Blessed are the Merciful: Giving, Forgiving, and Thanksgiving

"Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy"

Matthew 5:7 was the text I preached yesterday. In my sermon, I answered three questions:

1. Does God show mercy to everyone?
2. Why does Jesus say "Blessed are the merciful" instead of "Blessed are the faithful?"
3. What does mercy look like?

In answering that final question, I gave the answer: True mercy gives generously and forgives sincerely in order to increase thanksgiving to God (cf. Rom 15:8-9). In response to the mercies of God (i.e., the gospel), mercy proactively schemes, plans, and prays for the increase of thanksgiving to God by means of our giving to those in need and forgiving those who have offended us. In short, genuine mercy involves giving and thanksgiving in order to cause thanksgiving to God. If you have struggled with understanding how we can be merciful, or if you---like me---have struggled to be merciful, consider this beatitude which calls us to cry out for mercy, so that we too might be merciful! Here's the audio:

Soli Deo Gloria, dss