Wednesday, February 24
Scripture: Matthew 5:7

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

THE MERCIFUL

“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.” These words of Jesus, delivered in a series of gentle, poetic blessings in his Sermon on the Mount, reach my ears today as welcome, familiar, and reassuring. It’s easy to overlook that these statements are also countercultural, radical proclamations that were as curious then as they ought to be today.

The disciples on that mountainside who heard Jesus talk about “mercy” had grown up in the reality of Roman oppression and brutality. Among these followers of Jesus were men like Simon the Zealot, participants in (or at least sympathizers of) a movement of revolution and rebellion that often advocated a violent response to Roman occupation. The strong arm of Rome did not show mercy. Think of the infanticide inflicted by Herod at the time of Jesus’ birth. For Jews under Roman rule, this was a rugged world of striving and scraping by for survival. I can imagine fathers of that day lecturing sons about showing strength, fighting for the upper hand. Kids probably acted out battle scenes, envisioning themselves as conquering heroes, displaying relentless courage, competing mercilessly against the enemy to emerge victorious. But Jesus said, “blessed are the merciful.”

Showing mercy runs counter to the way of nature, and contrary to what many cultures value. In American society, succeeding in business or politics today can mean being merciless. Winning at all costs is admired. Respect is demanded. There’s a tendency in many circles to equate masculinity with attitudes and actions that evoke power and aggression, not grace and mercy. We often hear Christian character explained through metaphors of striving and strength, such as football and combat. While the Bible certainly teaches us to be strong and courageous, there is desperate need today to rediscover mercy.

It has been said that by showing mercy we truly imitate God’s character. Micah 6:8 identifies mercy as an element of true righteousness. Mercy is active pity: not merely being aware of a need or a wrong suffered, but the movement of the heart toward empathy, and the exercise of the will to take action and offer a remedy. This was God’s attitude toward us, such that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. It is grace where none is expected.

The story of the prodigal son in Luke 15 is a vivid representation of God’s mercy. It is part of a parable in three parts: there is a lost sheep, a lost coin, and a lost son. In each case there is a merciful seeker, whose worry is not assuaged until that which is lost is found. The shepherd does not care why the stray sheep is missing. Maybe it deserved to be lost; through stupidity or disobedience it wandered off. But no, the shepherd does not rest until he recovers the beloved lost sheep, and then rejoices. The owner of the coin searches restlessly until it is found, and then she celebrates. Finally, the prodigal son whose lostness is entirely his own fault, repents and returns to the father he had gravely insulted, and to his surprise the father is merciful and receives him. Again, there is great celebration — except by the “righteous” brother whose heart will not show mercy. The clean-living but unmerciful brother stands out as the cautionary tale of the story. As Francis Schaeffer wrote, “Biblical orthodoxy without compassion is surely the ugliest thing in the world.”

PRAYER

Lord, we live in a cynical world. Thank you for showing us mercy, although we deserved none. Through your example may we be people of mercy to the hurting and lost of this world, and a blessing that reflects your merciful nature and steadfast love. Amen.

Brian J. Shook, Director of Administration, Office of the President