Beatitude definition:
a statement of blessing.
The fifth of JESUS’ eight beatitudes in Matthew 5 states, “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall
receive mercy.” Matthew 5:7
Biblical mercy/merciful
The Hebrew translation often used in the Old Testament for “mercy”
is checedh, "kindness,"
"loving-kindness," while the New Testament eleos is associated with "grace."
Mercy is probably GOD’s most called-on attributes, for it is
not only who GOD is, but it is what He does. Mercy is GOD’s essential attitude
to mankind in general; no one in GOD’s creation is exempt. – "I will have mercy on whom I have
mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion." (Romans 9:15), “…He makes his sun rise
on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.” (Matthew 5:45.)
GOD’s mercy: “endures
forever” (Psalm 136:1), “is great” (1 Kings 3:6), “plenteous” (Psalm 86:5), “tender”
(Luke 1:78), “abundant” (1 Peter 1:3). GOD Himself is described as "the Father of mercies" (2 Corinthians 1:3),
"rich in mercy" (Ephesians 2:4),
"full of pity, and merciful" (James 5:11).
Mercy wouldn’t exist without GOD.
Who are the merciful?
One Bible commentary describes the merciful in the context
of Matthew 5:7 as “those who are so
affected by the sufferings of others as to be disposed to alleviate them.”
The merciful, says Erasmus,
are those “who, through brotherly love,
account another person’s misery their own; who weep over the calamities of
others; who, out of their own property, feed the hungry and clothe the naked;
who admonish those that are in error, inform the ignorant, pardon the
offending; and who, in short, use their utmost endeavors to relieve and comfort
others.”
However, Biblical scholars and writers on this topic also agree
that the truly merciful labor under the burden of awareness that they too are the
object of mercy. Not that our
mercifulness comes absolutely first. On the contrary, our Lord Himself
expressly teaches us that God's method is to awaken in us compassion towards
our fellow men by His own exercise of it… (Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary)
JESUS’ parable of the
unmerciful debtor (Matthew 18: 21:35)
supports this view – a servant to whom his master forgave an enormous monetary
debt was naturally expected to have equal compassion required for forgiving his
own servant of a significantly lesser debt; instead he was harsh and
unrelenting in his cruelty. When his master found out, he angrily rescinded his
mercy and punished the unforgiving servant. ‘Should
you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on
you?’ And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers.
The life principle of “what goes around comes around.”
As GOD’s children, we reflect His mercy and are therefore
merciful. Every day we have new opportunities to show mercy. As JESUS Himself
said, the poor, wretched and destitute will always be with us (Matthew 26:11). By caring for orphans
and widows in their distress, helping the poor and oppressed, and by forgiving
those who injure us, we show that we are like GOD.
Blessedness of mercy
"….the Christian
stands in a middle point, between a mercy received and a mercy yet needed.…And
thus, while he is ever to look back on the mercy received as the source and
motive of the mercy which he shows, he also looks forward to the mercy which he
yet needs, and which he is assured that the merciful shall receive,…" Archbishop of Dublin Richard Trench (1864-1884)
GOD delights in showing mercy:
- The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent. 2 Peter 3:9
- As surely as I live, says the Sovereign Lord, I take no pleasure in the death of wicked people. I only want them to turn from their wicked ways so they can live. Turn! Ezekiel 33:11
The ultimate demonstration of GOD’s mercy here on earth is our
salvation: GOD saved us, not because of
the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. Titus 3:5. While we were guilty
sinners and deserving of eternal damnation, our Father showed His mercy by
giving his SON to die for us; expressing his willingness to pardon and save us;
and sending his Spirit to renew and sanctify our hearts. (Romans 8)
At the final judgement, the merciful will receive the inheritance
of mercy when we are granted entry into the Kingdom of heaven: Then the King will say to those on His right
hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you
from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was
thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked
and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came
to Me.’ Matthew 25: 34-36
The person who is merciful is blessed by knowing the
joy of GOD’s merciful forgiveness here on earth and with perfect happiness for all
eternity in GOD's Kingdom
The Lord is good to all, and his mercy is over all that he has made. Psalm
145:9
Prayer and Thanksgiving:
Holy Father, our LORD and our GOD
whose goodness and mercy covers all that you have made, and whose love is
unfathomable, we give YOU thanks for YOUR greatest show of mercy towards is,
YOU saved us from hell and damnation while we were yet sinners, YOU gave YOUR SON.
Thank YOU for showing us how to be merciful by first giving us mercy. Father,
with YOU on our side, how can we lose? You tell us what our choices are, life
or death, and then to ensure our safety, you tell us which to choose. Father,
may none of us be too stiff-necked to obey, may we all choose life, as the
alternative is too grim and too final to bear. We adore YOU, Father, faithful, and
good and true. And to YOU, be dominion and power for ever and ever. We
ask all things in JESUS’ Holy NAME. Amen.
Always by God’s Word and prayer,
Cecile
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