"The Heartbeat of the Beatitudes"

Episode 69

Title: “The Heartbeat of the Beatitudes” Text: Matthew 5:7

Introduction: What is mercy? “Compassion or forgiveness shown toward someone whom it is within one's power to punish or harm:” (Webster) “Having or exercising mercy; compassionate; tender; disposed to pity offenders and to forgive their offenses; unwilling to punish for injuries; applied appropriately to the Supreme being.” (AV 1611) 

Here is a wonderful story of mercy: “A mother once approached Napoleon seeking a pardon for her son. The emperor replied that the young man had committed a certain offense twice and justice demanded death. "But I don't ask for justice," the mother explained. "I plead for mercy." "But your son does not deserve mercy," Napoleon replied.  "Sir," the woman cried, "it would not be mercy if he deserved it, and mercy is all I ask for." "Well, then," the emperor said, "I will have mercy." And he spared the woman's son.”  -Luis Palau, Experiencing God's Forgiveness, Multnomah Press, 1984.

Saint John Chrysostom once said that “Mercy imitates God and disappoints Satan.” “And the Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, The Lord, The Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth,” – Exodus 34:6 “The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.”- Psalm 103:8 “But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)”-Ephesians 2:4,5

Mercy comes from God. Here are some examples of God’s children who in return of God’s mercy showed others mercy: - Joseph showed mercy to his brothers despite being betrayed by them and sold into slavery. - David showed mercy to King Saul despite Saul’s unfair treatment of him and multiple attempts on his life. - The Good Samaritan showed mercy to the man who had been beaten and left for dead on the side of the road.

Of all the Biblical examples of acts of Mercy, none can compare to the Lord Jesus himself. As His entire ministry was full of Compassion and Mercy. “And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick.” – Matthew 14:14

“And, behold, two blind men sitting by the way side, when they heard that Jesus passed by, cried out, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou son of David.3 And the multitude rebuked them, because they should hold their peace: but they cried the more, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou son of David. And Jesus stood still, and called them, and said, What will ye that I shall do unto you?” – Matthew 2-:30-31

To better introduce mercy: A. Our Condition To truly grasp mercy, we must understand our need for it and how the lost condition of man separates us from God. “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:” – Romans 5:12 We do not obtain mercy through merit.  To truly grasp and understand the condition of man’s sinful condition is very sobering and also terrifying. The prophet Isaiah said that our self-righteousness is as “filthy rags”.  Tod escribe God’s Mercy, Paul says in Ephesians 4:2, “But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us…”. Mercy is not something that we earn. Mercy is God’s undeserved kindness and compassion despite our sinful condition.

B. Our Cultivation When a person is saved, they are born again and new creature in Christ. We now have an internal struggle where the old man (the flesh) and the new man (the Spirit) are warring against the other.  “Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.” – Titus 1:15. 

One thing to note, is that when we hunger for Righteousness and desire the Holiness, we can become very irritated and angry at wickedness. “Fo