Lesson 6:
The Merciful
Matthew 5:7 Blessed
are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.
Hosea 6:6 For
I desire mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than
burnt offerings.
MERCY
1. compassionate
or kindly forbearance shown toward an offender, an enemy, or other
person in one's power; compassion, pity, or benevolence: Have
mercy on the poor sinner.
4. an act of
kindness, compassion, or favor: She has performed countless small
mercies for her friends and neighbors.
"mercy."
Dictionary.com Unabridged. Random House, Inc. 31 May. 2014.
<Dictionary.com http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/mercy>.
MERCY
1. That
benevolence, mildness or tenderness of heart which disposes a person
to overlook injuries, or to treat an offender better than he
deserves; the disposition that tempers justice, and induces an
injured person to forgive trespasses and injuries, and to forbear
punishment, or inflict less than law or justice will warrant. In this
sense, there is perhaps no word in our language precisely synonymous
with mercy. That which comes nearest to it is grace. It implies
benevolence, tenderness, mildness, pity or compassion, and clemency,
but exercised only towards offenders. Mercy is a distinguishing
attribute of the Supreme Being.
The Lord is
long-suffering and of great mercy, forgiving iniquity and
transgression, and by no means clearing the guilty. Num.14.
3. Pity;
compassion manifested towards a person in distress.
And he
said, he that showed mercy on him. Luke.10.
"mercy."
Noah Webster's 1828 American Dictionary of the English Language.
2014. http://1828.mshaffer.com/d/word/mercy
(31 May 2014).
The main
points for this lesson:
Remember,
beatitude means happy or blessed. Jesus is telling us the way to true
happiness and blessedness. The beatitudes teach us who will be happy
and why that person will be happy.
The merciful are
those who show mercy to others. To show mercy is to show love,
kindness and compassion to others who either deserve punishment
and/or are in the midst of distress and suffering. (I wrote the
“and/or” because the lines between these are often blurred, or
even nonexistent. Our enemies or the guilty may often be in distress
and suffering. And those his distress and suffering may be, or appear
to be, guilty or deserving of their distress and suffering.)
Jesus told a parable of a king who wanted to settle accounts with his
servants (Matthew 18:21-35). One servant had incurred a debt far
beyond his ability to repay. He was sentenced to be sold, along with
his family and possessions, in order to recover at least some of his
debt. This servant was guilty. He asked the king, his master, for
patience. The king was merciful. He showed kindness and compassion to
his servant who deserved punishment. This is an illustration of mercy
as showing love, kindness and compassion to the guilty, to those who
deserve punishment.
In the story of the good Samaritan (Luke 10:29-37), the man traveling
from Jerusalem to Jericho was beaten by robbers and left for dead. He
was in distress. He was suffering and in need of help. After two men
passed him by, a Samaritan stopped and helped this man (to say he
helped the man is perhaps an understatement considering all he did
for the man). The Samaritan was described as the one who showed
“mercy” toward the man in need. This is an illustration of mercy
as showing love, kindness and compassion to those in distress and
need.
God is merciful
(Luke 6:36). He shows mercy to us who are guilty sinners and his
enemies. He commands his people to forgive their debtors and to do
good to their enemies. In his mercy, God provides for the good and
the wicked. He helps those who are lost, and he shows mercy to his
people who are suffering pilgrims and strangers in this world. He
commands his people to imitate his and so care for the poor and
needy, the good and the wicked, and to visit the widow and orphan in
their distress.
Mercy must include
both outward actions and words, and a heart of mercy or compassion
(Colossians 3:12).
In the story of the good Samaritan, it is possible that the priest
and the Levite felt sorry for the man lying half-dead on the side of
the road. However, by their actions of passing on by, they closed up
their heart of compassion against the man in need (1 John 3:17).
At another time, Jesus spoke of those who give alms, who give help
the poor and needy. Some give alms to be noticed by men. These have
an outward action, but lack the heart of compassion. They have no
reward from God. Others give alms because they humbly acknowledge
that they themselves have received mercy from God and hope that yet
God may show mercy to them in their low condition. Such will receive
their reward from God, such will receive mercy, for they have shown
mercy.
