From the book: Sermon on the Mount. Vol. 1 |
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Sermon on the Mount, #8 |
THE BLESSEDNESS OF THE MERCIFUL Sermon #38 "Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy," MAT 5:7. PSA 41:1 shows the blessedness obtained by showing mercy. "Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the LORD will deliver him in time of trouble." Throughout the Scriptures, the need of mercifulness is shown, and the Lord's mercy to those who show mercy is also shown. This is very important to understand. The Lord is so displeased when people show no mercy to their fellow man. Mercy means undeserved love. Mercy is a one-sided love. Mercy is showing love to somebody who has shown hatred to you. When the Lord shows mercy, He is extending His love to those who have shown hatred and bitterness toward Him. To be merciful is to show love, tenderness, and kindness to those who have come against you with bitterness and hatred. In the way of His providence, God puts us in a position where we must either show revenge or mercy. The Lord tries our faith to see what is in our heart: Will we show mercy or revenge? Our text says, "Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy." PSA 41:1 says, "Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the LORD will deliver him in time of trouble." When the Lord has blessed us with this worlds goods, He requires that we show mercy to the poor, to those who are less privileged. The Lord requires us to show mercy to those who don't have the necessities of life. This is showing mercy. The Lord requires this of us! This is one of the many areas the Lord looks upon when He says the merciful are blessed because they shall obtain mercy. The whole counsel of God must be brought forth. We must look at the blessed harmony of the Gospel when Jesus Christ gave the Sermon on the Mount. He taught the whole counsel of God. The apostle Paul said in ACT 20:26-27, "Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men. For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God." In the perfect harmony of the beatitudes, the Lord Jesus is revealing the whole counsel of God. It is vitally important to understand the distinction between the word regeneration and the word conversion. The Lord Jesus preached a perfect balance between the work of regeneration and conversion, which is repentance. Regeneration is the work of grace in the soul. The first four beatitudes explain the work of regeneration. The next three beatitudes explain the change of heart, or conversion which is the fruits of regeneration. Conversion is that which is worked out of the soul. Conversion is worked out of the man; regeneration is worked within the soul. Conversion flows from and comes out of the man. The evil thoughts, hard attitudes, and unmerciful spirit must be converted. The Spirit of Christ must flow out of the man, "...by their fruits ye shall know them," MAT 7:20. The conversion of the heart, or the fruits of regeneration are shown in the last three beatitudes. Christ brought forth the work of regeneration in the first four beatitudes. We may not claim to possess the four graces Jesus taught in the first four beatitudes, if they do not bear the fruit taught in the next three beatitudes. The Lord Jesus Christ says that we shall be known by our fruits. If we claim that poorness and poverty of Spirit while we are yet unmerciful to our fellow man, we are lying. God's Word tells us in 1JO 4:20-21, "If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also." This commandment we have from Him is to show mercy! "But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth," 1JO 3:17-18. 1JO 2:4 says, "He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, [i.e., he that claims to be quickened by the regeneration of the Spirit while he still continues walking in sin, or unconverted] is a liar, and the truth is not in him." If you claim to experience spiritual poverty by being a poor beggar before the throne of grace, and yet you are unmerciful to your fellow man, then the Bible says you are a liar. You do not have the work of grace within you if its fruits are not expressed by your conversion, your change of heart, and your mercy to your fellow man. Can you claim that you mourn over sin? Can you claim that you see the sinfulness of sin when the power of sin has not been broken? If the fruit of repentance is not manifest, you have not really learned to mourn over sin. The power of sin has never been broken. Can you claim meekness when the hardness of your heart has never been broken? Can you claim meekness when pride still rules and dwells within? Can you claim to hunger and thirst after righteousness as you find delight in feeding upon the husks of the swine? If these fruits of conversion are not apparent, then the first four beatitudes may not be claimed. Regeneration may not be claimed because conversion must be the evidence of the work of regeneration by the Holy Spirit. The next three beatitudes explain the conversion or the fruits of regeneration. MAT 5:7, "Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy." MAT 5:8, "Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God." MAT 5:9, "Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God." MAT 5:10 shows the persecution we shall experience if we are truly converted: "Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." Becoming persecuted for