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With Eternity’s Values in View

Part 6

by Samuel E. Ward

The BeatitudesMatthew 5:3-12

See the text version of this sermon at http://www.cbckck.blogspot.com

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Matthew 5:3-12 (NIV2011) 3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. 5 Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. 6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

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7 Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. 8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. 9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. 10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

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11 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

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Introduction

The Beatitudes we have considered thus far are:

I. “Blessed Are Those Who Are Poor in Spirit,” Mat 5:3

II. “Blessed Are Those Who Mourn,” Mat 5:4

III. “Blessed Are the Meek,” Mat 5:5Now we address the third.

IV. “Blessed Are Those Who Hunger and Thirst for Righteousness,” Mat 5:6

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V. “Blessed Are the Merciful,” Mat 5:6

Our examination of this Beatitude will lead us to contemplate the . . .

A. Definitions of MercyB. Divine Examples of MercyC. Divine Commandment for MercyD. Human Examples of MercyE. The Rewards of Showing Mercy

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First,

A. Definitions of Mercy

1. Modern definition – Merriam-Webster

a. 1) compassion or forbearance shown especially to an offender or to one subject to one's power; also, lenient or compassionate treatment <begged for mercy>

2) imprisonment rather than death imposed as penalty for first-degree murder

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b. 1) a blessing that is an act of divine favor or compassion

2) a fortunate circumstance <it was a mercy they found her before she froze>

c. compassionate treatment of those in distress <works of mercy among the poor>

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2. Biblical definition of mercy

The general meaning is to have compassion or mercy on a person in unhappy circumstances. . . [And] not merely a feeling for the misfortunes of others involving sympathy but also an active desire to remove those miseries.

AMG's Complete Word Study Dictionaries – The Complete Word Study Dictionary –

New Testament.

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B. Divine Examples of Mercy, Luke 6:36

1. God is merciful to the ungrateful and wicked.

Luke 6:32, 35-36 (NIV2011) 32 “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. . .

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35 But love your enemies, do good to them [italics mine], and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. 36 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

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One of the ways that God’s mercy is extended to all is expressed in Matthew’s expansion of Luke’s account in Matthew 5:44-45.

Matthew 5:44-45 (NIV2011) 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.

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2. God was merciful to rebellious Israel.

Nehemiah 9:17-19 (NIV2011) 17 They refused to listen and failed to remember the miracles you performed among them. They became stiff-necked and in their rebellion appointed a leader in order to return to their slavery. But you are a forgiving God, gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love. Therefore you did not desert them,

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18 even when they cast for themselves an image of a calf and said, ‘This is your god, who brought you up out of Egypt,’ or when they committed awful blasphemies. 19 “Because of your great compassion you did not abandon them in the wilderness. By day the pillar of cloud did not fail to guide them on their path, nor the pillar of fire by night to shine on the way they were to take.

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3. God is merciful to the repentant Christian.

1 John 1:9 (NIV2011) If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

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Luke 18:10-14 (NIV2011) 10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’

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13 “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’ 14 “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

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C. Divine Command Show Mercy, Micah 6:8; Luke 6:36; Colossians 3:12

Micah 6:8 (NIV2011) He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.

Luke 6:36 (NIV2011) Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

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Colossians 3:12 (NIV2011) Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.

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D. Human Examples of Mercy

1. The Good Samaritan, Luke 10:30-37

Luke 10:30-37 (NIV2011) 30 In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead.

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31 A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 32 So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine.

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Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’ 36 “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” 37 The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.” Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”

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2. David

1 Samuel 24:9-13 (NIV2011) 9 [David] said to Saul, “Why do you listen when men say, ‘David is bent on harming you’? 10 This day you have seen with your own eyes how the LORD delivered you into my hands in the cave. Some urged me to kill you, but I spared you; I said, ‘I will not lay my hand on my lord, because he is the LORD’s anointed.’

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11 See, my father, look at this piece of your robe in my hand! I cut off the corner of your robe but did not kill you. See that there is nothing in my hand to indicate that I am guilty of wrongdoing or rebellion. I have not wronged you, but you are hunting me down to take my life. 12 May the LORD judge between you and me. And may the LORD avenge the wrongs you have done to me, but my hand will not touch you. 13 As the old saying goes, ‘From evildoers come evil deeds,’ so my hand will not touch you.

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3. Jesus in His humanity

Romans 5:6-8 (NIV2011) 6 You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. 7 Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

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E. The Rewards of Showing Mercy

1. Deliverance in times of trouble

Psalm 41:1-2 (NIV2011) 1 Blessed are those who have regard for the weak; the LORD delivers them in times of trouble. 2 The LORD protects and preserves them— they are counted among the blessed in the land— he does not give them over to the desire of their foes.

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2. Prosperity and refreshment for the generous and merciful

Proverbs 11:24-25 (NIV2011) 24 One person gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. 25 A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.

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3. Forgiveness for being forgiving

Matthew 6:14 (NIV2011) For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.

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Conclusion

1. Everyone needs God’s mercy!

Romans 3:23-24 (NIV2011) 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

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2. God loves to show mercy!

Matthew 9:12-13 (NIV2011) 12 On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. 13 But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

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3. God blesses those who show mercy!

Matthew 5:7 (NIV2011) Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.