The Merciful

“Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.”

(Matthew 5:7)

This beatitude is somewhat self-explanatory.  When we show mercy to others, we do not always obtain mercy from them in return.

However, in this beatitude, Christ lifts our gaze to a higher level, assuring the merciful that they shall receive mercy from God.

The mercy of God is not dependent upon any merit of ours, as Ephesians 2:4-7 reminds us:

“But God, who is rich in mercy, for His great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come He might shew the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.”

When we were dead in our sins, hopelessly lost and utterly offensive to God, that same God who is perfectly holy and separate from sin, chose to take our sin on Himself, that we might be made righteous before Him. (2 Corinthians 5:21) That is the richness of God’s mercy in action.

From this we can see the kind of mercy Jesus is talking about: the kind of mercy that seeks out those who would be unlikely to be extended mercy by anyone else, those from whom we expect no return of kindness. Christ did not die so that we would somehow pay back His gift of salvation: His sacrifice was motivated by His mercy.

Mercy in Selfless Action

The words used in this beatitude for mercy and merciful also have the idea of compassion. Christ was often noted to have had compassion on various individuals and groups of people throughout the gospels. Yet, while it is certainly biblical to “Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.” (Romans 12:15) Christ’s compassion always motivated Him to act.

Again, Christ’s example shows us what our mercy should look like: Christlike mercy is compassion in action. It does not merely feel in accordance with what another is feeling, but also looks around, sees what can be done to help, and quietly does it, without any fanfare or expectation of reward. Mercy is practical compassion, not just emotional compassion.

Mercy in Extending Forgiveness

Another aspect of the mercy of God can be seen in the parable He gave about a remarkably unmerciful servant:

“Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants. And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents. But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made. The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.

But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest. And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt.

So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done. Then his lord, after that he had called him said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me: Shouldst not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee? And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.

So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.” (Matthew 18:23-35)

We see here the expectation that we will be merciful in forgiving others, just as God in His mercy has forgiven us.

Some would take this passage to mean that if we do not forgive others, God will not forgive us, but that’s not what is implied here.

The unforgiving servant was not put to the torturers for eternal punishment, but only until his debt was paid. That is not how salvation works. The unsaved person’s punishment for sin is eternal and inescapable by any merit of our own. It is “the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9)

There is a sense, however, in which the unforgiving Christian, out of God’s will in disobedience to His commands, has stepped out from under God’s protection and now stands vulnerable to attack.

But when the unforgiveness is confessed and the choice is made to forgive, God restores the Christian to that place of protection within His good and perfect will.

Our flesh hates to forgive, for forgiveness requires humility. When we take our eyes off ourselves, however, forgiveness becomes far easier.

In fact, for the poor in spirit Christian who mourns over his or her own sin and hungers and thirsts after righteousness, in meekness allowing God to be the defender, forgiveness will come naturally. It is the outflowing of a heart aware that its own debt of sin forgiven by God is far greater than any sin he or she may be called upon to forgive in another.

The Summary of Mercy

John Wesley gives a good summary of mercy when he describes the merciful as, “The tender-hearted: They who love all men as themselves.” * This again comes back to the further teachings of Jesus:

“Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself” (Matthew 22:39)

“Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets” (Matthew 7:12)

To be merciful means to extend to others that which God has first extended to us, not only in heartfelt compassion, but in forgiveness and selfless action on their behalf.

*John Wesley, Parallel Commentary of the New Testament, p.12