righteousness, or conforming our life to the divine law is a blessed mark. Being persecuted for being converted or for being a changed man is blessed. This shows that the work of conversion has followed and accompanied the work of regeneration and that we have a balanced gospel. Conversion and regeneration are two totally separate entities. Scripture shows the distinction between them. Peter was regenerated. MAT 16:16-17 says, "And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven." We cannot even question that regeneration had been worked in Peter's heart. Peter was looking unto the Lord Jesus Christ by faith, and the Father had revealed Him unto Peter. Peter had a faith's view, a revelation of Christ given to him by the Father. On the other hand, LUK 22:32 says, "But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren." Conversion is progressive and continues after regeneration. We must understand that conversion is a progressive work of grace done in our hearts. The crucifying of the old man of sin is a continual process throughout our entire life. Jesus said, "But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren." This Scripture tell us that Peter had faith. He had true saving faith, and he had the work of regeneration. Peter still needed to be converted; he already possessed grace. What does this teach us? Peter was so strong in himself as a Christian. Oh, Peter could do so many things--he could go to prison with Jesus-- he could die with Him, but Peter's problem was that he was looking within himself. The Lord was going to convert Peter and cause him to look out of himself, unto the Lord Jesus Christ as his only strength. The Lord was going to work this conversion in Peter's soul. The Lord was going to convert him from a strong man in himself to a little child. What happened? We know the history! Peter denied his Lord, and he became a little child. When the Lord Jesus turned and looked upon him, Peter went out and wept bitterly. He was no longer so strong within himself. He became converted. Then he could comfort his brethren when they were so cast down. When his brethren see how they have denied their Lord, how they have done so many foolish things, and start writing bitter things against themselves, Peter can comfort them. Now Peter can talk from experience because he has become converted. Peter can explain to them how the Lord plucked him as a brand from the burning. Peter can explain how he cursed and swore denying that he ever knew his Lord. When the Lord turned and looked upon him, his pride and hardness of heart melted into tears of remorse; he became a changed man. He had, however, already been regenerated. In the beatitudes the Lord Jesus is teaching the distinction between conversion and regeneration. If we are regenerated, the work of the regeneration must become manifest by conversion. This same truth is manifest in what is recorded about the disciples of our Lord. The disciples had all received the internal call and the work of regeneration, but Jesus said except ye be converted ye cannot enter the kingdom of heaven. Jesus pointed out the work of conversion as a progressive work of sanctification. In MAT 18:1-3 Jesus spoke to His disciples. They were the ones He had called, the ones He had chosen, the ones who had forsaken all, and were following Him in the way. Jesus was speaking to His own disciples. "At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" V:1. They were striving among themselves to see who would become the greatest. The disciples had not yet experienced the conversion that the Lord worked in Peter's heart. V:2-3 say, "And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them, And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven." Conversion is progressive; it follows and accompanies regeneration. These disciples already possessed grace. They were already called and following Jesus in the Way. Now the disciples needed conversion to progress in the way of humility! They had to stop striving to be the greatest. The work of grace must be a progressive work of conversion. Jesus told them, "Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven." The Lord Jesus pointed out to them their need for the progressive work of conversion to be able to enter the kingdom, i.e., to enter into His service. The progressive work must bring us to become small and humble before the Lord. We must become merciful and prefer the other man ahead of ourselves. We must see that no matter what another man does to us, we must do unto them as we would that they do unto us; we are not to be revengeful. In this Scripture the Lord is showing us that we must not strive with other people to become great; we must become as little children. The converting work must accompany and follow the work of regeneration. Conversion is the fruit of regeneration. When our heart has been regenerated, conversion is the fruit. The Lord teaches this in the last three beatitudes. The last three beatitudes are the fruit of the regeneration set forth in the first four beatitudes. MAT 12:33 says, "Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit." The fruit flows forth from the root, and the work of regeneration is the root. The tree is either good or bad, and the fruit will show it. V:34 says, "O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh." How can something clean come from an unclean thing? How can sweet water come from a salty