We have heard Luke 2:14 all our life.

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. NKJV

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom He is well pleased. NASB

The NIV reads about the same as the NASB, but the Jewish Study Bible and the Tree of Life Bible do not read that way at all. They say, “Peace to men of good will”. That is not what we have always heard.

It made me sit back a moment. The Jewish understanding of this verse is that peace comes, and is given to men with good will. Right motives? Integrity of heart? Seeker of God?

It made sense. Those that are full up with sin, not thinking of God but living for the world… don’t have any peace. They struggle and strive and blaspheme. No peace lives within. But the person of good will has taken God into their heart and now Messiah stands at the ready to enter time…knowing Yeshua will bring a peace that transcends anything they have known before.

And for that person that isn’t a seeker of God? What of them? In the mercy and grace of our Holy Father peace is available to them too. Acknowledging Yeshua as the resurrected Son of God, believing in the heart, and confessing with the mouth…that peace is available to all…but they must believe that He is.

I so desire to be one of those men (women) of good will. One of those to whom extraordinary peace is given. Especially now in this Christmas season when there is so little peace in the world. It’s what I want for everyone…that God peace that came so long ago in Bethlehem.