Blessed Are The Merciful

This week we continue our look at the Beatitudes.  Let me encourage everyone to take the time to read the first twelve verses of Matthew chapter five and give careful thought to each o the qualities listed and this week pay special attention to verse seven.  Really consider what it means to be merciful and to receive mercy.

What is mercy?  Webster defines mercy as, "A show of kindness or compassion."  But in a Biblical sense mercy is much more.  One preacher defined mercy as, "getting what you need rather than what you deserve."  The idea being that as sinners we deserve death but, because God is merciful, and gives us life.  One of the words found in the Bible that is very similar to mercy is "lovingkindness."  This beautiful word is an accurate description of God's action toward man,  Because if His great love for us God shows us mercy and kindness.  Our Father gives us what we need rather than what we deserve.

In Matthew 18 Jesus gives a beautiful parable about mercy, both giving and receiving.  In this parable one servant is forgiven a debt he could never pay.  This same servant failed to show mercy on his fellow and in the end was severely punished.  How different it would have been for him if only he had shown mercy.  God requires us to be merciful and He gives us many opportunities to practice this desirable quality.  His mercy toward us depends, in large part, upon our mercy toward each other.

Happy are the merciful indeed!  For they shall receive mercy.

Thomas Sneed