fountain? This is what the Lord is asking. The fruit of regeneration will come from the heart. If we have never been regenerated, everything that comes from our heart will be vile. It will all be seasoned with the corruption of the fall. If the fountain has been sweetened and the tree of life has been placed there, sweet waters will come forth. The sweet waters are the fruits of regeneration. V:35 says, "A good man out of the good treasure of the heart it brings forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things." The work of conversion is the fruit which flows from the fountain of regeneration. In the regenerated heart the fruits of conversion can be seen. The different attitude can be seen, and the fountain has become sweet. Out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things because the work of regeneration of the heart has changed the fountain. The tree of life has been placed in the waters, and they become sweet. Conversion is continuous and progressive until the whole lump is leavened. The work of conversion keeps building until it floats off the corruption. From the heart the fruits of regeneration proceed. MAT 13:33 says, "Another parable spake he unto them; The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened." This is teaching how the Spirit of Christ spread through the heart and expelled the evil of the heart. What was the result? The whole progressively became leavened. That is an analogy to the kingdom of heaven. The Lord plants the kingdom of heaven in the soul with the work of regeneration. This is progressive, and the work of conversion continues to grow. As it continues to grow, the whole becomes leavened. Conversion is inseparable from regeneration. The work of regeneration cannot be claimed without the fruits of conversion. If we claim the work of regeneration without having the fruits of conversion, we are lying. 2CO 5:17 says, "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." We can see a complete new heart. We can see the fear of God. We see the things which accompany salvation if the Lord has worked regeneration in the heart. The Lord is teaching this in the last three beatitudes. The Lord promises to work both regeneration and conversion in His own. This is so blessed. The work of conversion is the work of grace as well as the work of regeneration. The work of conversion is the evidence. It is the fruit. By their fruits ye shall know them. EZE 11:19 says, "And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; [Do you see the work of regeneration which the Lord is working? That is putting in a new Spirit!] and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh." Look at the work of regeneration. It is the putting in of a new Spirit and giving a new heart. The Father has promised to work the work of regeneration in the hearts of His own. V:20 continues, "That [Do you see that word that?] they may walk in my statutes, [See the fruit], and keep mine ordinances, and do them: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God." Walking in His statutes shows the conversion. In these two verses the Lord promises to work regeneration in the hearts of His people, and in the same breath, the Lord says He will give them the work of conversion. Isn't that beautiful? Our text says, "Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy." V:20 said, "That they may walk in my statutes, and keep mine ordinances, and do them: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God." EZE 36:25-27 says, "Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them." Isn't it blessed to see that the Lord says He will do the work of regeneration. He works it by grace in the soul, but it is accompanied by conversion. In harmony of one breath, the Lord speaks of regeneration accompanied with conversion. Let's look at how the Lord ties together regeneration and conversion in the Old Testament gospel. In EZE 44:7-9 we read that those who are uncircumcised in heart and flesh are strangers to the Lord. "In that ye have brought into my sanctuary strangers, uncircumcised in heart, and uncircumcised in flesh, to be in my sanctuary, to pollute it, even my house, when ye offer my bread, the fat and the blood, and they have broken my covenant because of all your abominations. And ye have not kept the charge of mine holy things: but ye have set keepers of my charge in my sanctuary for yourselves. Thus saith the Lord GOD; No stranger, uncircumcised in heart, nor uncircumcised in flesh, shall enter into my sanctuary, of any stranger that is among the children of Israel." What is the Lord teaching? Uncircumcised in heart points to being unregenerate. These people were unregenerate. Grace, which is the circumcision of the heart, was never worked in their hearts. Being uncircumcised in the flesh points to the walk of life. They were not converted; they had not turned unto the Lord. Since they had not turned from their evil ways, the Lord said they were strangers. They were not His people. They lacked two necessary elements: regeneration and conversion. 