Be-Attitutdes: Mercy to the Merciful

Mercy can be messy.

Who should we show mercy to? And why was it so important to Jesus? How do we show mercy without enabling sinful behavior?

Let’s look at what Jesus meant when He said, “Blessed are the merciful.”

Prompt: Think about a time when someone showed you mercy.

Bible Passage: Luke 10:25-37

Key Verse:

“Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.” – Mt 5:7

Digging Into The Word

1. Define mercy.

According to Vine’s Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words, merciful means actively compassionate; a show of sympathy to those in distress or misery.

2. After Jesus told his parable of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10:25-37, he asked the law expert who was the neighbor in the story. The law expert answered, “The one who showed mercy.” How did the Samaritan demonstrate mercy in this story?

3. Jesus said we are blessed when we are merciful because God will show us mercy. Jesus echoes this reciprocal condition in other places. See Mt 6:14, Luke 6:38, and Eph. 4:32. Why does Jesus put this condition on His mercy to us?

4. Jesus’ audience had lived under a strict code of law. They also believed that those who were sick, crippled, or in dire straits were in that position because of sin. Why might Jesus’ listeners have a hard time accepting Jesus’ comments about mercy?

5. Do you find it difficult to show mercy? When? To Whom? Why? How does one balance wisdom and discernment with mercy? Think about Mt 10:16 and James 2:12,13.

What’s Next?

Who is facing a difficult time or struggling with life circumstances in your circle of influence? Write down three ways you can show mercy to that person. Choose one to do this week.