Matthew 5:7

“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.”

Most Christians probably believe this Beatitude is about extending forgiveness and/or gentleness to someone who has wronged you and deserves punishment. For example, a parent shows mercy towards their child when they choose not to punish them despite a clear violation of their rules. The actual definition of mercy in this passage is much broader.

With respect to the Greek work “eleos” (mercy) which is found in this passage, Pastor John A. Broadus writes that mercy “includes also the idea of compassion, and implies a desire to remove the evils which excite compassion. It thus denotes not only mercy to the guilty, but pity for the suffering, and help to the needy.” One other aspect of “eleos” that we must consider is that is acts on it’s compassion. It is not merely a feeling.

Author Ray Pritchard explains that mercy includes three elements: ”I see the need”—that’s recognition. “I am moved by the need”—that’s motivation. “I move to meet the need”—that’s action. When you think of it, that is exactly what Christ has done for us! Did we deserve it? No. Could we earn it? Certainly not. Has it made a difference in our lives? Forever and ever, Amen!

As we move to meet the needs of the needy around us, we will continue to experience the mercy of God as He continues to minister to us in our our needy condition.  It could be the financial troubles of a friend…or the physical limitations of a stranger…or the emotional brokenness of a co-worker or neighbor. Whatever the need, the Blessed of God should see it, feel it, and then act on it. Are you showing mercy to anyone in your life right now?