Applying the Principle of Mercy in Matthew 5:7 Daily
Matthew 5:7, part of Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, states, "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy" [1]. This beatitude establishes mercy as a cardinal virtue, promising a reciprocal divine response to those who practice it [5].
The Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) is a foundational discourse in Christian ethics, outlining the character and conduct expected of those in God's kingdom. The beatitudes, which open the sermon, describe qualities that lead to blessedness, often in ways that challenge conventional human understanding of happiness or success. Mercy is presented here not merely as an admirable trait but as a condition for receiving mercy from God [5]. This theme of reciprocity is echoed elsewhere in Jesus' teaching, such as in Matthew 6:12, 14-15, where forgiveness of others is linked to receiving divine forgiveness, and in Matthew 7:1-2, which warns against judgmentalism [5, 8].
The term "merciful" (Greek: eleēmones) refers to those who show kindness and compassion, particularly to those in distress [5]. This encompasses both an inward disposition of pity and an outward act of benevolence [12]. John Gill, in his commentary, expands on this, describing the merciful as those who show compassion to the bodies of men—the poor, indigent, and miserable—through sympathy and material aid. He also includes showing mercy to the souls of men by instructing the ignorant, offering counsel, reproving sin, praying for others, and forgiving injuries [9]. The concept of mercy is deeply rooted in the Old Testament, where God's mercy is frequently described as great, rich, manifold, plenteous, abundant, sure, everlasting, and tender [3]. God's mercy is also seen as His delight and is manifested in sending Christ [3]. The Old Testament enjoins mercy, often after the example of God, and describes it as a characteristic of saints [2].
The application of mercy is broad. It should be shown with cheerfulness, to brethren, to those in distress, to the poor, to backsliders, and even to animals [2]. Proverbs 12:10 states that "a righteous man has regard for the life of his beast," illustrating the breadth of this principle [2]. The exercise of mercy is considered beneficial to those who practice it [2].
The promise that the merciful "shall obtain mercy" highlights a divine principle of recompense. This mercy is understood to be God's mercy, particularly in the context of final judgment [5, 8]. James 2:13 reinforces this, stating that "judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful," and conversely, "mercy triumphs over judgment" [11]. This does not imply that human mercy earns salvation, but rather that a merciful disposition is an evidence of a heart transformed by God's grace, reflecting His character [11]. As Jamieson, Fausset & Brown note on Romans 15:7, if Christ received believers with all their weaknesses, then believers should likewise receive and compassionate one another, thereby glorifying God [6].
The concept of mercy is closely related to God's "loving-kindness" (hesed in Hebrew), which is described as great, excellent, good, marvelous, multitudinous, everlasting, and merciful [4]. This loving-kindness is experienced through Christ [4]. The call to mercy is not at the expense of opposing sin, but Jesus' teaching often cautions against oppressive control or rigorous scrutiny of trivial matters in the name of pastoral concern, reminding believers that God alone has the right to judge [8].
Jesus' parables further illustrate the principle of mercy. The parable of the unforgiving servant (Matthew 18:23-35) directly links receiving forgiveness from God to one's willingness to forgive others. The servant who was forgiven a massive debt but refused to forgive a small debt owed to him faced severe consequences, underscoring the expectation of reciprocal mercy [5]. Jesus' instruction to forgive "seventy times seven" (Matthew 18:22) emphasizes a limitless readiness to forgive from the heart [10].
The daily application of Matthew 5:7 involves cultivating a heart of compassion and actively demonstrating kindness to those in need. This includes both tangible acts of charity and an attitude of forgiveness and understanding towards others. It is a call to emulate God's character, whose compassion reaches out to the needy and who forgives generously [7]. The blessedness promised is not merely a future reward but also a present reality for those who live mercifully, as they experience the grace and compassion of God in their own lives [1, 5].