Jesus said that
the merciful person will be blessed, he will find true happiness. The
reason for this is that the merciful will receive mercy, both in this
life and the next. Everyone has sinned and disobeyed God. We have
sinned against God and against other people, whether parents,
brothers and sisters, friends, enemies, etc. We deserve punishment,
but desire mercy. Jesus said that the merciful, those who show mercy
to others now, will receive mercy from God, the final and ultimate
judge of all men.
Suggestions:
Open each lesson with prayer for the
teacher and the students and this class time.
Read Matthew 5:7
with the children.
Give the children
a simple explanation of what it means to be merciful, what it means
to show mercy. A simple definition: To show mercy means to show
kindness to someone who was unkind to you, or did something wrong to
you; AND it also means to help someone who needs help.
While all the
stories in this lesson can be used to illustrate this beatitude, I
suggest using the first three (Matthew 18:21-35; Matthew 25:31-46;
Luke 10:29-37). The first story (Matthew 18:21-35) looks at showing
mercy to a debtor, to someone who is guilty and deserves punishment.
The second and third stories (Matthew 25:31-46; Luke 10:29-37)
illustrate mercy in the sense of helping those who need help.
As you read the
stories, you can ask the children which person in the story is
merciful and which is not, and how the people in the story did or
didn't show mercy. Ask them who they think is happy in the story and
who isn't, and why.
As you read the
stories and afterwards, encourage the children to think about being
merciful. To whom can they show mercy? (ie. Brothers and sisters);
What are ways they can show mercy to others? (Not being unkind to
someone who is unkind to them; helping brother or sister when they
are hurt, and not just because I don't want to get in trouble.)
Close the lesson with prayer related to
the subject and the students. Pray the Lord's Prayer together.
Stories:
Matthew 18:21-35
[21] Then Peter came and said to him, “Lord, how often shall
my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Until seven times?”
[22] Jesus said to him, “I don’t tell you until seven times, but,
until seventy times seven. [23] Therefore the Kingdom of Heaven is
like a certain king, who wanted to reconcile accounts with his
servants. [24] When he had begun to reconcile, one was brought to him
who owed him ten thousand talents. [25] But because he couldn’t
pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, with his wife, his children,
and all that he had, and payment to be made. [26] The servant
therefore fell down and kneeled before him, saying, ‘Lord, have
patience with me, and I will repay you all!’ [27] The lord of that
servant, being moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him
the debt. [28] “But that servant went out, and found one of his
fellow servants, who owed him one hundred denarii, and he grabbed
him, and took him by the throat, saying, ‘Pay me what you owe!’
[29] “So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him,
saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will repay you!’ [30] He
would not, but went and cast him into prison, until he should pay
back that which was due. [31] So when his fellow servants saw what
was done, they were exceedingly sorry, and came and told to their
lord all that was done. [32] Then his lord called him in, and said to
him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt, because you
begged me. [33] Shouldn’t you also have had mercy on your fellow
servant, even as I had mercy on you?’ [34] His lord was angry,
and delivered him to the tormentors, until he should pay all that was
due to him. [35] So my heavenly Father will also do to you, if you
don’t each forgive your brother from your hearts for his misdeeds.”
This
story is a powerful illustration for both forgiveness and mercy. The
king showed mercy to a servant who both had not paid his debt to the
king and could not pay it. Rather than being sold into slavery, the
servant was forgiven the entire debt. However, the servant was not
merciful to his fellow servant who owed him money. The king found out
and dealt with the unmerciful servant, and it was far worse for him
then than before. Before, he faced slavery, now, he faced the
tormentors for the rest of his life.
At
the risk of making too much of a parable, I would like to offer some
further thoughts for understanding this one and how it relates to you
and me. Just as the king was merciful, so God has first shown mercy
to us: He sent his only son to die for our sins; He made known his
desire for our salvation; He has sent his Holy Spirit into the hearts
of his servants that they may be empowered to live for and please him
in all things. As those who have received mercy in this life, we are
faced also in this life with those who owe us, or who have wronged
us. If we choose to show such mercy, well. However, if we refuse to
show others mercy, then woe to us. As the king showed mercy first,
and also would show mercy (or not show mercy) last, so with our Lord
and God. We must all stand before him on that last day and be judged.
If we have not shown mercy to others in this life, then on that day
we will not receive the last and most necessary mercy from the great
judge of all the earth. Just as the king in the parable delivered the
unmerciful servant to the tormentors, so will God do with us if we
are found to be like the unmerciful servant.
