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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadJabez Burns Sermons: 053. Mat 5:7. Christian Mercy
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Mat_5:7. Christian Mercy
"Blessed are the merciful; for they shall obtain mercy"—Mat_5:7
We must take care in reading the promises, to observe, that they are invariably made to believers. Pardon and acceptance, peace and sanctification, can only be enjoyed through believing. And all the gracious declarations of God are only realized through the same medium. But after our acceptance, the present and future rewards which God has revealed to his people, will be bestowed in proportion to our Christian diligence and usefulness. Hence, a liberal Christian shall be established by liberal things; a useful Christian, who improves his talents, shall rule over many cities; and a Christian who suffers with and for Christ, is assured, that these sufferings shall work out for him "a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory!" So, in the blessings pronounced by the Saviour, The peace-makers shall be called God's children; the mourners shall have comfort; the pure in heart shall see God and the merciful shall obtain mercy.
The subject is Christian Mercy. Let us consider, Its Nature—Grounds—and Reward.
I. The Nature of Christian Mercy.
The word is derived from the Latin word, misericordia, which signifies pain of heart, arising from a sight of misery. It is commonly used, however, for goodness mildness, clemency, tenderness, and pity. It may be defined, a disposition of mind to feel for, and to relieve, the misery of those around us.
We notice, then, that Christian mercy,
1. Has its seat in the heart.
It is not a mere external quality or accomplishment; not a cold theoretical principle of the mind; but it is identified with all the feelings and sympathies of the soul. "Put on bowels of mercies;" Col_3:12.
Christian mercy,
2. Is a supernatural quality.
It does not dwell in the unrenewed nature of man. The capacity every human being possesses; the same as the human mind possesses a capacity for knowledge faith, &c. But it requires the stony principle to be taken away, and the heart of flesh implanted, before it can be rightly exercised. There may be much generosity and kindness of disposition; but Christian mercy is only produced by the softening influences of the Spirit on the heart. "The wisdom from above is full of mercy." Jam_3:17.
Christian mercy is,
3. An active principle.
It will be seen in producing works of mercy. Head will devise plans of mercy; tongue will plead in the cause of mercy; hands will distribute to the objects of mercy.
Christian mercy will be manifested,
(1) Towards the inferior animals. These are all God's creatures, who cares for them, watches over them, and supplies all their wants.
"The beasts with food his hands supply
And the young ravens when they cry."
See Pro_12:10.
We cannot give unnecessary pain to these, without insulting the great Being who made them, and without displaying the basest ingratitude for his goodness who has provided them for our use.
It will be manifested,
(2) To those of our fellow-creatures who are under bodily affliction and misery. To the hungry and starving; to the naked and homeless; to the widow and fatherless; and to those who are laboring under sickness and pain, we shall extend our hand of kindness and mercy. We shall not say, Be filled, be clothed, &c.; but shall minister to their necessities according as God hath blessed us. See Job's testimony, chap. Pro_31:13, &c. Psa_112:4, &c. Also, the parable of the good Samaritan, and 1Jn_3:17.
It will extend,
(3) To the spiritual miseries of our fellow-men. The Christian, while he attends to the cabinet, does not forget the jewel—to the house, does not overlook the inhabitant. He remembers there is a spirit in man; and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth him understanding. This spirit is precious; susceptible of the highest joys or the deepest woes! That it is fallen—in an apostate state—perishing for lack of knowledge. See this in David; "Rivers of water run down mine eyes," &c.; Psa_119:150. Christ had compassion on the multitude, &c.; wept over Jerusalem, &c. Mercy to the soul, is the soul of mercy. Christian mercy will exert herself to snatch sinners as brands from the burning, &c. Instruction, exhortation, prayers, example, &c., will all be employed.
