Pt 5 Mercy Measured In Majesty

Matthew 5:7

7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.

Mercy: What is it to be merciful?

We know that God is a God of mercy, we know that his mercy endures for ever, he knows what it is to be merciful. 

But as for the natural man mercy does not come naturally.

We may fall on the “mercy of the court” when we are heart broken for the crime we have committed and we may plea both our guilt and for mercy, but the natural man is not predisposed to grant it.

It may be that only those who are the recipients of mercy can can become merciful. 

Only those whose sins are forgiven, who have received mercy when they know full well they deserved JUSTICE, these can administer mercy, they may even do often enough to be identified as “merciful”.

Mercy: What is it to be merciful?

There is but one place to Measure Mercy….it is in the Majesty on high.

Before we ourselves can know we are merciful, we need the example of mercy to reveal through his word what mercy is.

There are 360 occurrences of “mercy”, “Merciful” and “mercies” within the scriptures that we might know how God himself interprets the word.

We employ the Bible’s own built in dictionary. 

Most words in the Bible are used more than once and thereby give to us an opportunity to learn by its context, what each word means in its context.

Our word in question is employed 360 times, giving to us a wonderful scope of its use and meaning.

There are a number of other words linked to ‘mercy’ to also help bring an understanding of how mercy is measured in the Bible.

9 verses ‘mercy’ is linked with compassion.

19 verses, ‘mercy’ is linked with Grace.

In 27 verses, mercy is linked with covenant, promise and faithfulness each being a synonym for the other.

In 39 verses, mercy is linked with truth and justice (Judgement) in the scriptures.

In no less than 50 verses, the word is linked directly to its enduring and long-sufferingaspect. More that half of which is found in one chapter of the Bible, Psalm 136.

As we look through the scriptures to the scope of use respecting mercy we find several other fascinating characteristics;

It is ALWAYS granted to the repentant and contrite.

It is NEVER, granted to the wicked and unrepentant, at least not in FULL measure.

It is ALWAYS granted to them who love the Lord and Fear him.

While MERCY is extended to the contrite and repentant, JUSTICE is that which is given the wicked and unrepentant.

Yet still some mercy may be found.

Ezra reminds us that often…

 God hast punished us less than our iniquities deserve, and hast given us such deliverance as this;Ezra 9:13

In this we find a great understanding to the concept of mercy, for we cannot know what it is to be merciful until we learn how mercy is measured.

MERCY IS MEASURED IN MAJESTY.

God is the Standard, and so we will find…

Mercy Defined By Its Object

Mercy Always Unmerited

Mercy Limited To The Contrite.

Mercy Magnified By Justice.

Mercy Defined By Object

Matthew 5:7

7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.

This verse cannot apply without the consideration to its OBJECT.

Mercy is an act that requires a recipient, without a recipient of mercy, mercy cannot be shown. The Object is the recipient of mercy from the merciful.

This is true even of That Majesty by which Mercy is Measured. We are the OBJECTS of his mercy. 

It is through his mercy shown us here and now that God reveals his grace to the people of the ages to come.

Turn to;

Ephesians 2:4–7

4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: 7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

So we see that MERCY must have an object, and the principal object of God’s mercy is you and I.

Nevertheless, while our passage is extended to you and I as the recipients of God’s mercy, it is how WE extend it to others that defines us merciful;

7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. Matthew 5:7

To expand a little further the point;

Some of the beatitudes are related directly to the one who is blessed in his own state and heart toward the Lord;

• They, who are “Poor in Spirit”, are they which are humble before God and repentant of soul.
  • We see the same with those hungering and thirsting after righteousness.
  • The pure in heart (v8)

Several of the beatitudes are they which are based on the attitudes by which you have responded to the treatment of others; 

• They who are persecuted and reviled meet such qualifications.

Here however, it is that which is extended to others by the one identified as “merciful”.

7 Blessed are the merciful:

What is also interesting is the balance of the verse indicates a reimbursement of that which is extended to others;

7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.Matthew 5:7

This is curious.

We do see this in other verses in the Beatitudes also;

• The poor in spirit gain the kingdom of heaven.
  • The mourners are comforted.
  • The meek inherit the earth.
  • The hungered are filled etc

Each seem to GAIN as a recompense for that which was endured.