Sources
- Matthew “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. -- Matthew 5:7”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Mercy — After the example of God -- Lu 6:36. Enjoined -- 2Ki 6:21-23; Ho 12:6; Ro 12:20,21; Col 3:12. To be engraved on the heart -- Pr 3:3. Characteristic of saints -- Ps 37:26; Isa 57:1. Should be shown With cheerfulness. -- Ro 12:8. To our brethren. -- Zec 7:9. to those that are in distress. -- Lu 10:37. To the poor. -- Pr 14:31; Da 4:27. To backsliders. -- Lu 15:18-20; 2Co 2:6-8. To animals. -- Pr 12:10. Upholds the throne of kings -- Pr 20:28. Beneficial to those who exercise -- Pr 11:17. Blessedness of showing -- Pr 14:21; Mt 5:7. Hypocrites devoid of -- Mt 23:”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Mercy of God, The — Is part of his character -- Ex 34:6,7; Ps 62:12; Ne 9:17; Jon 4:2,10,11; 2Co 1:3. Described as Great. -- Nu 14:18; Isa 54:7. Rich. -- Eph 2:4. Manifold. -- Ne 9:27; La 3:32. Plenteous. -- Ps 86:5,15; 103:8. Abundant. -- 1Pe 1:3. Sure. -- Isa 55:3; Mic 7:20. Everlasting. -- 1Ch 16:34; Ps 89:28; 106:1; 107:1; 136:1-26. Tender. -- Ps 25:6; 103:4; Lu 1:78. New every morning. -- La 3:23. High as heaven. -- Ps 36:5; 103:11. Filling the earth. -- Ps 119:64. Over all his works. -- Ps 145:9. Is his delight -- Mic 7:18. Manifested In the sending of Christ. ”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Loving-Kindness of God, The — Is through Christ -- Eph 2:7; Tit 3:4-6. Described as Great. -- Ne 9:17. Excellent. -- Ps 36:7. Good. -- Ps 69:16. Marvellous. -- Ps 17:7; 31:21. Multitudinous. -- Isa 63:7. Everlasting. -- Isa 54:8. Merciful. -- Ps 117:2. Better than life. -- Ps 63:3. Consideration of the dealings of God gives a knowledge of -- Ps 107:43. Saints Betrothed in. -- Ho 2:19. Drawn by. -- Jer 31:3. Preserved by. -- Ps 40:11. Quickened after. -- Ps 119:88. Comforted by. -- Ps 119:76. Look for mercy through. -- Ps 51:1. Receive mercy through. -- Isa 54:8. Are ”
- Matthew (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Matthew 5:7: 5:7 Jesus made a cardinal virtue of being merciful, that is, showing kindness to those in distress (see 6:12, 14-15; 9:13; 12:7; 18:23-35; 23:23; 25:31-46). Those who are merciful now will find God’s mercy in the final judgment.”
- Romans (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Romans 15:7: Wherefore--returning to the point receive ye one another . . . to the glory of God--If Christ received us, and bears with all our weaknesses, well may we receive and compassionate one with another, and by so doing God will be glorified.”
- Isaiah (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Isaiah 55:7: 55:7 Let the wicked change . . . turn to the Lord: True conversion demands a change of how we live in favor of God’s requirements (see 1:16-17; 30:15; 59:20). • have mercy on them: God’s compassion reaches out to the needy and finds them where they are. • he will forgive generously: Forgiveness of sin is foundational to the good news of redemption (see Eph 1:7; Col 1:14; see also Pss 32:1; 86:5; 99:8; 103:2-5).”
- Matthew (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Matthew 7:1: 7:1 Mercy is a dominant theme in Jesus’ teaching and practice (9:9-13; 12:1-7), but not at the expense of clear opposition to sin (see 18:15-20; 23:13-33). At the same time, Jesus calls for people to stop oppressively controlling others in the name of pastoral concern. The judgment Jesus prohibits often involves rigorous scrutiny of trivial matters (see 23:23-24). God alone has the right to judge (see Jas 4:11-12). • you will not be judged: This might refer to God’s judgment at the end of history (see Matt 5:7). God measures us by our treatment of others (see 6:12”
- Matthew (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Matthew 5:7: Blessed are the merciful,.... Who show mercy to the bodies of men, to those that are poor, indigent, and miserable, in their outward circumstances; by both sympathizing with them, and distributing unto them; not only making use of expressions of pity and concern; but communicating with readiness and cheerfulness, with affection and tenderness, and with a view to the glory of God: who also show mercy to the souls of men, by instructing such as are ignorant, giving them good counsel and advice: reproving them for sin, praying for them, forgiving injuries done by them, a”
- Matthew (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Matthew 18:22: 18:22 seventy times seven: Or seventy-seven times; either way, Jesus prescribes limitless readiness to forgive from the heart (18:35; cp. Gen 4:23-24).”
- James (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on James 2:13: The converse of, "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy" (Mat 5:7). Translate, "The judgment (which is coming on all of us) shall be without mercy to him who hath showed no mercy." It shall be such toward every one as every one shall have been [BENGEL]. "Mercy" here corresponds to "love," Jam 2:8. mercy rejoiceth against judgment--Mercy, so far from fearing judgment in the case of its followers, actually glorifieth against it, knowing that it cannot condemn them. Not that their mercy is the ground of their acquittal, but the mercy of G”
- Proverbs (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Proverbs 19:17: Here is, I. The duty of charity described. It includes two things: - 1. Compassion, which is the inward principle of charity in the heart; it is to have pity on the poor. Those that have not a penny for the poor, yet may have pity for them, a charitable concern and sympathy; and, if a man give all his goods to feed the poor and have not this charity in his heart, it is nothing, Co1 13:3. We must draw out our souls to the hungry, Isa 58:10. 2. Bounty and liberality. We must not only pity the poor, but give, according to their necessity and our ability, Jam 2:15,”