1JO 5:4 speaks of both these essential elements. "For whatsoever is born of God [i.e., regeneration,] overcometh the world: [i.e., conversion], and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith." The Gadarene was regenerated when he saw Jesus. MAR 5:5-6 says, "And always, night and day, he was in the mountains, and in the tombs, crying, and cutting himself with stones. But when he saw Jesus afar off, he ran and worshipped him." The Spirit worked in him and brought him to worship Jesus. This was the work of regeneration. Watch what happens next. He was no longer "in the mountains, and in the tombs, crying, and cutting himself with stones." In MAR 5:15 we see the evidence of his conversion. "And they come to Jesus, and see him that was possessed with the devil, and had the legion, sitting, and clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid." What did they see? They saw a different man. The Gadarene was now sitting clothed and in his right mind at the feet of Jesus. An Antinomian is one of a sect who maintains that under the gospel dispensation the law is abolished, therefore, of no use or obligation. Antinomians hold doctrines which supersede the necessity of good works and a virtuous life. This sect originated with John Agricola about the year 1538. A religion of experience and\or regeneration without conversion is antinomian. Antinomianism is claiming regeneration in the heart by the grace of God with no need for change of life; Antinomianism claims a liberty for continuing in sin. Claiming the work of regeneration without conversion is absolute deceit. If walk of life has not changed, the heart has not changed; the mind has not changed, and the fountain is still corrupt. There is no regeneration if there is no conversion. Claiming a work of regeneration outside of conversion is Antinomianism. On the other side, however, a religion of good works without regeneration is but a social religion. There is no true conversion without the work of regeneration. If we have never become a poor sinner before God, known a true sense of Spiritual poverty, or mourned over our sins, we have not had regeneration. With a social religion we can turn from outward sin, join a church, and claim salvation without ever understanding that the fountain of our heart is corrupt. We need for the Lord to give us "a new heart"---to put "a new spirit" in us---to "sprinkle clean water upon [us]," so we "shall be clean," EZE 36:25-27. It is so important that we preach the whole counsel of God. We must understand the work of regeneration. We must know how it feels to become poverty stricken before the Lord. We must walk in the footsteps of Jesus looking at His poverty when He cried out before the Lord as a beggar. Jesus begged in MAT 26:39 saying, "O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt." Look at how the Lord Jesus Christ became such a beggar before the throne of God. The Lord Jesus became such a beggar as He came before the Father's wrath upon sin. When our eyes are opened to see God's wrath upon sin, we will become true beggars before the throne of grace to be pardoned and also to be cleansed from sin. True conversion is the fruit of the work of regeneration Jesus taught in the first four beatitudes. We must become beggars before the throne of grace--becoming poverty stricken---learning to mourn over sin---becoming meek---hungering and thirsting after righteousness. Without these elements of grace, conversion centers in self as the Pharisee praying in the temple, "The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess," LUK 18:11-13. It was the publican who saw the corruption of his own heart, who was regenerated, and went home justified. "And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted," V:14- 18. Webster says mercy is: "That benevolence, mildness or tenderness of heart that disposes to overlook injuries--or to treat an offender better than he deserves." Mercy is a one sided love. The Lord Jesus pointed out to the Pharisees that they thought they had conversion. They thought they were blameless in keeping the law, but the Lord showed them that they lacked the work of regeneration. He showed them that they lacked the fruits of mercy. LUK 10:30-34 says, "And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side. But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him." The man who had fallen among the thieves was a Jew. A priest who claimed salvation passed by on the other side. The priest refused to stop to help the Jew. The Levites were those who ministered in the things of the Lord. The Levites claimed salvation, but this Levite showed no mercy. He had no true work of regeneration. The Jews and the Samaritans hated each other. The Jews looked at the Samaritans as an abomination, and the Samaritans refused to deal with the Jews. The Samaritan, however, showed mercy. The Jew had a right to expect mercy from the priest and the Levite. He did not expect any mercy from the Samaritan; yet the Samaritan was the one who showed the mercy. The priest and the Levite were remiss in their duties by not helping him. The Jew was one of their congregation, but they showed no mercy. They claimed salvation, but without the fruit of conversion, they didn't show mercy. The work of regeneration had never been worked in their soul. They were claiming a salvation which they didn't own. Jesus is pointing to the Samaritan to show what it means to be merciful. The Jew had no claim to any mercy or love from the Samaritan because of the long-standing hatred; yet the Samaritan showed mercy. That is true mercy. David showed mercy in 1-SA 24:4-6. "And the men of David said unto him, Behold the day of which the LORD said unto thee, Behold, I will deliver thine enemy into thine hand, that thou mayest do to him as it shall