This testifies that there is a cost associated with extending mercy to an individual, a cost born by the one extending mercy, after-which a RECOMPENSE is given them.

The reality is that MERCY is NOT FREE.

Let me explain by way of example. Turn to

Matthew 18:23–27

23 Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants. 24 And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents. 25 But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made. 26 The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. 27 Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.

When a debt is forgiven, the loss is born by the one who extended mercy on the debtor and forgave the debt. 

The debtor has received the benefit of the credited funds, spent it all on that which was desired, but had no means to repay the debt.

But because the debtor seemed contrite of heart, the creditor (The king in this case), forgave the debt!

HE WAS JUSTIFIED to call it in, but also demonstrated his justifiable position by FORGIVING the debt, for you cannot forgive that which was never due!

(This gives us a hint as to why “mercy” is also so frequently used synonymously with “Truth” and “Judgment” in the Bible)

Nevertheless, forgiving the debt but is not free beloved. 

NO. The creditor bore the loss of the debt through the mercy extended to the one who benefited from the credit.

So it is with all those who have sinned against an individual, whether that be by a direct crime such as theft, abuse, murder, or simply false accusation and slander; the SINNER has perceivably gained that which became a COST to the victim. 

Now mercy is not that which is always limited to the criminal or sinner, the man who fell among thieves was extended mercy, “compassion” is the word given in Lk 10:33 of the story of the Good Samaritan, (we will address “Worthiness” in the next point). 

Nevertheless, the extension of that mercy came at a COST to the good Samaritan. 

It is predominately JUSTICE therefore which is required to make recompense. To “Balance” the scales.

BOTH THE Victim and Society as a whole bare the price of sin and crime, only swift justice can bring the cost back into balance… UNLESS mercy is extended.

In our TEXT therefore, mercy extended is “repaid”. 

While the OBJECT of Mercy incurred the cost whether as criminal or victim of crime as the man who fell among thieves.

But reward is far greater than the cost, for  “Blessed are the merciful”

You and I are the OBJECTS of God’s mercy.

Mercy is Measured on Majesty because he FIRST extended mercy to us and the COST was not cheap. 

While you and I need mercy extended to us to have a true appreciation of it, God IS merciful! 

….and JUST.

JUSTICE or MERCY will balance the scales of our sin.

Which have you chosen?

Which will you choose?

Mercy is Measured in Majesty, thereby;

Mercy Defined By Object

Mercy Always Unmerited

Matthew 5:7

7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.

The first expression of “mercy” in the Bible is in Genesis 19 when God is about to destroy the cities of the plain, Sodom and Gomorrah etc. (Turn to Genesis 19)

It was Abraham who spoke to the LORD to identify if he would spare the cities if first 50 and then down to 10 people were found righteous there.

God promised he would spare the destruction if there were as few as 10 righteous people in the cities. But there were not 10 righteous. 

Nevertheless, he would not have ANY righteous destroyed and so came to claim Lot.

 Genesis 19:15–19

15 And when the morning arose, then the angels hastened Lot, saying, Arise, take thy wife, and thy two daughters, which are here; lest thou be consumed in the iniquity of the city. 16 And while he lingered, the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters; the LORD being merciful unto him: and they brought him forth, and set him without the city. 17 And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad, that he said, Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed. 18 And Lot said unto them, Oh, not so, my Lord: 19 Behold now, thy servant hath found grace in thy sight, and thou hast magnified thy mercy, which thou hast shewed unto me in saving my life; and I cannot escape to the mountain, lest some evil take me, and I die:

Lot acknowledged that God was merciful to him, not being obligated to bring him out of the City. A pillar of salt became a testimony of the true affections of Lot’s wife however. (V26)

In the next representations of mercy in the Bible we see first Abraham’s steward acknowledge his unworthiness to receive mercy saying;

Genesis 24:27

27 …., Blessed be the LORD God of my master Abraham, who hath not left destitute my master of his mercy and his truth: I being in the way, the LORD led me to the house of my master’s brethren.

