The Merciful

Matthew 5:7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.”

Continuing in this short bible Study that I am doing on the Beatitudes from the Sermon on the Mount by Jesus Christ in the book of Matthew, chapter 5, Associate Professor Gary Steward, in human terms, mercy is the generosity, tenderness of heart, and kindness of soul that is moved to alleviate the sufferings of others. Mercy is one of the characteristics that mark the children of God, for God Himself is “rich in mercy” – Ephesians 2:4. The Holy Scriptures are full of descriptions of the mercy of God, because “mercy” is a distinguishing attribute of God’s nature. Biblically speaking, “justice” is defined as “Getting what we deserve for our sins”. Mercy” is defined as “Not getting what we deserve”. “Grace” is getting what we do not deserve.

Psalm 13:5 “I have trusted in Your mercy; My heart shall rejoice in Your salvation.”

Dr. D. James Kennedy’s Evangelism Explosion explains that God is merciful, and therefore doesn’t want to punish us. This is because “God is love” (1 John 4:8). And He says, “I have loved you with an everlasting love” (Jeremiah 31:3). But the same Bible which tells us that God loves us, also tells us that God is “just” (justice must be served) and therefore must punish sin. He says “(I) will by no means clear the guilty.” (Exodus 34:7). And “the soul that sinneth, it shall die” (Ezekiel 18:4). Romans 6:23a “For the wages of sin is death.” We have a problem.

Romans 3:22-24 “The righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.”

God solved this problem for us in the Person of Jesus Christ. Sinless Jesus took our place on the Cross to pay for our sins. God’s saving grace in Jesus Christ is a kindness shown to those who are guilty of sin and deserve punishment. His grace is not earned, deserved or can be bought; it is the gift of God. Out of God’s mercy flows the grace of God in redemption of the lost sinner by faith. God is merciful, so His children should be to others. The 1828 Webster’s dictionary defines the word “mercy” as: That benevolence, mildness or tenderness of heart which disposes a person to overlook injuries, or to treat an offender better than he deserves; the disposition that tempers justice, and induces an injured person to forgive trespasses and injuries, and to forbear punishment, or inflict less than law or justice will warrant.

Luke 10:36-37 “So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?” And he said, “He who showed mercy on him.” Then Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”

Dr. Steward asks and answers: “Where does a merciful heart come from? By nature, our “fallen” hearts are generally self-absorbed and hardened towards others. The needs of others so not naturally move us as they should. But, there is a deep and abiding kind of mercy that is only known in the hearts of those who are the blessed of God by experiencing the mercy of being born again unto salvation with a regenerated spirit. The saving mercy of God gives birth to transformed people who in turn reflect God’s supernatural work in merciful deeds and actions towards others.

Luke 6:36 “Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.”

It is humbling for the children of God to reflect on the state of sin and misery into which we were naturally born sinners. It is even more humbling to reflect upon the mercies of God that have been poured upon us through Christ. We were in a pitiful state and God took pity on us. Should we not do the same to others? This is a sure foundation for blessedness.

Blessed in Christ