seem good unto thee. [What was it that seemed good unto David? To show mercy!] Then David arose, and cut off the skirt of Saul's robe privily, And it came to pass afterward, that David's heart smote him, because he had cut off Saul's skirt. And he said unto his men, The LORD forbid that I should do this thing unto my master, the LORD'S anointed, to stretch forth mine hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the LORD." The Lord had delivered Saul into his hand. Did David show mercy? Yes, David did not slay Saul even though he rightly deserved it. At that time, Saul was sleeping while on his own pursuit to slay David. David showed mercy. He showed a love to which Saul had no right. What seemed good to David? Mercy seemed good to David. Isn't that beautiful? That shows the work of regeneration. That is the fruit of regeneration. A true definition of mercy is found in 1-SA 24:17. Saul told David, "And he said to David, Thou art more righteous than I: for thou hast rewarded me good, whereas I have rewarded thee evil." Saul told David this after David had spared his life and showed mercy. This is a beautiful definition of mercy. To be merciful is to be forgiving. Watch what MAR 11:25-26 says, "And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses." Look at the beautiful harmony with our text, "Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy." When we pray before the Father in the name of Jesus, we must forgive and show mercy. We must show mercy because we are praying to the Father to plead for mercy. Can we rightly ask for mercy when we are not merciful? The gospel has such a beautiful harmony. If you don't forgive, don't ask for forgiveness. When you stand praying, forgive. Be merciful to obtain mercy. "Blessed are the merciful: because they shall obtain mercy." MAT 18:26, 32-34 says, "The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all...[The servant had obtained mercy. The servant had been forgiven his whole debt. Then he threatened to put his fellow man in prison for not paying a debt. When this servant's lord heard, he called him wicked.] Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me: Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee? And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him." The lord forgave all of the servant's debt because he desired it. The servant should have had compassion on his fellow man as his lord had pity on him. This is what it means to be merciful to obtain mercy. "Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy," MAT 5:7. The Lord gives an exhortation to be merciful in LUK 6:35-36. "But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil. Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful." When someone asks for a loan, what is your first reaction? Is it to check their credit? This verse says not to do that. Is says that you aren't supposed to check their credit or their intent to pay. If they are in need, you lend hoping for nothing again. You lend to them realizing that they may not pay you back. That is being merciful. That is the fruit of regeneration which flows from a heart of mercy. Your reward for lending and hoping for nothing again shall be great. The Lord has predestined us to be Christ-like. We must love our enemies. We must do good and lend even unto those who are trying to destroy us. We must do good even unto those who will hurt us or have no intention to repay. We must still show mercy if we think they are truly in trouble. "Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful." See the wonder of God's mercy in PSA 85:10. "Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other." What does that mean "mercy and truth are met together"? The truth is that you are a sinner and God the Father is holy and righteous. You cannot have reconciliation with a holy and righteous God because you are a lost, undone sinner. What does this verse mean? Righteousness and peace have kissed each other because God can show mercy. Jesus Christ showed mercy. He came and lent to His enemies. Jesus Christ lent His life's blood to redeem His enemies, ROM 5:10. "Be ye therefore merciful," even as He is merciful. This is a tremendous lesson in the gospel. We are such wretches by nature. It is such a grace to become converted and to be given a new heart. From the abundance of the heart flows that which is in the heart. Generosity, mercy, and loving kindness must be in the heart. We must be regenerated and converted to do what is pleasing to the Father. "Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other." Where? In that tremendous loan our Saviour lent while we were still enemies! Expecting to receive nothing from us in return, the Lord Jesus lent His blood. He paid the price of our sin. He did it for us while we were still His enemies, ROM 5:10. "Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy," MAT 5:7. Look at how the Lord showed the blessedness of this merciful man in PRO 3:3-4. "Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart: So shalt thou find favor and good understanding in the sight of God and man." We shouldn't only do it as the fruit of regeneration. The Lord says there is a reward. True saving faith looks to the reward as its object. HEB 11:6 says, "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." We must be able to sacrifice everything of the flesh to obtain the Pearl of Great Price. Our eyes must be fixed upon the