Matthew 25:31-46
[31] “But when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all
the holy angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his
glory. [32] Before him all the nations will be gathered, and he will
separate them one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep
from the goats. [33] He will set the sheep on his right hand, but the
goats on the left. [34] Then the King will tell those on his right
hand, ‘Come, blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for
you from the foundation of the world; [35] for I was hungry, and you
gave me food to eat. I was thirsty, and you gave me drink. I was a
stranger, and you took me in. [36] I was naked, and you clothed me. I
was sick, and you visited me. I was in prison, and you came to me.’
[37] “Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did
we see you hungry, and feed you; or thirsty, and give you a drink?
[38] When did we see you as a stranger, and take you in; or naked,
and clothe you? [39] When did we see you sick, or in prison, and come
to you?’ [40] “The King will answer them, ‘Most certainly I
tell you, because you did it to one of the least of these my
brothers, you did it to me.’ [41] Then he will say also to those on
the left hand, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire
which is prepared for the devil and his angels; [42] for I was
hungry, and you didn’t give me food to eat; I was thirsty, and you
gave me no drink; [43] I was a stranger, and you didn’t take me in;
naked, and you didn’t clothe me; sick, and in prison, and you
didn’t visit me.’ [44] “Then they will also answer, saying,
‘Lord, when did we see you hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or
naked, or sick, or in prison, and didn’t help you?’ [45] “Then
he will answer them, saying, ‘Most certainly I tell you, because
you didn’t do it to one of the least of these, you didn’t do it
to me.’ [46] These will go away into eternal punishment, but the
righteous into eternal life.”
In this
account from Jesus, the sheep are those who showed mercy to those in
need. The goats did not show mercy to those in need. Those numbered
among the sheep found the words of Jesus true: Blessed are the
merciful, for they shall receive mercy. The unmerciful found neither
blessedness or happiness, but only an eternal fire for punishment.
Luke 10:29-37
[29] But he, desiring to justify himself, asked Jesus, “Who
is my neighbor?” [30] Jesus answered, “A certain man was going
down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who both
stripped him and beat him, and departed, leaving him half dead. [31]
By chance a certain priest was going down that way. When he saw him,
he passed by on the other side. [32] In the same way a Levite also,
when he came to the place, and saw him, passed by on the other side.
[33] But a certain Samaritan, as he traveled, came where he was. When
he saw him, he was moved with compassion, [34] came to him, and bound
up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. He set him on his own animal,
and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. [35] On the next
day, when he departed, he took out two denarii, and gave them to the
host, and said to him, ‘Take care of him. Whatever you spend beyond
that, I will repay you when I return.’ [36] Now which of these
three do you think seemed to be a neighbor to him who fell among the
robbers?” [37] He said, “He who showed mercy on him.”
Then Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”
We call the
Samaritan in this story the “Good Samaritan” because he showed
mercy to the man who needed help. Whatever the other two men may have
known or thought about showing mercy, the only thing Jesus tells us
about them is that they did not show mercy to the man who needed
help.
More Stories and Examples:
1 Samuel 24:1-22
– Saul was pursuing David to kill him. He entered a cave
alone where David and his men were hiding, not knowing that they were
inside the cave. David had the opportunity to kill Saul, but showed
mercy to him and did not.
David
trusted in God and looked to God
to reward and punish at the proper time.
1 Samuel 26:1-25
– This story is similar to the one in 1 Samuel 24. Saul was
again pursuing David to kill him. David and Abishai entered Saul's
camp when Saul and all his men were sleeping. Again David had the
opportunity to kill Saul, his enemy, but showed mercy to him and did
not.
We
should be careful to not mix pride with our mercy. David showed mercy
to Saul. Some years later, when David was king, the righteous God
showed mercy to David when David had committed terrible sin and
deserved nothing but immediate death. David confessed and repented of
his sin, and God spared David's life. Blessed are the merciful for
they shall receive mercy.
2 Samuel
16:5-13; 19:15-23 – When David was in distress fleeing
from Absalom his son, Shimei curses and threw stones at David. After
the defeat and death of Absalom, David returned to Jerusalem. On the
way, Shimei came to David and begged for mercy to be shown him. David
did show mercy to Shimei. He did not put him to death.
