The Triumph of Mercy

 

 

Sermon On the Mount- 5

 

TITLE: The Triumph of Mercy

TEXT: Matthew 5:7

TONE: Encouragement

TARGET: Believers

TASK: To encourage believers to reflect the mercy of God in their daily interactions.

TEACH: Mrs. Thompson arrived at her charming little home, only to discover a young man lingering in her yard, looking uneasy, she approached him kindly and struck up a conversation. During their chat, she learned that he was struggling and felt lost, grappling with the burdens of life. With a gentle and understanding heart, Mrs. Thompson invited him to her local church that was having revival services that week, hoping to offer him some solace and direction. He chose to attend with her. As the sermon was preached, it touched him to the core, and he trusted in Christ for his salvation. Afterward, the young man, filled with remorse, confessed he had been in her home and stolen a neckless. Mrs. Thompson spoke to him of mercy and second changes, choosing to forgive him wholeheartedly. What a great demonstration of mercy.

 

TRUTH: In these few words, Jesus encapsulates a revolutionary principle that challenges us to rethink how we interact with one another. In a world often marked by judgment, division, and indifference, Jesus calls us to a higher standard of compassion, forgiveness and grace. What does it truly mean to be merciful? How can this divine quality manifest in our actions and attitudes towards others? And ultimately, how does showing mercy bring us closer to experiencing God’s own mercy? As we explore this verse, let us open our hearts and minds to the transformative power of mercy -one that can change not only our lives but also the lives of those we touch.

 

“In a sense we have so far been looking at the Christian in terms of his need. But here there is a kind of turning point. Now we are concerned more with his disposition, which results from everything that has gone before” (D. Martyn Lloyd Jones, Studies in the Sermon on the Mount, pg. 80). Jones further elaborates on the fact that with the Beatitudes Jesus is giving an informal test. He asks the question: How are we responding to such test and probing’s? This says a lot about our standing with Christ.  Are you humbled by them or aggravated?

 

It is also important to note at the beginning of this message what mercy is not. “It does not mean that we should be ‘easygoing,’ as we put it. There are so many people today who think that being merciful means to be easygoing, not to see things, or if we do see them, to pretend we have not. That, of course, is a particular danger in an age like this one. People think that to be merciful is to smile at transgressions and lawbreaking. Now this is obviously not what the Lord is referring to here” (Jones, pg. 83). Remember, what you believe about mercy is also true of God.  

 

The essential meaning of mercy is a since of “pity plus a desire to relieve suffering” (Jones, pg. 84).  A.W. Pink wrote that mercy is more than feeling: “it is an operative principle. It not only stirs the heart but moves the hand to render help unto those in need, for the one cannot be served without the other” (A.W. Pink, Exposition on the Sermon on the Mount, pg. 30). Thomas Watson wrote, “It is a melting disposition whereby we lay to heart the miseries of others and are ready on all occasions to be instrumental for their good” (Thomas Watson, The Beatitudes, pg. 152). 

 

I.                          Mercy Proceeds from the Character of God

 

Explanation: God’s Nature is Fundamentally Merciful: “The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in mercy” (Ps. 103:8). Again, “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful” (Lk. 6:36). Moses wrote, “The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for a thousands… (Ex. 34:6-7a).

 

God’s Merciful Acts in History: From the beginning God’s mercy was present. Even after the Fall God provided for Adam and Eve (Gen. 3:21). Furthermore, God’s mercy was evident in delivering Israel from Egypt and providing for them in the wilderness (Ex. 34:6-7). God’s mercy is intricately woven into His covenants throughout biblical history. The Abrahamic Covenant (Gen. 12:1-3) showcases God’s mercy in His commitment to bless all the nations through Abraham’s descendants, despite human unfaithfulness. God’s mercy is further exemplified in the Davidic Covenant (2Sam. 7:12-16), promising an everlasting kingdom through David’s lineage -a promised fulfilled in Jesus Christ. The essence of every covenant not only embodies God’s justice, but His profound mercy in continually providing opportunities for reconciliation and relationship with Him.

 

God established a continual reminder of His mercy through the tabernacle and temple. Symbolically, the Mercy Seat represented the throne of God’s where divine mercy was accessible. Once a year, on Yom Kippur -the Day of Atonement- the high priest would enter the Holy of Holies and sprinkle the blood of sacrificed animal upon the Mercy Seat, seeking atonement for the sins of Israel. This blood symbolically covered the sins of the people, allowing them to remain in covenant with God. The ritual highlighted the belief that forgiveness and reconciliation could only be attained through God’s mercy and the shedding of innocent blood, foreshadowing the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

 

The period of the Judges, as chronicled in the Book of Judges, is a poignant illustration of God’s enduring mercy amidst a cycle of sin and repentance. Despite Israel’s recurrent disobedience and idolatry, God repeatedly raised up judges to deliver them from oppression of neighboring enemies. This pattern is seen throughout the book; the Israelites would fall into sin, leading to their subjugation by foreign powers. In their distress, they would cry out to God, and in His mercy, He would provide a judge to rescue and restore peace to the land (Judges 2:16-19).

