Blessed are the Merciful
Matthew 5:7
Luke 10:25-37
“On one occasion, an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus.
‘Teacher,’ he asked, ‘what must I do to inherit eternal life?’
‘What is written in the Law?’ he replied. ‘How do you read it?’
He answered, ‘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 ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’
‘You have answered correctly,’ Jesus replied. ‘Do this and you will live.’
But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, ‘And who is my neighbor?’
In reply Jesus said: ‘A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him.
The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. Look after him, he said, and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.
Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?’
The expert in the law replied, ‘The one who had mercy on him.’
Jesus told him, ‘Go and do likewise.’”
The Beatitudes
- Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
- Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
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Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
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Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness - for they will be satisfied.
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Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
Ephesians 2:5,6 “Because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions— it is by grace you have been saved.”
God Is Merciful
“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." Exodus 33:19
“The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin… Exodus 34:6,7
Isaiah 61:8 says, “For I, the LORD, love justice; I hate robbery and wrongdoing.”
Micah 6:8 “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”
"...without mercy to anyone who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment.” (James 2:13)
Luke 6:36, “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.”
Show Mercy…To those who have a material need.
James 2:14,15, “What good is it, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace; keep warm and well fed’, but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it?”
1 John 3:17, “If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person?”
Show Mercy…To those who mess up and need a 2nd chance
Show Mercy…To those who are on the outside
Romans 15:7 "Accept one another in the Lord, as Christ has accepted you."
Show Mercy…To those who are struggling in their walk
Show Mercy…To those who fail and disappoint you
Psalm 103:14 “For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust.”
Show Mercy…When you hear gossip about someone
Show Mercy…To those who hurt you
Show Mercy…To those who need to hear the Gospel
Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