1 Kings 1:5-53
– Adonijah exalted himself to make himself the next king after
David his father. When informed of this, David established Salomon
and the reigning king. Salomon shows mercy to Adonijah, who was
trying to make himself king and had he succeeded would have likely
put Salomon and his mother to death.
2 Kings 6:18-23
[18] When they came down to him, Elisha prayed to Yahweh, and
said, “Please strike this people with blindness.” He struck them
with blindness according to the word of Elisha. [19] Elisha said to
them, “This is not the way, neither is this the city. Follow me,
and I will bring you to the man whom you seek.” He led them to
Samaria. [20] When they had come into Samaria, Elisha said, “Yahweh,
open the eyes of these men, that they may see.” Yahweh opened their
eyes, and they saw; and behold, they were in the midst of Samaria.
[21] The king of Israel said to Elisha, when he saw them, “My
father, shall I strike them? Shall I strike them?” [22] He
answered, “You shall not strike them. Would you strike those whom
you have taken captive with your sword and with your bow? Set bread
and water before them, that they may eat and drink, and go to their
master.” [23] He prepared great feast for them. When they had eaten
and drunk, he sent them away, and they went to their master. The
bands of Syria stopped raiding the land of Israel.
Both
the king of Israel and Elisha had their enemies within their power.
Elisha taught the king of Israel to overcome evil with good. He
commanded the king to feed his enemies. It appears that mercy
triumphed in this case, for the end of the story tells us that the
bands of Syria stopped raiding the land of Israel.
Other
Verses:
Exodus 34:5-7 [5] Yahweh
descended in the cloud, and stood with him there, and proclaimed
Yahweh’s name. [6] Yahweh passed by before him, and proclaimed,
“Yahweh! Yahweh, a merciful and gracious God, slow to anger, and
abundant in loving kindness and truth, [7] keeping loving
kindness for thousands, forgiving iniquity and disobedience and sin;
and that will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of
the fathers on the children, and on the children’s children, on the
third and on the fourth generation.”
2 Samuel 22:26-27 [26] With
the merciful you will show yourself merciful. With the perfect
man you will show yourself perfect. [27] With the pure you will show
yourself pure. With the crooked you will show yourself shrewd.
(see also Psalm 18:25-26)
Psalm 41:1-3 [1] Blessed is
he who considers the poor. Yahweh will deliver him in the day of
evil. [2] Yahweh will preserve him, and keep him alive. He shall be
blessed on the earth, and he will not surrender him to the will of
his enemies. [3] Yahweh will sustain him on his sickbed, and restore
him from his bed of illness.
While not
using the word merciful, these verses illustrate both what it means
to be merciful, and God's delight in and blessing upon the merciful.
Proverbs 11:17 The merciful man
does good to his own soul, but he who is cruel troubles his own
flesh.
Proverbs 12:10 A righteous man
respects the life of his animal, but the tender mercies of the wicked
are cruel.
Proverbs 24:17-18 [17] Don’t
rejoice when your enemy falls. Don’t let your heart be glad when he
is overthrown; [18] lest Yahweh see it, and it displease him, and he
turn away his wrath from him.
The merciful
person does not rejoice at the distress and suffering of others, even
his enemy's.
Proverbs 25:21-22 [21] If your
enemy is hungry, give him food to eat. If he is thirsty, give him
water to drink: [22] for you will heap coals of fire on his head, and
Yahweh will reward you.
Daniel 4:27 Therefore, O king,
let my counsel be acceptable to you, and break off your sins
by righteousness, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the
poor; if there may be a lengthening of your tranquility.
Exekiel 33:11 Tell them, As I
live, says the Lord Yahweh, I have no pleasure in the death of the
wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn,
turn from your evil ways; for why will you die, house of Israel?
Hosea 6:6 For I desire mercy,
and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt
offerings.
When God
proclaimed his name to Moses, “Merciful” was at the top of the
list. In this verse (Hosea 6:6), the knowledge of God is not a
different item from mercy. The one who knows God knows how very
merciful he is, and so would know the great importance and value God
puts on his people showing mercy to others.
Micah 6:8 He has shown you, O
man, what is good. What does Yahweh require of you, but to act
justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?