 

The narratives of individual judges further magnify God’s merciful character. For instance, Gideon was called from his mundane tasks, despite his initial lack of faith and fear, was used by God to deliver Israel from the Midianites (Judges 6-7). Similarly, Samson, despite his many moral failings was ultimately used by God to begin to deliver Israel from the Philistines (Judges 13-16). Each judge’s story encapsulates not flawless human leadership but God’s merciful decision to work through imperfect people for the deliverance of His wayward nation.

 

God’s Mercy in Redemption: The ultimate expression of God’s mercy is manifested in the coming of Jesus Christ to bear the sins of the world (Jn. 3:16-17, Rom. 5:8). Paul stated, “But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ.” The story of Prodigal Son illustrates God’s mercy in forgiving and restoring those who turn back to Him (Lk. 15:11-32). Here we also learn that mercy is not exclusive from justice. Mercy that ignores sin is a false mercy and is no more merciful than it is just. It’s a false mercy.

 

God’s Continual Mercies in the Life of Believers: “Though the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness (Lam. 3:22-23). These verses remind us that God’s mercy is a daily, renewing force that we can depend upon in our everyday struggles and failures. God’s mercy is also evident in His provision of the Holy Spirit to comfort, guide, and intercede for believers (Rom. 8:26; Jn. 14:26).

 

Illustration: But I would like you again to look at the supreme example. Look to Him there upon the cross, who never sinned, who never did any harm to anyone, who came and preached the truth, who came to seek and to save the lost. There He is, nailed and suffering agonies on the cross, and yet what does He say as He looks upon the people who are responsible for it? ‘Father, forgive them.’ Why? ‘For they know not what they do.’

 

Application: We are called to extend the same mercy to others that we have received from God. Watson wrote, “When the sun shines the ice melts. When the Sun of righteousness once shines with beams of grace upon the soul, then it melts in mercy and tenderness. You must first be a new man before a merciful man” (Watson, pg. 153).

 

II.                        Mercy Compels us to Reflect the Character of God

 

Explanation: Be Imitators of God: “Therefore be imitators of God, as believed children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God” (Eph. 5:1-2). As recipients of God’s limitless mercy, believers are called to mimic that same mercy in their interactions with others.

 

Practical Outworking: “Do not let kindness and truth leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart” (Prov. 3:3). We read further into Proverbs and find these words, “The merciful man does himself good, but the cruel man does himself harm” (Prov. 11:7). Extending forgiveness, showing compassion, and meeting the needs of others serve as tangible evidence of God’s mercy at work within us. Reflecting God’s merciful character witnesses to the world about the transformative power of the Gospel.

 

Jesus in the Gospels: The Gospels provide a rich tapestry illustrating the merciful character of Christ through His teachings, interactions with others and His ultimate sacrifice. One of the hallmarks of Jesus’ mercy is His compassion for the marginalized and oppressed. Throughout His ministry, Jesus consistently reached out to those who were considered socially outcast, such as lepers, tax collectors, and sinners. For instance, in the story of the woman caught in adultery (Jn. 8:1-11), Jesus shows remarkable mercy by refusing to condemn her, instead offering her forgiveness and the opportunity for a renewed life. Furthermore, Jesus’ parable of the Good Samaritan (Lk. 10:25-37) is a vivid illustration of God’s boundless mercy and His call for us to embody such mercy toward others.

 

Jesus Christ was the most merciful human being who ever lived. He reached out to heal the sick, restore the crippled, give sight to the blind, hearing to the deaf and even life to the dead. He found prostitutes, tax collectors, the debauched and the drunken and drew them into His circle of love and forgiveness. Jesus wept with the sorrowing and gave companionship to the lonely. He took little children into His arms and blessed them. The more He showed mercy the more He exposed the unmerciful (John MacArthur, Matthew 1-7, pg. 189). Christ is our merciful High Priest.

 

Paul in Romans: Paul opens with an appeal based upon the “mercies of God” (Rom. 12:-1-2). Here, mercy is provided as motivation: The word “therefore” signifies a conclusion based on what has come before -namely, the mercies of God elaborated in chapters 1-11. God’s mercy provides the foundation and motivation for the ethical exhortations that follow. This mercy involves God’s compassion in salvation, taking sinners who deserved wrath and extending to them grace and forgiveness through Christ. In view of this mercy, believers are called to respond by offering themselves as living sacrifices. A call to continually reflect the character of God. Throughout the remainder of the chapter Paul highlights the “mercies of God” and how they compel believers to behave. (see also: Luke 6:35-36, Col. 3:12-13).

