The Beatitudes: Part 5 – Merciful

“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. To be merciful is to show forgiveness and compassion to those in need. Jesus frequently spoke of this trait. In the Lord’s Prayer, He says, “Forgive us our sins, as we also have forgiven those who sin against us.” Jesus instructs the Pharisees, “Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” We are blessed if we are merciful because mercy is something God Himself displays. God’s children are to reflect God’s mercy and are therefore merciful themselves. The merciful in this world are blessed in the sense that they know God’s joy. The person who is merciful will be eternally happy because not only will God show Him mercy, others will too! This really is a blessed way to live. Again, only the mind that has been brought to life by the Holy Spirit can understand this truth.