Matthew 5:43-48 [43] “You have
heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor, and hate
your enemy.’ [44] But I tell you, love your enemies, bless those
who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who
mistreat you and persecute you, [45] that you may be children of
your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun to rise on the
evil and the good, and sends rain on the just and the unjust. [46]
For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Don’t
even the tax collectors do the same? [47] If you only greet your
friends, what more do you do than others? Don’t even the tax
collectors do the same? [48] Therefore you shall be perfect, just as
your Father in heaven is perfect.
Matthew 10:42 Whoever gives one
of these little ones just a cup of cold water to drink in the name of
a disciple, most certainly I tell you he will in no way lose his
reward.”
Matthew 23:23-24 [23] “Woe to
you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint, dill, and
cumin, and have left undone the weightier matters of the law:
justice, mercy, and faith. But you ought to have done these, and
not to have left the other undone. [24] You blind guides, who strain
out a gnat, and swallow a camel!
Mercy is a
weightier matter of the law. Showing mercy, having a heart of mercy
and compassion toward others, including our enemies, is of first
importance to the judge of all the earth. It is not a secondary
matter, not optional, and not even just a good idea. It is a
weightier matter of the law. It is hard to overstate the necessity of
being a merciful person.
Luke 6:31-38 [31] “As you
would like people to do to you, do exactly so to them. [32] If you
love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners
love those who love them. [33] If you do good to those who do good to
you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. [34]
If you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what credit is
that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive back as much.
[35] But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting
nothing back; and your reward will be great, and you will be
children of the Most High; for he is kind toward the unthankful
and evil. [36] “Therefore be merciful, even as your Father
is also merciful. [37] Don’t judge, and you won’t be judged.
Don’t condemn, and you won’t be condemned. Set free, and you will
be set free. [38] “Give, and it will be given to you: good measure,
pressed down, shaken together, and running over, will be given to
you. For with the same measure you measure it will be measured
back to you.”
Romans 12:17-21 [17] Repay no
one evil for evil. Respect what is honorable in the sight of all
men. [18] If it is possible, as much as it is up to you, be at peace
with all men. [19] Don’t seek revenge yourselves, beloved, but
give place to God’s wrath. For it is written, “Vengeance belongs
to me; I will repay, says the Lord.” [20] Therefore “If
your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty, give him a drink;
for in doing so, you will heap coals of fire on his head.” [21]
Don’t be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Colossians 3:12-13 [12] Put
on therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, a
heart of compassion, kindness, lowliness, humility, and
perseverance; [13] bearing with one another, and forgiving each
other, if any man has a complaint against any; even as Christ forgave
you, so you also do.
2 Timothy 1:15-18 [15] This you
know, that all who are in Asia turned away from me; of whom are
Phygelus and Hermogenes. [16] May the Lord grant mercy to the
house of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me, and was
not ashamed of my chain, [17] but when he was in Rome, he sought me
diligently, and found me [18] (the Lord grant to him to find the
Lord’s mercy in that day); and in how many things he served at
Ephesus, you know very well.
James 2:13 For judgment is
without mercy to him who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over
judgment.
James 2:14-18 [14] What good is
it, my brothers, if a man says he has faith, but has no works? Can
faith save him? [15] And if a brother or sister is naked and in
lack of daily food, [16] and one of you tells them, “Go in peace.
Be warmed and filled;” yet you didn’t give them the things the
body needs, what good is it? [17] Even so faith, if it has no
works, is dead in itself. [18] Yes, a man will say, “You have
faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without works, and I
will show you my faith by my works.
James 3:13-17 [13] Who is wise
and understanding among you? Let him show by his good conduct that
his deeds are done in gentleness of wisdom. [14] But if you have
bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, don’t boast and
don’t lie against the truth. [15] This wisdom is not that which
comes down from above, but is earthly, sensual, and demonic. [16] For
where jealousy and selfish ambition are, there is confusion and every
evil deed. [17] But the wisdom that is from above is first
pure, then peaceful, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and
good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.
1 John 3:16-18 [16] By this we
know love, because he laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay
down our lives for the brothers. [17] But whoever has the world’s
goods and sees his brother in need, then closes his heart of
compassion against him, how does God’s love remain in him? [18]
My little children, let’s not love in word only, or with the
tongue only, but in deed and truth.