 

Illustration: Look a Stephen the martyr. As they are stoning him, what does he say? He prays to his heavenly Father and cries, “lay not this sin to their charge.’ ‘They do not know what they are doing, Lord’, says Stephen. He has pity upon them and is merciful in respect to them. He saw them as helpless slaves to sin. Therefore, mercy both feels and acts accordingly. We should feel for those in sin and pray for them.

 

Application: Mercy is a fundamental requirement for living a life pleasing to God. In his commentary titled “The Sermon on the Mount” pastor theologian R.T. Kendall wrote, “when you show graciousness toward those who have been unkind or unfair, you show how much you want God. If you seek to punish them or make them feel guilty, you show you don’t want God as much as you thought you did” (pg. 47).

 

III.                   Mercy Encourages us because of the Character of God.

 

Explanation: Jesus’ promise “for they shall receive mercy” sets up a reciprocal dynamic with God’s economy.

 

Present Experiential Mercy: Those who practice mercy experience God’s ongoing merciful care. This daily mercy sustains them through trials and infuses their lives with God’s tender mercies. And when believers respond to provocations with mercy rather than retaliation, they embody the heart of Christ’s teachings. It paves the way for the Kingdom of God to break into the present providing glimpses of reality governed not but human metrics of justice and retribution but by divine compassion and grace. Thus, the ongoing experience of God’s mercy not only sustains individual believers but also ripple outward, impacting families, communities, and ultimately the broader society.

 

Eschatological Mercy: Ultimately, the promise is forward-looking to the final day of judgment. Mercy shown on earth reaffirms one’s position as a recipient of God’s eternal mercy and salvation. James wrote, “For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment” (Ja. 2:13).

 

Understanding eschatological mercy encourages believers to cultivate a lifestyle marked by compassion and forgiveness, reflecting God’s heart in a world often estranged from grace. This forward-looking promise prompts self-reflection, motivating believers to evaluate their actions and attitudes continually. Are you reflecting God’s mercy in their interactions? By actively choosing mercy, believers align themselves with kingdom values.

 

The mercy we extend to others is a gift that we offer up to God as a pleasing aroma. God responds in like manner with greater reward. In other words, the reward we receive is far greater than the mercy we extend. God blesses acts of mercy and helps those who receive mercy. We are stewards of God’s mercy. Heaven will be filled with people who have received mercy and given mercy. Heaven is a place for the merciful. Hell is the place for the unmerciful. Search your heart. Are you truly a merciful person? Does pure undiluted mercy pour fourth from you? Mercy that hungers and thirst for righteousness. Mercy extended in gentleness.  Or is it a stench? This says a lot about your heart and whether you have truly experienced the mercy of God.

 

Illustration: Joseph, the beloved son of Jacob is betrayed by his own brothers out of jealousy. Sold into slavery and later imprisoned under false accusation, Jospeh’s life seems a succession of unjust sufferings. Yet, through it all, he remains steadfast in his faith. Years later, Jospeh rises to prominence in Egypt becoming second in command to Pharaoh. When a severe famine strikes the land, his brothers come to Egypt seeking food. Unknowingly, they pleas before Joseph for mercy. This is a pivotal moment: Joseph has every reason and the power to exact revenge on his brothers. But instead, he chooses mercy. He reveals his identity to his brothers with tears, not anger. He embraces his brothers offering them refuge. This narrative not only illustrates mercy in action but also shows the blessings that come from being merciful.

 

Application: Mercy begets mercy. Those who show mercy will experience mercy themselves, both from others and from God. “The flame of devotion must be perfumed with the incense of mercy” (Watson, pg. 171).

 

TAKE-AWAY

 

1. We are called to extend the same mercy to others that we have received from God.

 

2. Mercy is a fundamental requirement for living a life pleasing to God.

 

3. Mercy begets mercy. Those who show mercy will experience mercy themselves, both from others and from God.

 

Depth of mercy, can there be
Mercy still reserved for me?
Can my God His wrath forbear?
Me, the chief of sinners, spare?
"Whence to me this waste of love?"
Ask my Advocate above
See the cause in Jesus' face
Now before the throne of grace

I have long withstood His grace
Long provoked Him to His face
Would not harken to His calls
Grieved Him by a thousand falls
There, for me, the Savior stands
Shows His wounds, and spreads His hands
God is love, His grace so free
Depth of mercy, there for me

I my Master have denied
I afresh have crucified
And profaned His hallowed name
Put Him to an open shame
Jesus speaks and pleads His blood
He disarms the wrath of God
Now my Father's mercies move
He receives me with His love -Charles Wesley

 

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