The Gospel Of Matthew Chapter 5 Part 5 A Merciful Man Receives Mercy From God

To be merciful to others is to enjoy God's blessing and happiness.

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

Those who enjoy a happy and blessed life are those who are merciful.

They are impacted by the sufferings of other people and do their best to alleviate it. 

Being merciful is an evidence of God changing our heart by the ministry of His Spirit and His Word. 

"Merciful" means having a heart of compassion for others. It means being unwilling to inflict pain on others. 

A merciful man will not seek revenge on others even if he justified in seeking it.

A merciful man is the opposite of one who is cruel.

Jesus Christ experienced what we do so He can be our merciful High Priest. 

Hebrews 2:17-18  Wherefore in all things it behooved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. 18  For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted. 

Here is the only other place in the New Testament where the Greek word translated "merciful" is used.

Here the word is used to tell us about the Lord Jesus Christ as our eternal High Priest.

Jesus, the Son of God took on flesh in order to accomplish our salvation. However, Jesus also was prepared to be a compassionate and merciful High Priest for us.

He experienced intense physical pain, great suffering,  severe testing by the Devil, deep sorrow when people rejected His gospel, and great suffering.

Therefore, as our High Priest, Jesus is merciful and compassionate toward us. 

God is merciful and extends mercy to as as we show mercy to others. 

2 Samuel  22:26-27  With the merciful thou wilt shew thyself merciful, and with the upright man thou wilt shew thyself upright. 27  With the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure; and with the froward thou wilt shew thyself unsavoury. 

This song of praise from King David to Jehovah for deliverance he received is also quoted in Psalm 18:25-26.

Jehovah observes our lives and our conduct toward others. 

A general principle is that God deals with men according to their character. 

God will adapt His providential dealings to the conduct of men. 

Those who are merciful in their dealings with others will find God to be merciful toward them.  

The Hebrew word "merciful" refers to one who shows kindness or compassion to those who are guilty, to those who have wronged us.

A merciful man lives a better life spiritually, than a cruel man.

Proverbs 11:17  The merciful man doeth good to his own soul: but he that is cruel troubleth his own flesh. 

King Solomon was given special wisdom from God and he tells us that being merciful to others is good for our soul.

However, those who are cruel to others will reap the consequences of their cruelty. 

God is pleased when we walk in humility and are merciful to others.

Micah 6:6-8  Wherewith shall I come before the LORD, and bow myself before the high God? shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves of a year old? 7  Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten thousands of rivers of oil? shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? 8  He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God? 

God has shown us what is good and beneficial for us.

We are to do the right things even when it is not popular or when it may bring oppression.

We are to love mercy from God to us, and we are to be merciful to others. 

We are to walk humbly with God day by day until He calls us home. 

In the world's eyes, the merciful are not  the wisest nor  the richest, yet Christ pronounces them blessed. 

The merciful are inclined to pity, help, and assist persons in misery. 

We must not only bear our own afflictions patiently but we must by Christian compassion, partake of the afflictions of our brethren. 

Paul describes the blessed and happy heart of merciful Christians.

Colossians 3:12-13  Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; 13  Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.

Paul tells believers in Christ to put on bowels of mercy so that we may offer kindness, compassion and what ever help we to those who suffer.  

We must have compassion on the souls of others and help them. 

We must have genuine pity upon the ignorant and instruct them. 

We must have compassion on those who are melancholy and in sorrow, and comfort them (See Job 16:5). 

We must be willing to forgive those who sin against us as Christ forgives us for our sins. 

We must ask God to help us be longsuffering and patient with those we do not agree with. 

James reminds us that being merciful may require action on our part.

James 2:15-16  If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, 16  And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? 

When we are able to meet needs, we cannot greet those who are in great need and send them away by telling them to have a good day.

This does not further the gospel of Christ and it shows that our heart is selfish instead of loving others as God commands. 

Solomon reminds us not to  be selfish when we are able to help others. 

Proverbs 3:27-28  Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it. 28  Say not unto thy neighbour, Go, and come again, and to morrow I will give; when thou hast it by thee. 

King Solomon wrote his wisdom in the Proverbs. 

We should not hold back from the afflicted what is good and beneficial, especially when we are able top meet their needs.

We cannot turn away our neighbor when he needs our help or some supply from us when we have enough time or supply to meet the need.

Psalm 112:9  He hath dispersed, he hath given to the poor; his righteousness endureth for ever; his horn shall be exalted with honour. 

May the Psalmist's words encourage us as we think about being the blessed people of God because of being merciful toward other people.

The Psalmist paints a picture of a man who generously helps those in need according to his ability to do so.

God always expects His children to help one another, and His law made provision for supporting the poor, the widows and the fatherless.

This is the same attitude of heart that Jesus is teaching to us.

The culture says "Hoard it all for yourself, get all that you can get."

Our Lord says be merciful to others because our Father in heaven will see acts of compassion and reward us. 

Bob