Mercy
involves both the heart and deeds. Both are important. The apostle
John wrote that if we do not show mercy in deeds, we have in fact
also closed up our heart of compassion.
COMMENTARY
Verse 7. Blessed
are the merciful. That is, those who are so affected by the
sufferings of others, as to be disposed to alleviate them. This is
given as an evidence of piety; and it is said that they who show
mercy to others shall obtain it. The same sentiment is found in Mt
10:42. Whosoever shall give a cup of cold water only unto one of
these little ones, in the name of a disciple, shall not lose his
reward. See also Mt 25:34-40. It should be done to glorify God; that
is, in obedience to his commandments, and with a desire that he
should be honoured; and feeling that we are benefiting one of his
creatures. Then he will regard it as done to him, and will reward us.
See the sentiment of this verse, that the merciful shall obtain
mercy, more fully expressed in 2Sam 22:26,27; and in Ps 18:25,26.
Nowhere do we
imitate God more than in showing mercy. In nothing does God more
delight than in the exercise of mercy, Ex 34:6, Eze 33:11 1Tim 2:4,
2Pet 3:9. To us, guilty sinners; to us, wretched, dying, and exposed
to eternal woe, he has shown his mercy by giving his Son to die for
us; by expressing his willingness to pardon and save us; and by
sending his Spirit to renew and sanctify the heart. Each day of our
life, each hour, and each moment, we partake of his undeserved mercy.
All the blessings we enjoy are proofs of his mercy. If we also show
mercy to the poor, the wretched, the guilty, it shows that we are
like God; we have his spirit, and shall not lose our reward. And we
have abundant opportunity to do it. Our world is full of guilt and
woe, which we may help to relieve; and every day of our lives we have
opportunity by helping the poor and wretched, and by forgiving those
who injure us, to show that we are like God. Mt 6:14.
(c) "for they
shall obtain mercy" Ps 41:1,2.
Verse 7. The
merciful] The word mercy, among the Jews, signified two things:
the pardon of injuries, and almsgiving. Our Lord undoubtedly
takes it in its fullest latitude here. To know the nature of mercy,
we have only to consult the grammatical meaning of the Latin word
misericordia, from which ours is derived. It is composed of two
words: miserans, pitying, and cor, the heart; or miseria cordis, pain
of heart. Mercy supposes two things: 1. A distressed object: and, 2.
A disposition of the heart, through which it is affected at the sight
of such an object. This virtue, therefore, is no other than a lively
emotion of the heart, which is excited by the discovery of any
creature's misery; and such an emotion as manifests itself outwardly,
by effects suited to its nature. The merciful man is here termed by
our Lord ελεημων, from ελεος, which is generally derived
from the Hebrew chil, to be in pain, as a woman in travail: or from
galal, to cry, or lament grievously; because a merciful man enters
into the miseries of his neighbour, feels for and mourns with him.
They shall obtain
mercy.] Mercy is not purchased but at the price of mercy itself; and
even this price is a gift of the mercy of God. What mercy can those
vindictive persons expect, who forgive nothing, and are always ready
to improve every advantage they have of avenging themselves? Whatever
mercy a man shows to another, God will take care to show the same to
him. The following elegant and nervous saying of one of our best
poets is worthy of the reader's most serious attention:-
"The quality
of mercy is not strained;
It droppeth as the
gentle rain from heaven
Upon the place
beneath. It is twice blessed;
It blesseth him
who gives, and him who takes:
'Tis mightiest in
the mightiest: it becomes
The throned
monarch better than his crown.
It is an attribute
of God himself;
And earthly power
doth then show likest God's,
When mercy seasons
justice.--------
Though justice be
thy plea, consider this,
That, in the
course of justice, none of us
Should see
salvation. We do pray for mercy;
And that same
prayer doth teach us all to render
The deeds of
mercy.--------
Why, all the souls
that are, were forfeit once:
And he who might
the 'vantage best have took
Found out the
remedy. How would you be,
If He who is the
top of judgment should
But judge you as
you are? O! think on that;
And mercy then
will breathe within your lips,
Like man, new
made.
How shalt thou
hope for mercy, rend'ring none?"
In the tract
Shabbath, fol. 151, there is a saying very like this of our Lord. "He
who shows mercy to men, God will show mercy to him: but to him who
shows no mercy to man, God will show no mercy.
