Blessed are the Merciful

Introduction: When I was a young kid, growing up in an age where boys were boys. We played a game where we would interlock our fingers together and then twist and strain our hands and our opponents hands to get them in a position where they were in so much pain that finally they had to cry out mercy or risk breaking their fingers. And they were trying to do the same to you.

Every once in a while you’d get the stubborn kid who absolutely refused to cry out mercy to the point you wound up hurting yourself to get them to just give up.

Many of us don’t like surrendering. We don’t like giving up and admitting that we can’t go on like we are.

The Christian life is about surrender and giving up.

It’s about knowing that we need mercy.

That’s the Gospel.

Sinners in need of mercy receiving mercy by faith in the cross of Jesus Christ.

And when realize how much mercy we have received, it ought to make us merciful.

Transition to the Text: Turn with me in your Bibles to Matthew 5:7. Today we continue our study of the Beatitudes. If you have been here for the first 4, you know that these are the attitudes necessary for the greater life a part of God’s kingdom.They are not independent of one another. They build off of one another. And they get harder.

I am poor in Spirit, therefore I realize I have no righteousness of my own. I mourn because my sin separates me from God. This humbles me and makes me meek. I hunger and thirst for righteousness but no matter how much I try, I know I can never measure up.

I cry out for mercy and receive it by the blood of Jesus on the Cross. I am made a new creation and now walk in the righteousness that I have in Jesus.

And then I use that righteousness to look down on others and show that I am better than all of YOU!

Of course not. Your experience with God should affect your actions.

Let’s Read: Matthew 5:7

Matthew 5:7 ESV

7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.

Beatitude #5: BLESSED ARE THE MERCIFUL FOR, THEY SHALL RECEIVE MERCY.

Something up until this point that you may have noticed is the emphasis of the beatitudes has beeen on “BEING” instead of “DOING.”

Up until this point, it’s been largely about our identity and standing before Go. And that makes sense. What is on the inside of you is ultimately what comes out.

Something that we need to understand is that “Who I am is far more important to God than what I do.”

But this week, we begin to look outward.

This is the first beatitude that truly looks outward in relation to others, especially those who hurt and harm us.

What is mercy?

Mercy typically does not stand alone in the Bible. It’s usually a part of the larger discussion of justice, grace, and mercy.

You may have heard that justice is about getting what you deserve and mercy is about not getting what you deserve.

Grace is usually associated with the forgiveness of sins.

Mercy is usually associated with alleviating the misery from the consequences of those sins.

In a sense, Mercy is mourning for sin plus action to deal with the suffering of that sin.

So why be merciful.

Something you need to accept is that we a not by nature merciful people.

We want justice not mercy. An eye for an eye.

We want revenge when people hurt us.

We want karma. We want what goes around to come around.

That’s not the WAY of the Bible.

Let’s start with the why.

1. We are CALLED to be merciful because GOD is merciful.

Explanation: This is where the “What abouts?” tend to come it.

What about the OT? What about God’s wrath? What about the other people?

God’s mercy is not indiscriminate. Even this passage suggests that God’s mercy is dependent upon a person’s attitude.

Even God’s own people received wrath and judgement.

But it was always to move them to repentance.

And repentance always is met with mercy.

Exodus 33:19 ESV

19 And he said, “I will make all my goodness pass before you and will proclaim before you my name ‘The Lord.’ And I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy.

In the New Testament Jesus tells us this:

Matthew 9:13 ESV

13 Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Luke 6:36 ESV

36 Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.

The Apostle Paul:

Ephesians 2:4–5 ESV

4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—

Psalm 103:8 ESV

8 The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.

This is who our God is. He is merciful. And it is God’s joy to show mercy to His people. Which is good news because even though we are saved by God’s grace, we still mess up.

Illustration: When it comes to mercy many of us immediately think of a court room. And when we stand before the judge, or even if we are standing before a police officer, we hope that he or she will be merciful to us.

But their mercy can depend on so many things. How their day is going. How many awful people and wicked deeds they have had to witness and endure that day. Their mercy right or wrong depends on a lot of factors.

God is always merciful. Even in the OT, God is merciful even when He knows that people are going to continue to sin. God’s mercy doesn’t make sense.

And neither should ours.

When you are a merciful person, you always show mercy. But what about justice? What about revenge?

Romans 12:19–21 ESV

19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” 20 To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Application: And most importantly, if you are in Christ, you have experienced the mercy of God. There is so much

2. If we have RECEIVED mercy, we ought to be MOTIVATED to SHOW mercy.

Explanation: This should go without saying. When you know you received mercy even though you deserved justice, it should lead you to treat others with the same mercy and gentleness.

Take this parable Jesus told.

