Scripture portion: Matthew 5:7- “BLESSED ARE THE MERCIFUL: FOR THEY SHALL OBTAIN MERCY”
Introduction: In Matthew 5:3 and 5:4, we saw how a man can get saved and in the next two verses i.e. in verses 5 and 6, we saw the two qualities which accompany a saved person. But, the Lord is also talking about two other qualities in the next two verses, which should be acquired after lot of experience in facing tribulations and temptations. Unlike the first two qualities of meekness, and hunger and thirst for righteousness, which will immediately manifest in a saved person, these two qualities which we are going to meditate next, i.e. mercy (in verse 7) and holiness (in verse 8), will take a very long time, and in most cases a life time to be acquired even in small quantities.
As a result of your salvation, you will become meek and also hunger and thirst after righteousness. But, being filled with mercy and holiness is not so easy. We will now meditate on how we can become merciful so that we can also obtain mercy when we most need it, as the Lord is speaking through Matthew 5:7.
Mercy of God is different from mercy of men. In Matthew 5:7, the kind of mercy Jesus is speaking about is the mercy of God. We have to be filled with the same kind of mercy towards others as that of God’s. God’s mercy towards us is too great to be fully comprehended by reading about it. It has to be experienced. Those who tasted the mercy of God, know how sweet it is. Jesus is expecting us to have the same kind of mercy towards our fellow human beings. To show that kind of mercy to others is not so easy. The standard of mercy of God is far greater than the standard of human mercy. To be filled with the mercy of God, we should first comprehend it.
To comprehend at least in part, the kind of mercy that God is showing to the people of this world, it is important for us to see the people of this world through God’s eyes, i.e. we have to see this world from the perspective of God. Then we can realize what kind of mercy with which we have to be filled.
What are the situations in which we will have an opportunity to show mercy? We can show mercy when somebody is in a helpless state, or in danger, or had sinned against us. Our perception of helplessness, danger, and sin is limited only to this world. But God’s perception of helplessness, danger, and sin is not only related to this world but also to the life after death. Therefore, our mercy is limited; where as God’s mercy is unlimited. Our hearts never burn with mercy with the same intensity with that of God’s heart. The mercy of God is everlasting and is the same all the time. But, our mercy is neither everlasting nor is the same all the time. Mercy of God should be filled in our hearts through His Holy Spirit.
People become helpless for various reasons: some because of poverty; some because of lack of a job. In the journey through their lives, people come face to face with many helpless situations. In these times, they desperately seek someone’s help. They seek for mercy. If we are kind enough to understand their problems and have the ability, we will show mercy to them. We will help them as much as we can. But, is that mercy enough? God’s mercy goes far beyond this. In God’s sight, people are helpless, not only in the things concerning this world, but also in the things concerning Heaven. They are helpless in saving their own souls. They are in danger of attack from satan and his kingdom. People are being tortured mercilessly, physically, mentally, and spiritually by demons. We can see only outer things. But God is seeing the deeper things. His heart is being broken. His mercy is flowing over. He created them with His own hands. But now, all of them are helpless. All of them are in danger of going to hell. He was not able to stay in Heaven for long, leaving this world He created in such a pitiful condition. God became man. He came into the world in the name of Jesus Christ. He demonstrated His infinite mercy towards us in the Cross. God is not only concerned about our physical health, or financial condition, or social status, but also about our spiritual condition. The seriousness of losing our souls to hell is much greater than losing our lives in this world because of problems. God knows it all too well. That is why His mercy is overflowing. He is ready to show mercy to sinners who ask for forgiveness. He is eagerly waiting to forgive us and show His mercy. You should show the same kind of mercy to those who sinned against you.
You cannot understand the mercy of God unless you experience salvation. The natural man (or the unbeliever) can at the most show mercy related to the things of this world. But a spiritual man (a saved person or believer) can and must show the same mercy as that of God’s. But it is annoying to see that the mercy which the church is showing is no better than the mercy of the gentiles. Blessed are they who are really filled with the mercy of God. Jesus is asking us to be merciful, not only in the things concerning this world, but also in the things concerning the world to come.