Christian mercy will be manifested,
(4) Towards our greatest enemies. The
Saviour has plainly taught this, Mat_5:44-45, &c. This, indeed, is the highest act of mercy; it is peculiarly Christian; nowhere else is it enforced; and by none else will it be practised. Hence, it is also enjoined: "If thine enemy hunger," &c.; Rom_12:20. So Christ also poured out his dying breath in prayer for his enemies, Luk_23:34. Notice, then,
II. The Grounds of Christian Mercy.
By what principles is the exercise of mercy enforced?
We should be merciful,
1. Because it is strictly enjoined by God.
God hath showed us what is good; one branch of which is, "to love God." We are to love our neighbor as ourselves: and the Saviour has beautifully shown us, in the parable of the good Samaritan, that every man is our neighbor, whose misery we can possibly remove. "Be ye merciful, as your Father," &c.; Luk_6:36.
2. Because we stand in constant need of divine mercy.
"It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed." His mercy compasses us about as a shield. Did he withdraw it, health and all the comforts of this life would be withdrawn; and before us there would be nothing but a fearful looking for of the great day of the Lord. Surely, if we are so totally dependent on God's mercy, we should manifest the same to our fellow-men.
3. Because our profession binds us to imitate Christ, who is the perfect pattern of mercy.
How it shone in all his actions! How it was exhibited in all his sufferings! In him mercy was embodied. He was "the mercy promised to the fathers," &c. If we are his disciples, then we should walk even as he walked.
4. We should be merciful because of the true pleasure which is associated with acts of mercy.
"It is more blessed to give than to receive." This will equally apply to acts of mercy. It is to resemble Deity in that exercise, in which God himself delighteth Who can avoid being happy, when they are the instruments of removing misery—giving consolation to the aching breast—wiping away the tear of wretchedness—and causing the heart of anguish to forget its misery, and to dance for joy! An angel is not capable of higher felicity, than the luxury of doing good.
But we should be merciful,
5. Because it is an express condition of our obtaining mercy.
"Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy." He shall have judgment without mercy, who hath showed no mercy, Mat_6:14-15, and Mat_18:32.
But let us consider,
II. The Rewards of Christian Mercy.
We have already referred to the declaration of the text: "He shall obtain mercy." but this promise is very comprehensive, and includes, at least, the following advantages:
1. A good name.
To be called merciful, is to be associated with Deity in one of his most glorious titles, where he is called, "The Father of mercies." To be called great, or powerful, or learned, or rich, is insignificance itself, compared with the name of merciful. All men admire and speak well of mercy. "For such an one some would even dare to die."
2. They shall be peculiarly interested in the kind and merciful arrangements of Divine Providence.
David explicitly states this. "Blessed is he who considereth the poor," &c.; Psa_41:1-3; Psa_119:9; Pro_3:9; Pro_19:7. The Lord counts it lent to himself; and he has engaged to repay it. I need not say, that God can do this by a thousand ways, which are quite easy to himself. We may rest assured, that he will not forget our labor of love.
The merciful,
3. Are blessed with the prayers and blessings of the miserable whom they have relieved.
The prayers, even of the poor, are not to be despised. God hears them when they cry, and often visits the objects of their supplications with his gracious regards. Job_29:1-16. The alms of Cornelius, as well as his prayers, had come up with acceptance before God.
4. They shall be blessed with the public approval of Christ at the last day.
Such are now the recipients of his pardoning mercy; the objects of his especial care; and at last, when all nations are gathered before him, he will acknowledge all our acts of mercy, as done to himself; and will say to the merciful, "I was an hungered," &c., Mat_25:34-40.
Application
1. Let the exercise of mercy be pressed on all Christ's disciples. Cultivate it. Let it be exercised constantly. Let us rejoice in all opportunities of doing good. Keep the divine mercy before our eyes, as the copy we should imitate.
2. Let the mercy of God to us be highly valued. We need it daily. Only one channel for its communication—through Christ. Only one way to obtain it—by faith in his word.
3. The unmerciful shall have judgment without mercy. What a dreadful portion to the guilty sinner!