Matthew 5:7
Mercy from Above
Series: The Beatitudes - Dec 11th, 2005

Read the Beatitudes & then v.7 again
• Merciful…it is the call of our text

Mercy, perhaps you have heard the famous story illus it
Napoleon was preparing to try an officer in his army for his second offense. The man’s mother asked for an audience before Napoleon first.
She appealed most heartedly for her son. Napoleon was moved by a mother's plea for a pardon for her son. However, the emperor said it was the second offense; and justice demanded death.
The mother pleaded , "I plead for mercy."
"But," said the emperor, "he does not deserve mercy."
"Sire," cried the mother, "it would not be mercy if he deserved it, and mercy is all I ask for."
The compassion and clarity of the mother's logic prompted Napoleon to respond, "Well, then, I will have mercy.".

I. Begin with Defining Mercy

1. Mercy – def - to act, treat others not as they deserve
a. Overwhelmed in thinking about describing this
b. Whole Bible speaks of it
c. Many synonyms employed in translation to express the dimensions of meaning involved, such as “kindness,” “lovingkindness,” “goodness,” “grace,” “favor,” “pity,” “compassion,” and “steadfast love.”
d. Where we lay to hear or see the miseries of others and are ready on all occasions to be instrumental for their good

2. Mercy is the character of God
a. The vast majority…far more – when mercy is spoken of – speaks of God’s dealings with us
b. It is His nature – His name
c. Ex 23, 2 Cor 1
d. Ps 103

3. Mercy in the OT – main theme – faithfulness
a. Dealing with Israel – His faithfulness to them
4. Mercy in the NT – main theme- salvation
a. 2 Tim 3:3-7

II. God calls us to be Merciful

1. What does mercy look like?
a. Not – critical, judgmental
b. Not – ignoring (see no evil, etc)
c. Not – accepting sin (Ok with them in sin)
i) It is jumping in, helping up, helping out of sin
d. Not – just nice words w/o action (James)
e. Could describe more…have a sense understand
i) Have a sense that we know the need
ii) Problem in our world, heart – lack of mercy

2. How do we be merciful?
a. Understand the flow of the Beatitudes
i) Speaking of the work of Christ in the heart
ii) Work of salvation – work of growth, real
b. Always begins with Poor in Spirit
i) Seeing that we can do nothing
ii) Mercy is not something we can do
c. Always continues with Mourning – conviction
i) Seeing our sin, seeing our offense to God
ii) Mercy flows from out own wounds
d. Always continues with Meekness – surrender
i) No other way to have what God has
e. Always continues with hunger, thirst for righteousness – longing for God to work it in us
i) Dependence – power – Him in us, Christ in us
ii) Mercy then will be an outworking of this

3. One of most important goals – see real vs. false work of Christ in the heart – what real Christianity is
a. Easiest to see in James 3:13-18
b. Who is wise, understanding – mature in Christ
c. Show good works – done in meekness
d. If have envy and self seeking–false righteousness
i) Envy – seeking position, place, striving
ii) Self seeking–political term, go up, by putting other down
e. If this is what you have – your righteousness
i) Don’t boast, lie – not of God
f. This wisdom, righteousness – other source
i) Earthly – of this world, world system
ii) Sensual – fleshly, your work
iii) Demonic – satanic – he actually likes this
iv) Bible students–see–3 battle fronts of the Christian
g. False righteousness – see it
i) All have it, had it – way we did it
A. Need to pause, consider, be honest
ii) This is how you have lived life in the past
A. This is how some living now – part or whole
B. Your goodness is striving
C. Your goodness is comparing, putting down
D. Your goodness is not real – surrender
iii) Need to see –this helps us discern real work of Christ in our hearts
iv) See in Pharisee and publican
h. False righteousness – produces confusion, sin
i. True righteousness –
i) pure (holy, next week),
ii) peaceable (next beatitude),
iii) gentle, yielding, full of mercy – what it produces
j. Fruit of righteousness – this mercy flows from
k. Go one more place – Galatians 5:16-26

III. Result of Mercy

1. Note with me – promise – merciful, receive mercy
a. Consider corollary in Lord’s prayer
b. Don’t misunderstand – these are now works
c. Not earning God’s favor, mercy – can’t

2. See flow again beatitudes
a. Poor, mourning, surrender, righteousness
b. See that others flow from this
i) Consider illus Jesus gives v.23
ii) Not saying have to be right with others, before God – but can’t worship God, until right

3. This is – must be a work of grace in the heart
a. Cannot do it of yourself


Conclusion

First of all – will you stop and consider wonder of this
• Something about what we are seeing
• The work, God’s work in the heart – real
• Not a phony shame – false righteousness, with behind the scenes envy and strife
• God’s work is real…wonderful

Do you have this? To what extent?
• Will you cry out for it with me

Gospel
- God wants to save you today, by and in His mercy
- Real – renewing, regeneration of Spirit