We can best show mercy to those who went through the same kind of trials and tribulations as we went through. We experience the mercy of God when we are saved. But that experience is not sufficient to show the same kind of mercy to others. One way of obtaining ability to show the mercy of God to others is by experiencing trials and tribulations. By experiencing tribulations, we will come to understand and sympathize completely with others. Those who have experienced many kinds of tribulations can show mercy to vast number of people. For example, if you had never been bed-ridden for several months or years because of a physical sickness, then you can never completely sympathize with people who go through those situations. As a result, your mercy towards them will be limited. It is similar with financial problems or harassment from demons or any other kind of problem imaginable. If you never experienced a particular problem, you will never completely sympathize with the people who experience those problems. If you are not a saved person, you will never have a burden for perishing souls. If you never experienced the fear of hell, you can never show mercy to the people who are going to hell. If you never experienced torture from evil spirits, then you may laugh at people who are being tortured by them.
Do not be under the misconception that when the Holy Spirit comes, you will be filled automatically with the mercy of God. No, it is not a magic! First you must experience tribulations for yourself, if you want to understand the problems of others and be used by God in the ministry of saving souls. Holy Spirit will only come and fill you with the mercy of God when you do not complain against God because of the problems you are going through. If you want Holy Spirit to fill your heart with mercy, then first of all you should be of the faith that God is good even in the worst of your situations and secondly, you should be patient.
Mercy is a prerequisite for any one who want to enter into ministry. Another prerequisite for entering into ministry is holiness (as given in Matthew 5:8). My dear friend, I want you to observe how beautifully the Lord has revealed to us the steps in our spiritual life. Firstly, in Matthew 5:3 and 5:4, He is teaching us the method of salvation. Secondly, in Matthew 5:5 and 5:6, He is showing us the two qualities every saved person should possess. Thirdly, in Matthew 5:7 and 5:8, He is showing us the two qualities, which, we have to acquire to be prepared for the ministry, and fourthly and finally, in Matthew 5:9 to 5:12, He is showing us the kind of ministry we should accomplish. Those who do not have mercy and holiness cannot be fruitful in ministry. Therefore Matthew 5:7 and 5:8 are prerequisites for Matthew 5:9 to 5:12. Matthew 5:3 is the first step and Matthew 5:12 is the last step in our spiritual journey in this world. You can stop at any step. God will not force you to take another step. If you want to climb through all the steps up to the final step, i.e. up to Matthew 5:12, then you should have tremendous faith in God and a lot of patience.
The process of being filled with mercy is a crucial step in our spiritual lives. Many people climb from Matthew 5:3 to Matthew 5:6 very easily. But Matthew 5:7 i.e. being filled with mercy is a big step to take. Those who can climb this step are on their way to become God’s servants. They are on their way to ministry. They are on the path of becoming a great blessing to countless people who are heading towards hell. Because, they have climbed a great step. They are filled with mercy; the same mercy as that of God’s. They stopped complaining and doubting God. They became faithful to God. They learned to never leave Jesus because of their problems. They became bold. They sacrificed themselves. As a result, God filled them with His own mercy to show it to others. They will now obtain a never ending river of mercy from God, with which, they can overcome sin or sickness or demons or anything. This mercy is not the mercy they obtained when they were saved. This is a special mercy which is given to them to climb the next step in their spiritual journey which is given in Matthew 5:8 (Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God). This is the meaning of obtaining mercy when Jesus says in Matthew 5:7 that the merciful will obtain mercy. They are blessed, because they have now obtained the mercy to climb the next step of their spiritual journey. The two-fold blessing of climbing the present step that we are meditating (i.e. Matthew 5:7) is that we have been filled with mercy to show to others and also we have obtained mercy to climb the next step. Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. Amen.
