Blessed Are The Merciful, For They Will Be Shown Mercy

Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount exposes self-righteousness and makes a clear division between it and the true righteousness needed to enter the kingdom of heaven. Righteousness cannot be earned based on what you do and what you refrain from doing, for man absolutely cannot meet God’s standards on his own. He must become a humble follower of Jesus Christ who places his trust in God, and not on himself. This is the result of the new birth that Jesus’ talked about to Nicodemus . True righteousness comes from the heart and out of love for God and seeks to do whatever pleases Him.

The sermon also reveals that man can live a blessed life only when his character is changed by the working of the Holy Spirit and he lives according to God’s design. The life lived in obedience to God is the life that is pleasing to God.

To be merciful is to show forgiveness and compassion to those in need. Jesus frequently spoke of this trait. In the Lord’s Prayer, He says, “Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors” (Matthew 6:12). In Matthew 9:13 Jesus instructs the Pharisees, “Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

We are blessed if we are merciful because mercy is something God Himself displays. God’s mercy is the withholding of a just punishment; it is His compassion on the miserable. Deuteronomy 30:3 says, “The LORD your God will restore your fortunes. He will have mercy on you” . The psalmist writes, “Praise be to the LORD, for he has heard my cry for mercy” (Psalm 28:6). Jesus Himself often showed mercy, as we see in His healing of the man freed from demons: “Go home to your own people and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you” (Mark 5:19).

We too have received God’s mercy. Romans 11:30 notes, “You who were at one time disobedi-ent to God have now received mercy.” Paul shared that his ministry was given to him by God’s mercy (2 Corinthians 4:1). He also saw his salvation as an act of God’s mercy: “I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief” (1 Timothy 1:13). Our salvation is also called an act of God’s mercy: “He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but be-cause of his mercy” (Titus 3:5). As Peter expressed it, “In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (1 Peter 1:3).

The sermon’s theme is found in Matt.5:17-20. Jesus did not come to end or to abolish the law. He came to fulfill it and establish true righteousness. The system of the scribes and Pharisees promoted a legalistic self-righteousness, but those who would enter the kingdom of heaven must have a righteousness that exceeds that. They tried to gain it by an outward bending to man made rules and regulations, but true righteousness is a matter of a changed inner life which cannot be lived out on human abilities alone. This is demonstrated by the character qualities Jesus describes that develop in those who are truly righteousness – Being poor in spirit, mourning, meekness, hungering and thirsting for righteousness, mercy, purity of heart, being a peacemaker and rejoicing in the midst of unjust persecution (Matt. 5:3-12). A person who is righteous is salt and light to the world. The unrighteous have contrasting characteristics of being proud, celebrating, assertive, hungering and thirsting after mammon, vengeful, cunning, agitating and persecuting.

True righteousness will also demonstrate itself is striving to live to a higher internal standard and not just an outward legal one. This includes refraining from verbal expressions of hatred – not just murder (5:21-26). Refraining from lust – not just adultery (5:27-30). Refraining from divorce itself, not just making sure the paper work was done properly (5:31-32). Being true to one’s word and keeping every vow, not just certain ones (5:33-37). Not seeking revenge at all instead of seeking it to the law’s limits (5:38-42). Loving your enemy as well as your neighbor (5:43-48). Doing all acts of righteousness such as giving alms (6:1-4), prayer (6:5-15) and fasting (6:16-18) to please God – not man. Laying up treasure in heaven, not on earth and having no worry be-cause you trust God for the future (6:19-34). Critical self-examination before criticizing another (7:1-6). Treating that which is holy properly (7:6). Seeking from God and treating others graciously (7:7-12). Entering by the narrow gate and being so discerning that you can recognize the false prophet even when they sound so good (7:13-23). And following the teachings of Christ (7:24-27).