The next time it appears we read Jacob’s own testimony of his unworthiness;

Genesis 32:9–10

9 And Jacob said, O God of my father Abraham, and God of my father Isaac, the LORD which saidst unto me, Return unto thy country, and to thy kindred, and I will deal well with thee: 10 I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies, and of all the truth, which thou hast shewed unto thy servant; for with my staff I passed over this Jordan; and now I am become two bands.

Beloved, mercy is not that which is deserved!

We show compassion on those suffering and in trials, they have no just claim on you and I for mercy, nevertheless it is given them by the merciful.

We pity them who are lost in sin and show mercy to them when we share the hope of Christ with them. 

They freely choose to accept or reject him, nevertheless it is MERCY shown them to give such opportunity.

12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies,kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Colossians 3:12

We do so in the hope we may snatch some as brands out of the burning.

We have compassion on those who struggle in and through life. Those suffering through depression and sorrow, those who are impoverished and hungry, those who are in want.

We freely give to others as God freely gave to us. 

We bless those who curse us, and do so because freely we have received and so freely we give.

None of us were “WORTHY” of God’s mercy, we thankfully received it and at the very least, show our gratitude by offering God’s mercy to others.

Nevertheless, the Objects of mercy can reject it. 

Tragically, far too many will, ONE is too many and I have no doubt that every church in the world has too many in their midst who reject his mercy even now.

I pray you are not one of them.

God sets the standard for mercy, Mercy is Measured in Majesty, thereby;

Mercy Always Unmerited

Mercy Largely Limited To The Contrite

Matthew 5:7

7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.

There is an aspect of mercy that we need to give consideration to as Scripture has it presented.

It is that mercy is ALWAYS granted to the contrite in heart who fear the Lord. 

Psalm 86:5

5 For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee.

Psalm 103:11

11 For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.

Psalm 103:17

17 But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children’s children;

Psalm 118:4

4 Let them now that fear the LORD say, that his mercy endureth for ever.

Mercy is granted by God on them who love and trust him;

Psalm 119:132

132 Look thou upon me, and be merciful unto me, as thou usest to do unto those that love thy name.

Psalm 147:11

11 The LORD taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy.

Psalm 32:10

10 Many sorrows shall be to the wicked: but he that trusteth in the LORD, mercy shall compass him about.

Thereby we also see that mercy is not always extended to the wicked and them who hate God.

Psalm 59:5

5 Thou therefore, O LORD God of hosts, the God of Israel, awake to visit all the heathen: be not merciful to any wicked transgressors. Selah.

Deuteronomy 7:2

2 And when the LORD thy God shall deliver them before thee; thou shalt smite them, and utterly destroy them; thou shalt make no covenant with them, nor shew mercy unto them:

Deuteronomy 7:9–10

9 Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations; 10 And repayeth them that hate him to their face, to destroy them: he will not be slack to him that hateth him, he will repay him to his face.

Hebrews 10:28

28 He that despised Moses’ law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:

Even though it is true that God will  be gracious to whom (he) will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom (he) will shew mercy. (Exo 33:19), he is not arbitrary in his willingness to show mercy.

God will by no means clear the guilty (Exo 34:7). They who will not repent have Justice chasing them down and it will find them in due time.

14 For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil. Ecclesiastes 12:14

God is not obligated to save a single soul, let alone them who despise him.

As stated earlier beloved, there is a cost to sin and it will be born either by the one who extends mercy or through the one who sinned. 

Rare it is for God’s mercy to be shown to the obstinate in heart. And yet it has always been him who draws us to him through the natural consequences of our sin.

Even in our sin and hatred of him, God is still working to bring about a good work.

He still shows mercy all our days and even punishes us “less than our iniquities deserve” (Ezra 9:13).

Lamentations 3:22

22 It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.

Heaven will show all the works of God in drawing us to him. 

Nevertheless, Justice or Mercy are the right response of a Holy and Righteous LORD

 WHICH HAVE YOU CHOSEN?

Romans 2:5–6

5 But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; 6 Who will render to every man according to his deeds: 

God sets the standard for mercy, Mercy is Measured in Majesty, thereby;

Mercy Largely Limited To The Contrite

Mercy Magnified By Justice.

Matthew 5:7

7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.

God’s mercy, is magnified by the justice that would otherwise be served.

