Blessed are the Merciful

Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
Matthew 5.7

The Sermon on the Mount is a sacred treasure house of the most valuable truths. This special message contains a rich and unsurpassed source of practical instruction and heavenly comfort. It has ever been valued by all who have been taught their utter dependence on divine grace.

The Beatitudes form the beginning of this memorable sermon. In these pronouncements, Christ declares and explains the nature of the evidences of divine grace. He provides a plain and unmistakable answer to the weighty question, how can we tell that we have experienced the grace of God? This is one of the reasons why God’s children have such a special interest in the Beatitudes.

Surprisingly, those who are pronounced blessed are the poor in spirit, the mourners, the meek, and they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness.

The blessedness referred to here does not primarily signify a feeling of blessedness; it is rather a state of blessedness. Man in his natural condition is by reason of sin under God’s displeasure. He is under God’s curse, and he can only be delivered by the love of God revealed in Christ, the crucified and risen Redeemer. When this redeeming love is applied to the heart by the Holy Spirit, a sinner is delivered from the curse and he is restored to a state of blessedness.

What is meant by the distinguishing characteristic merciful? In other words, who are the merciful? The merciful are of a gentle, forgiving and compassionate spirit. They express the feelings of their compassionate hearts by the comforting words of their sympathetic lips and by the use of their benevolent hands. They are much needed in the world of our day. The merciful are so towards their fellow believers. They actively sympathise with them in all their various sorrows and afflictions. They overlook weaknesses and provide comfort as much as they are able. The merciful are also compassionate towards their fellow sinners, even towards those who persecute them.

A merciful person has a marked sense of compassion towards his fellow creatures. This compassion goes deeper than that which is at times displayed by the natural man. The natural man may show a certain measure of compassion towards his fellow creatures. However, he never shows a serious concern for them as persons who are in misery on account of their sinful and lost condition.

The person who by divine grace has been made spiritually alive views his fellow sinners who are still without the grace of God in deep distress. The heart of the merciful is filled with a genuine compassion. He has a living and an active concern. Why is this so? First of all, he is personally acquainted with the real nature of man’s misery and wretchedness. He has a true knowledge of sin; he knows what it means to be a lost and undone sinner. He views sin as man’s greatest enemy. Secondly, he has a personal knowledge of the precious Remedy. He has experienced the power and comfort of God’s redeeming love revealed in Christ. Therefore, he points needy sinners to the precious Saviour, Who alone is fully suitable and able to meet the desperate situation of a helpless sinner.

The merciful are well aware that they cannot measure how much they owe to the mercy of God. In their own estimation they are the chief of sinners. If God has saved them, then He is certainly able to grant the self same precious mercy to their fellow sinners. Indeed, humbled sinners know their own imperfections and do not look down on others. Those who are merciful love to encourage their fellow sinners to flee the wrath to come and to lay hold of eternal life. In tender compassion they tell them about the serious nature of their need and urge them to flee to the perfect Refuge that is set before us in the Gospel.

The merciful delight to speak about the royal invitation of the Gospel: ‘Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest’ (Matthew 11.28). This invitation is not founded on human worthiness or ability. It has a much better foundation: the finished work of Christ. The merciful also love to unfold the priceless promise of the Gospel: ‘him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out’ (John 6.37). Neither are they silent on the sacred command of the Gospel: ‘but now [God] commandeth all men every where to repent’ (Acts 17.30). Most of all, they like to portray the wondrous all-sufficiency of the most gracious and compassionate Saviour of the lost. It is a precious comfort to the merciful that they may plead for their fellow sinners at the Throne of Grace; this is one of their sacred delights. They trust God that He is able and willing to save the most troubled sinners. They pray to God that He may be pleased to bless His Word to the hearts of needy sinners.

‘They shall obtain mercy’, or they shall be shown mercy. Divine mercy is the secret of their lives. Mercy made the merciful what they are. Mercy delivered them from the wrath to come. Mercy was the fountain of their pardon and caused the love of God to rest on them. Mercy brought them on the way to their eternal home in heaven. Mercy gave them a merciful disposition and made them act accordingly. They have received mercy and they are promised that they will obtain mercy whenever they need it. That means all throughout their lives and even in death. Mercy is and ever remains their foremost need.

All the mercy they need in this life while still here on earth will be provided.

God will pardon all their sins and shortcomings. They will obtain His heavenly mercy to sustain them when they are tried and tempted. The afflictions of the merciful may be many in number, but they will ever anew experience that the everlasting arms of God will be there to uphold and to comfort them. Their foes may often seek their downfall, but the Lord in His abundant mercy will always grant the needed relief. The enemies may be rather strong and oppressive, but heavenly mercy will ever provide sufficient support. Satan may threaten like a roaring lion; however, to Christ he is a defeated foe. In His infinite love and mercy, Christ will ever be the Advocate of His needy people. No harm shall befall them without the will of their merciful Protector. He makes all things work together for their good. The need of God’s children may be of a very serious nature, but their faithful Redeemer will ever grant His gracious and timely help. Even in the solemn hour of their death, He will provide the necessary mercy.

What is the connecting link between the two parts of our text? Why do the merciful obtain mercy? Why is mercy shown to them? The link is not one of merit. Mercy cannot be obtained on the basis of our being merciful. We are not saved by good works.

Jesus Christ is the only foundation of the sinner’s hope. In the redemption accomplished by this compassionate Redeemer is a fulness of grace for needy sinners, and this fulness can never be exhausted. However, good works are ever the fruit of saving grace. ‘Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit’ (Matthew 7.17). Remember that the merciful have been blessed and as such are children of God. God is to them their reconciled Father; they belong to His adopted family. The merciful have already been graciously pardoned for the sake of Christ’s blood and righteousness. They are grieved at the thought that they still sin against their heavenly Father, Who has been so very gracious to them. This they find hard to bear. What they daily need is a Father’s pardon. They seek and find their comfort in the Father’s unchanging love and grace revealed in the sacrifice of Christ their Mediator. This sacrifice never loses its power; it has an infinite effectiveness. With a sacred fondness, a child of God ever values the pardon of his heavenly Father. In childlike trust, he loves to plead, ‘forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors’ (Matthew 6.12).

How blessed are the merciful. Their blessedness knows no end. They have obtained mercy and mercy will be shown to them whenever they need it. Those who are merciful are not so by nature. This disposition is a fruit of God’s grace. Only divine mercy makes us new creatures in Christ Jesus. This mercy makes them gentle, forgiving and compassionate. In other words, mercy makes merciful. Mercy is also the secret of growth in this grace. The absence of a merciful spirit is evidence of the lack of true holiness. And remember, without holiness no man will see the Lord (cf. Hebrews 12.14). Are you merciful? Do you love the brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus? Do you actively show your compassion to those who are in sorrow and distress? Do you have compassion for sinners who are still without Christ? Are you willing to forgive your enemies?

How blessed the man who thoughtfully
The poor and meek befriends;
Deliv’rance in the evil day
To him Jehovah sends.

The Lord will keep him, guard his life,
On earth he shall be blest;
The Lord will not surrender him
By foes to be distressed.

Upon the bed of suffering
Jehovah will sustain,
And in his sickness
God will soothe
The weariness and pain.

Psalter no. 113:1,2,3¹