What Jesus Did : Matthew 5:7 - Extending Mercy
by Phil Ware
Extending Mercy - Matthew 5:7
"What great blessings there are for the people that give mercy to other people! Mercy will be given to them." (ERV) Full TextKey Thought
God has treated us much, much better than we deserve. That fundamental, undergirding spiritual truth is the reality of grace. He has seen us in our sin and had mercy on us because of his great love for us (see Rom. 5:6-11). Even though we have repeatedly proved unfaithful and undependable, both individually and as a group, God has been gracious and merciful. He has repeatedly offered forgiveness, help, redemption, and salvation when we least deserved it. Rather than dealing with us strictly as law would demand, God has dealt with us as a loving father does with his children. This conditioning reality must show up in us. How can we claim to be his children and not be merciful? How can we call for retribution against our brothers and sisters, when fairness would demand we pay a great penalty for our sin? In the Kingdom Family, mercy rules. When that mercy is forgotten by us, then God has promised to use our standard of mercilessness when he judges us. Yet as long as we are merciful to others, God will show us mercy.
Today's Prayer
Holy and righteous Father, I confess that I often want justice when I am violated and mercy when I sin. Thank you for not treating me as I deserve, but instead providing Jesus to be the atoning sacrifice that extends your mercy to me and fulfills your justice on my behalf. Soften my heart that I may reflect your grace and mercy in my dealings with those who have injured me. In the precious name of Jesus I pray. Amen.
Today's Verses in Context
Jesus saw the many people that were there. So Jesus went up on a hill and sat down. His followers came to him. Jesus taught the people. He said: "What great blessings there are for the people that {know they} have spiritual needs! The kingdom of heaven belongs to them. What great blessings there are for the people that are sad now! God will comfort them. What great blessings there are for the people that are humble! They will have the land {God promised}. What great blessings there are for the people that want to do right more than anything else ! God will fully satisfy them. What great blessings there are for the people that give mercy to other people! Mercy will be given to them. What great blessings there are for the people that are pure in their thinking! They will be with God. What great blessings there are for the people that work to bring peace! God will call them his sons and daughters. What great blessings there are for the people that are treated badly for doing good! The kingdom of heaven belongs to them. "People will say bad things against you and hurt you. They will lie and say all kinds of evil things against you because you follow me. But when people do those things to you, know that God will bless you. Be happy and glad. You have a great reward waiting for you in heaven. People did those same bad things to the prophets that lived before you. "You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its taste, then it cannot be made salty again. Salt is good for nothing, if it loses its salty taste. It must be thrown out and people walk on it. "You are the light that gives light to the world. A city that is built on a hill cannot be hidden. And people don't hide a light under a bowl. No. People put the light on a lamp table. Then the light shines for all the people in the house. In the same way, you should be a light for other people. Live so that people will see the good things you do. Live so that people will praise your Father in heaven.-- Matthew 5:1-16 (ERV)
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