I laughed at myself as a sentimentalist but with the reservation that emotion enriched life’s experiences.”
–Zane Grey (Western Union)
“We have different gifts, according to the grace given us…if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.”
–Romans 12:6, 8 (NIV)
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“Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.” –Matthew 5:7 (KJV)
Have you noticed that the first four beatitudes deal with our condition before God? Now we turn our attention to those that deal with our attitudes towards others. This morning we look at mercy. James writes, “Because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!!” (2:13, NIV) Does that mean that we let lawbreakers go scot free? No, absolutely not. This is not dealing with lawbreakers, though at times mercy is indeed needed, but in our relationship with others.
Note, this is not a requirement for salvation. This is a duty that turns into a reward. Salvation comes to our hearts, then afterwards we show the effects in mercy. John Stott says that “Mercy is compassion for people in need.” When we find mercy in the Lord’s sight it causes us to want to have mercy to those who have wronged us. Stott continues, “Nothing moves us to forgive like the wondering knowledge that we ourselves have been forgiven. Nothing proves more clearly that we have been forgiven than our own willingness to forgive.”
There is actually no word to translate the Greek word for mercy, “eleemon.” It is to sympathize, but more; it is the ability to get right inside the other person’s skin until we can see things with their eyes, think things with their mind, and feel things with their feelings. Simply then, to walk a mile in their shoes. Mercy is a deliberate effort of the mind and will to be literally going through what that person is going through.
We read in Proverbs 11:17, “The merciful man does good for his own soul, but he who is cruel troubles his own flesh.” (NKJV) Mercy is helping others, but it is also good for the one showing mercy. Pink says that mercy is the “gracious disposition toward man.” It is the kindness and benevolence that feels the miseries of others. It regards with compassion the suffering of the afflicted. It is the scorning of revenge; a person with a forgiving spirit that is nonretaliating.
Let’s look at three points regarding mercy. First of all, it is not being sensitive in our way of thinking. Look at the example of Martha. She wanted to serve Jesus, please Him, to do right by Him by preparing a meal, a clean home, when all Jesus wanted was some peace and quiet. Sometimes we go about being merciful with right motives, but with wrong methods not understanding the reason for the person’s condition. That is the second point, understanding the reason for the person’s need. That helps in determining how to show mercy. Sometimes mercy is what we call “tough love.” There is a French proverb that states, “To know all is to forgive all.” Understanding the reason then is vital.
One more point we must remember and not forget. Jesus showed mercy, first of all by the incarnation–by coming to earth as a man. “God knows what life is like, because God came right inside life.” (William Barclay) That is the supreme instance of mercy–the coming of God in Jesus Christ. The writer of Hebrews proclaims, “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feelings of our infirmities…” (4:15, NKJV). J.B. Phillips translates it this way, “For we have no superhuman High Priest to whom our weaknesses are unintelligible–he himself has shared fully in all our experience of temptation, except that he never sinned.” Yes, as God, He fully knew in His infinite knowledge, but for us, to remind and help us in our trials, Jesus came to feel and experience the troubles of man. Barclays says, “Because of God’s mercy we now act mercifully toward others.”
–Romans 12:6, 8 (NIV)
———————————-
“Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.” –Matthew 5:7 (KJV)
Have you noticed that the first four beatitudes deal with our condition before God? Now we turn our attention to those that deal with our attitudes towards others. This morning we look at mercy. James writes, “Because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!!” (2:13, NIV) Does that mean that we let lawbreakers go scot free? No, absolutely not. This is not dealing with lawbreakers, though at times mercy is indeed needed, but in our relationship with others.
Note, this is not a requirement for salvation. This is a duty that turns into a reward. Salvation comes to our hearts, then afterwards we show the effects in mercy. John Stott says that “Mercy is compassion for people in need.” When we find mercy in the Lord’s sight it causes us to want to have mercy to those who have wronged us. Stott continues, “Nothing moves us to forgive like the wondering knowledge that we ourselves have been forgiven. Nothing proves more clearly that we have been forgiven than our own willingness to forgive.”
There is actually no word to translate the Greek word for mercy, “eleemon.” It is to sympathize, but more; it is the ability to get right inside the other person’s skin until we can see things with their eyes, think things with their mind, and feel things with their feelings. Simply then, to walk a mile in their shoes. Mercy is a deliberate effort of the mind and will to be literally going through what that person is going through.
We read in Proverbs 11:17, “The merciful man does good for his own soul, but he who is cruel troubles his own flesh.” (NKJV) Mercy is helping others, but it is also good for the one showing mercy. Pink says that mercy is the “gracious disposition toward man.” It is the kindness and benevolence that feels the miseries of others. It regards with compassion the suffering of the afflicted. It is the scorning of revenge; a person with a forgiving spirit that is nonretaliating.
Let’s look at three points regarding mercy. First of all, it is not being sensitive in our way of thinking. Look at the example of Martha. She wanted to serve Jesus, please Him, to do right by Him by preparing a meal, a clean home, when all Jesus wanted was some peace and quiet. Sometimes we go about being merciful with right motives, but with wrong methods not understanding the reason for the person’s condition. That is the second point, understanding the reason for the person’s need. That helps in determining how to show mercy. Sometimes mercy is what we call “tough love.” There is a French proverb that states, “To know all is to forgive all.” Understanding the reason then is vital.
One more point we must remember and not forget. Jesus showed mercy, first of all by the incarnation–by coming to earth as a man. “God knows what life is like, because God came right inside life.” (William Barclay) That is the supreme instance of mercy–the coming of God in Jesus Christ. The writer of Hebrews proclaims, “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feelings of our infirmities…” (4:15, NKJV). J.B. Phillips translates it this way, “For we have no superhuman High Priest to whom our weaknesses are unintelligible–he himself has shared fully in all our experience of temptation, except that he never sinned.” Yes, as God, He fully knew in His infinite knowledge, but for us, to remind and help us in our trials, Jesus came to feel and experience the troubles of man. Barclays says, “Because of God’s mercy we now act mercifully toward others.”