Matthew 18:23–35 ESV

23 “Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. 24 When he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. 25 And since he could not pay, his master ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made. 26 So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ 27 And out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the debt. 28 But when that same servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii, and seizing him, he began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay what you owe.’ 29 So his fellow servant fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’ 30 He refused and went and put him in prison until he should pay the debt. 31 When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their master all that had taken place. 32 Then his master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. 33 And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’ 34 And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers, until he should pay all his debt. 35 So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.”

This should make you mad. A person who received forgiveness something huge unwilling to forgive something so small.

And when we think about God merciful God has been with us.

Knowing that our sins have been dealt with. We have received mercy and don’t have to spend an eternity in punishment. When we understand that, we should have an attitude of gratitude.

We should be singing for joy.

But how then can we hold a grudge here? How can we withhold forgiveness for such a small thing?

Well pastor, you don’t know what they have done! No but I know what my salvation cost.

Sometimes people think that mercy is just letting things go. Saying, “Oh it’s ok.”

But think about this. Even in His mercy and grace, God does not eliminate the consequences of our sin. He doest just make it all disappear as though it never happen.

God transfers the consequences of our sin to another place. To the cross and places them on the cross.

Illustration: When you show mercy, you aren’t eliminating the consequences. You are just taking it on yourself. If you lend someone $5 and when they go to pay you back, you say, “Don’t worry about it.” $5 does not miraculously show up in your band account. She are saying, I’m willing to cover your debt to me.

That’s what God does with us. He says, I am willing to cover the debt you owe me. But because I am a God of justice, I will place that debt upon my Son on the cross.

Application: When is a time you have received mercy? How did that feel?

When is a time that you have extended mercy to someone who hurt you?

And have you ever withheld mercy?

3. The reward for being MERCIFUL is to receive MERCY.

Explanation: Another, what came first the chicken or the egg scenario. Are merciful because we’ve received mercy or do we receive mercy as a reward for our mercy.

Both. But here Jesus is emphasizing the latter.

They lived in a time before the cross. While they have been blessed to be a part of the family of God, they haven’t received the true mercy and grace of the cross yet.

Jesus is preparing them by calling them to extend mercy even before they receive it.

We can’t be simply transactional in our faith. I will give faith because I have received it.

Faith is about stepping out and stepping up before a reward is offered or given.

The greatest example of this type of mercy is the Good Samaritan. Remember that Samaritans were outside of the people of God because during the time between the OT and Jesus they abandoned God and His Word. The Jewish people in the time of Jesus hated Samaritans. So Jesus uses a samaritan to show that Godly character can come from anyone.

Luke 10:25–37 ESV

25 And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” 26 He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?” 27 And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” 28 And he said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.” 29 But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” 30 Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead. 31 Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. 32 So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. 34 He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.’ 36 Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” 37 He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” And Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise.”

The one who showed mercy.

This illustrates another point about mercy in action. Mercy is about forgiveness, but it’s also about meeting the need of some in dire straits. But here is a man who is merciful; he is sorry for the victim, goes across the road, dresses the wounds, takes the man with him and makes provision for him. That is being merciful. It does not mean only feeling pity; it means a great desire, and indeed an endeavour, to do something to relieve the situation.

And even though He was a Samaritan which by definition made Him His position far from God, He was shown mercy in the telling of the story. This prefigures in the book of Acts, the mercy extended to the Samaritans who receive the ultimate mercy when Peter goes to them and they receive the Holy Spirit.

A lot of people question whether or not Jesus is telling a true story or a parable. It’s debateable. I like to think that it did. It’s not listed as a parable like other parables. But the point of the story is the same no matter what.

The Samaritan is more merciful than the Pharissees who by definition of who they are and what they have experienced should be merciful.

Illustration:

Application: There are now, no longer any barriers to anyone wishing to enter into the kingdom of God. All are invited into the kingdom.

So be merciful with those who are considered outsiders. tell people about the mighty things of Jesus and when anyone wishes to know Jesus, be ready to tell them. Because…

The converse is also true:

James 2:13 ESV

13 For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

Response: Are you MERCIFUL?

Remember:

1. We are CALLED to be merciful because GOD is merciful.

2. If we have RECEIVED mercy, we ought to be MOTIVATED to SHOW mercy.

3. The reward for being MERCIFUL is to receive MERCY.

Closing Illustration: Showing Mercy is not weakness. It takes strength and courage.

I’ll admit, there are few greater feelings in this life than to have power over your enemy.

To have them so completely beaten that they can do nothing more than beg for mercy.

That was the point of the game we played as kids. It was a show of dominance and strength.

Biblical mercy is different. It’s not just about standing over your defeated enemy, but lifting up and helping to change their attitude.

When you have the power to destroy your enemy, you also have the choice to lift them up and build them back up.

Mercy should lead to relationship. That’s what it does with God. God shows up mercy in order to bring us into a relationship with Him for all eternity.

For us, Jesus says pray for your enemies. And when we do that, we can become friends.

But first, receive the mercy of God.

Repent of your sins and turn to Him for forgiveness.

Let’s pray.