In other words, the greater the recognition of the sin or crime, the greater can be understood the forgiveness of it and as such, the greater the love those who have received mercy, show to him who has extended it.

Turn to

Here we find the account of the woman with the alabaster box annoiting the feet of Christ, a woman whom Simon the Phrarisee knows well as “a sinner”. We pick up the account at verse 40 with Jesus fascinating response to the greater the mercy shown the woman, the greater the  love is naturally expected to be the responce.

Luke 7:36–47

 40 And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Master, say on. 41 There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty. 42 And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most? 43 Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged. 

44 And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head. 45 Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet. 46 My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment. 47 Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.

O how wonderful it is that Christ gave to me mercy rather than justice!

How wonderful to consider that if the great God and Saviour Jesus Christ had given to me JUSTICE he himself would remain just and justified in doing so. 

TRUTH will be magnified in the day of God’s judgement, and this is why MERCY has its second most frequent link with Truth and Judgment in the Bible, FOR NO MAN in hell will argue with Christ in the days of their torment.

The rich man in hell did not deny the justice that condemned him, on the contrary, he knew that his five brethren will also end there if they will not turn to the Lord and accept the mercy shown them.

Day after day of the torment of the damned, and never shall there be a single soul who will cry of injustice….to the contrary, the torment of each in the flames of the darkness of eternity will only be exacerbated by the continual lamentation of the MERCY they neglected and the grace they rejected.

Every moment that passes by, every second, every minute, every hour, day, week and year, thousands upon thousands of years and for all eternity, without hope of deliverance, without hope of seeing that mercy again, will remain the simple knowledge that justice has been served when God’s mercy was spurned. 

Perhaps beloved, if we truly knew the mercy that was extended to us, we ourselves might be more willing to extend that mercy to others.

When we have received so great mercy rather than justice, and then have added to that GRACE, how can it be that we not be willing to love Christ enough to show mercy and grace to others?

When you see your sin for what it truly is even now that you are saved through his blood, and know of a certainty that Christ gave himself so completely for it, and you are kept and retained by his grace alone, his PROMISE and COVENANT alone, perhaps then and only then would you love him more and more, and become even more merciful and compassionate to others.

Merciful enough to tell them of his love, of his Gospel!

Perhaps this is why so many times we also see the word “Mercy” linked together with “Covenant” and “Promise” and his “faithfullness”.

Psalm 89:28

28 My mercy will I keep for him for evermore, and my covenant shall stand fast with him.

Psalm 77:8

8 Is his mercy clean gone for ever? doth his promise fail for evermore?

Psalm 89:24

24 But my faithfulness and my mercy shall be with him: and in my name shall his horn be exalted.

Beloved, it is not BY us that eternal life is gained, but by HIS MERCY HE SAVED US.

Titus 3:5

5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

Matthew 5:7

7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.

This is to you who are saved by faith. The hand of mercy was extended and you took it with both hands and today you rejoice.

Show your joy by offering to others this same opportunity and do so no matter the outcome, for it is not in the receiving of mercy that you are rewarded but in the administering of it!

Now my friends, and all who hear this message in this day, if Hebrews 10 is true, and 

28 He that despised Moses’ law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: 29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? Hebrews 10:28-29

How long do you think you have in holding out against God when you hear the gospel of his grace time and time again?

How long will you walk by the hand of mercy that has reached down from heaven and placed before your eyes and ears? Will you not see? Will you not hear? 

How long will your hearts remain hardened against your own soul?

His mercy endures for you ONLY while you yet live, DEATH CLOSES THE DOOR on the damned.

How long do you have?

20 years?

10 years?

10 days?

Your life hangs by a thread and you are shown mercy with every breath you take and God is not obligated to keep you out of hell another moment.

You who THINK you are saved but have never born any fruit….you are the most difficult to preach the gospel to because you think yourself safe and have no fear whatsoever of be told in that day, “depart from me, I never knew you” (Mt 7:23).

Hear the apostles words;

2 Corinthians 13:5

5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?

Hebrews 4:1

1 Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.

Greater ease for them to receive the mercy of God who know they don’t have it, than those who don’t have it but think they do. 

Romans 5:8

8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

God sets the standard for mercy, Mercy is Measured in Majesty, thereby;

Mercy Magnified By Justice.