What does “blessed are the merciful” mean?

Answer

Jesus begins His Sermon on the Mount with the Beatitudes, a series of statements describing the blessed life. The fifth Beatitude states, “Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy” « Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. », (Matthew 5:7).

First, the word translated as “blessed” generally means “happy” or “joyful.” It signifies a spiritual blessedness, a divine satisfaction that results from a right relationship with God.

To be merciful is to show forgiveness and compassion to those in need. Jesus often spoke about this trait. In the Lord’s Prayer, He says, “Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors” «And forgive us our debts, as we forgive 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 demonstrates. God’s mercy involves the withholding of a just punishment; it is His compassion for the miserable. Deuteronomy 30:3 says, “The LORD your God will restore your fortunes. He will have mercy on you” (NLT). The psalmist writes, “Praise be to the LORD, for he has heard my cry for mercy” «Blessed be the LORD, Because he hath heard the voice of my supplications. », (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” «Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them what great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee. », (Mark 5:19).

Tell them about the great things the Lord has done for you and the compassion He has shown you.” (Mark 5:19).

We have received God’s mercy. Romans 11:30 states, “You who were once disobedient to God have now received mercy.” Paul shared that his ministry was given to him by God’s mercy, “Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we do not lose heart;” (2 Corinthians 4:1). He also viewed his salvation as an act of God’s mercy: “I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief,” “Although I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man; but I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.” (1 Timothy 1:13). Our salvation is also described as an act of God’s mercy: “He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy,” “not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit,” (Titus 3:5). As Peter articulated, “In His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,” “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,” (1 Peter 1:3).

God’s children reflect His mercy and are therefore merciful themselves. Those who show mercy in this world are blessed because they experience God’s joy. The merciful person will be eternally happy because he understands God’s mercy.