—and He will dwell with us and bring “peace on earth.”

Until then, Jesus rules from Heaven in the hearts of all who are His.  In their souls dwells His Holy Spirit, who gives them love, joy, PEACE, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.  (Gal 5:22-23).  The only thing we must do is surrender to God and thereby allow the Holy Spirit to work in and through us.  Then, we will experience the peace OF God that brings rest to our souls.  

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