Even the most secular of Christmas season greeting cards can be found promoting the idea of peace. Often seemingly quoting the angels message to the shepherds announcing the arrival of the Messiah found in Luke 2.

That message in brief proclaims, “Peace on earth. Goodwill to men.”

I readily admit that we have sent Christmas cards out with this message over the years. It seems so noble. So desperately needed at almost every place in our lives.

Peace. It’s the missing piece of so much in our world. In marriages and families. In politics. In places where wars seem unceasing. And on the most basic level, personal peace.

So why not advance the message and encourage peace on earth and goodwill towards men? Because we may have misinterpreted the divine message actually being communicated. I learned this by preparing a Sunday sermon which I presented during the Christmas season several years ago.

Reviewing how Luke 2:13-14 varies by translation helps . The classic King James Version reads,

“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, good will toward men.’” 

But note how several other translations give a different perspective. Here are just a few.

English Standard Version (ESV)

“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

Berean Study Bible (BSB)

“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom His favor rests!

Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to people He favors! 

The variations in this text should not be taken lightly. Is God really sending angels to offer us a general form of peace and goodwill to each other? Apparently not. It is selective in both the kind of peace proclaimed and the beneficiaries of that goodwill.

Perhaps the best commentary on this passage can be found in Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible. After establishing the very importance of the initial proclamation, “Glory to God in the highest…” Gill explains the nature of the peace being issued. He states that the angels are not referring to external peace, nor an internal peace, as distinguished from that eternal peace which the saints do and will enjoy in heaven. He adds,

“nor even peace made by Christ; for this, as yet, was not done on earth, but was to be made by the blood of his cross: rather Christ himself is here intended, who is called ‘the man, the peace.’” 

It is the announcement of Messiah Jesus now being born who will enable us to to make peace with God. He becomes the  reconciliation for the sins of the people.

This Jesus is the true Prince of Peace because he is the author of peace 1) between Jew and Gentile, which were at enmity with each other; and 2) by abrogating the ceremonial law, the cause of that enmity. He did this by “sending the Gospel to them, and converting some of each; and by granting the like privileges to them both.”

And this brings us to the final concluding point which Gill brilliantly expresses.

“And now Christ being the peace on earth, is owing to will towards men; that is, to the free favor, good will, and pleasure of God towards chosen men in Christ Jesus.”

God’s “goodwill” was not for angels. This Savior was to human men and women. But not to all. As Gill notes, even though all men share in the providential goodness of God, this message is given to the elect…the men and women “on whom His favor rests.”

It is for these that the announcement of Jesus came. As the prophet Isaiah announced,

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” (Is. 9:6, ESV)

Is there anything fundamentally wrong with encouraging peace on earth or promoting acts of goodwill toward others? Of course not. But let us not confuse our well wishes with the peace that came with Greatest Story Ever Told. And it arrived in the flesh that glorious first Christmas morning. Whatever the actual date might have been.

May His power…His presence…His peace be yours now and forever.

Merry Christmas!