The Sermon on the Mount: Section 42, B--Blessed are the merciful.

Section 42 
THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT
 (A Mountain Plateau not far from Capernaum) 
Subdivision B. 
BEATITUDES: PROMISES TO MESSIAH'S SUBJECTS

MATT 5:3-12
LUKE 6:20-26 

Mat 5:7  “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. 

Mercy is something inherently relational--you need two people or two creatures for the concept to exist.   I don't think of the earlier beatitudes in this light---poor in spirit, mourn, meek, hunger and thirst for righteousness--these seem more in relation to God.

The Fourfold Gospel points out the active nature of mercy: "As meekness is rather a passive virtue, so mercy is an active one. The meek bear, and the merciful forbear, and for so doing they shall obtain mercy both from God and man."

I am bent toward mercy.  Sometimes I wonder if this is a self-serving bend; in other words, am I sometimes drawn to mercy because it's easier than forcing people up against a righteous standard that hurts in comparison?  I definitely don't like seeing others in any kind of pain--physical or spiritual.  Is this mercy or just shirking from pain?

One could apply this beatitude selfishly---I should be merciful if only to receive God's mercy?  Tit for tat.  Does God value this type of calculating mercy?  It's complicated.  Our mercy toward men is an extension of God's mercy toward us, which is boundless.  Our mercy toward others is to mirror God's action toward us--not other's appreciation, or lack of appreciation-- of our mercy toward them, our efforts.

Luke 6:32-36 "For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them. And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same. And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again. But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil. Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful."

Luk 6:35  But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. -ESV

It's difficult to be kind to unthankful people! We feel like we are "doing the deal" by extending this extra grace in whatever measure, so if that grace is not recognized, we feel entitled to draw the line and move on.  But, Christ devotes time to developing the nuances of this demanding dynamic--we are not called to a reciprocal kind of kindness but to indiscriminate kindness.

Mic 6:8  He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?  KJ

Mic 6:8  He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? ESV

Col 3:12  Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;

1Jn 3:17  But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?

I have always gravitated toward and loved this verse on mercy:

Jas 2:13  For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment. -KJ

Jas 2:13  For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment. -ESV

The verb “triumphs” or “exults over” (katakauchatai) appears only here, in Jas_3:14, and in Rom_11:18.  -BKC

The simple verb καυχάομαι means to speak loud, to be loud-tongued; hence, to boast. Better, therefore, as Rev., glorieth. Judgment and mercy are personified. While judgment threatens condemnation, mercy interposes and prevails over judgment.-VWS

BKC on James 2:13 "God has ordained unalterable laws. Complete and consistent obedience is required if spiritual maturity is to be attained. The believer is commanded to accept his brother with courtesy, compassion, and consistency."

Even further on than this verse in James, I believe we are called to be merciful to all---Christian or not.  When in doubt of an action, remember that mercy "rejoiceth," "exults," even "glorieth" or "boasts" over judgment.

One question is how does this relate to the prior beatitude about hungering and thirsting for righteousness?  Does it go back to the relationship to God?  We are to hunger and thirst for righteousness directing this thirst as a plea to God, with God fulfilling it...but not as a "judge" toward man?