Blessed are the merciful, For they shall obtain mercy.
Matthew 5:7
Those who give mercy shall receive mercy. Every living soul has access to the mercy seat in the throne room of a loving and merciful God. Indeed we are invited to come boldly before the throne, so that we might obtain mercy, and find grace to help in our time of need, according to Hebrews 4:16. The law of reciprocity, also known as the law of sowing and reaping. Teaches us that we all reap what we sow, so then if we sow mercy, then we shall reap mercy. Therein lies the blessing that shall be obtained by the merciful.
Jesus tells Peter a parable about forgiveness that strikes at the heart of mercy in Matthew 18:23-53; Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. And when he had begun to settle accounts, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. But as he was not able to pay, his master commanded that he be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and that payment be made. The servant therefore fell down before him, saying, ‘Master, have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’ Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt. “But that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and he laid hands on him and took him by the throat, saying, ‘Pay me what you owe!’ So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’ And he would not, but went and threw him into prison till he should pay the debt. So when his fellow servants saw what had been done, they were very grieved, and came and told their master all that had been done. Then his master, after he had called him, said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?’ And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him.
“So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses.”
Jesus uses the word compassion to describe what the servant lacked. The Latin root word is pati, which means to suffer. Sometimes mercy requires us to suffer loss, as in the case of the servant who threw his debtor in prison for a much lesser debt than he owed his master. That is what God sees when we do not show mercy, after he has shown such great mercy towards us. His mercies are new every morning, great is His faithfulness to you and me.
As recipients of mercy, we are indebted to be merciful to others, even if it means we have to suffer loss. Not only will we obtain mercy, but we will enter the realm of godliness. Consider the great loss the Father endured when His only begotten Son hung on a cross and died. Having never committed sin in His earthly walk, yet He was made sin for us, so that we could obtain the righteousness of God. He gave in order that we might receive. Sin is a debt that no flesh can pay. No matter how great the riches are that one possesses, it cannot cancel the debt of sin. Only a righteous and sinless sacrifice, without the blemish of sin can do that; and so it is, Jesus became sin for you and me.
What will you do with the mercy that has been extended to you? The Master will judge us based upon our willingness to freely give mercy, just as we have received it. Or, He will be angry with us as He was with the servant in the parable Jesus told to Peter. Mercy is made manifest every time we forgive and are willing to suffer pain or loss. I promise you that the pain and suffering you endure is not worthy to be compared with the pain and suffering that Jesus endured on the cross for you.
Blessed are the merciful, For they shall obtain mercy.
Maranatha
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