reward. They must not be centered upon ourselves and all the things which lie within. We must come out of ourselves and fix our eyes on the Lord Jesus Christ. PRO 14:31 says, "He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker: but he that honoureth him hath mercy on the poor." Look at the reward. We can see the honor of God. We are rewarded with seeing that we have become a vessel to God's honor. This is so blessed. Look at PRO 14:21. "He that despiseth his neighbour sinneth: but he that hath mercy on the poor, happy is he." This shows a reward. Mercifulness is a blessedness. ACT 20:35 says, "I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive." Do you know why? In giving, we receive. The Lord will never be out-donated. We will never be able to be more merciful than He is. He will never be less generous than we are. I read an article in the newspaper at the time J. C. Penny died which said something very interesting. Before he died, he was asked how much he had lent unto the Lord. His answer was that he had never kept books with the Lord. Then they asked how much he thought he had donated. He answered that he had never been able to out give the Lord. It didn't matter how much he gave to the Lord. The Lord always gave him more in return. This was a nice testimony from a public newspaper. Our Saviour shows the blessedness of being merciful to the poor. We must understand this. The first element needed to truly be merciful is condescension. We must be in a station of life above the one we want to be merciful to in most cases. Look at what our Saviour tells us about being merciful to the poor in MAT 25:34-36. The King of kings is glorified by us being merciful to the poor. "Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: For [This is setting forth why we will be blessed and why we will inherit the kingdom.] I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: [Do you understand what Jesus is saying? He was so pleased with mercy shown to the poor!] I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me." The Lord was so pleased with those who showed mercy to His needy ones and were merciful to the poor. Our showing mercy unto the poor is so gratifying unto the Lord. He is pleased when we do things according to His will. He is honored and glorified by our showing mercy. Jesus said, "Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat." See how closely He ties our salvation with our showing mercy. "Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy," MAT 5:7. Notice how those who obtained mercy saw their own poverty! They saw their short comings; they saw their own unworthiness. They did not feel they had earned anything. MAT 25:37-39 says, "Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?" The righteous were so unworthy within themselves. Their own poverty made them so merciful. When they saw that they deserved nothing in the sight of God but that the Lord had richly blessed them, they were able to give unto others. This was such a blessing. They laid their crowns at His feet and said that they had only done that which was their duty to do. Watch what the King of kings said. This is where He was so glorified. This helps us understand why the merciful are blessed for they shall obtain mercy. V:40 says, "And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me." The heart of Jesus is so gratified by those who show mercy. Therefore see our exhortation. MIC 6:8 says, "He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?" The Lord requires this of us. This is not an option or a matter of opinion. If we claim the work of regeneration, this conversion must accompany it. Loving mercy does not mean in a selfish sense, i.e., loving God's mercy towards us. It means that we love to show mercy to our fellow man. We must love to do things which are helpful to those who come to destroy us. COL 3:12-13 says, "Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye." Mercifulness is to show love. If we have not love, we have nothing. To rightly understand the first book of Corinthians, we must realize it was a letter of reproof from the apostle Paul to the Corinthian church. Everything we read in this book must be taken as a reproof of teaching the things we don't do. These are not examples to build upon. The apostle Paul makes exaggerated illustrations to illustrate the unreasonableness of what he is reproving them for. He uses illustrations which are beyond what any human mind can conceive. Then he comes back to the logical sense and gives the bottom line. Take notice of this in 1CO 13:1-3, "Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing." Paul illustrated these extremities to show that if these things were possible and a man could have all these gifts and yet he lacked charity, he still had nothing. He knew that no person had ever literally moved a mountain. He used these extreme illustrations to demonstrate that regardless what gifts we may claim if we do not have love, we have nothing. The apostle Paul knew that it is impossible for a man to speak with the tongues of angels. He knew it is impossible for any man to have the gifts of all knowledge because the Lord Jesus Christ is the only one with all wisdom. No man on the face of the earth will ever have all knowledge. He knew that no man will ever have the faith to literally remove a mountain. The apostle's admonition was against placing our hope of salvation upon gifts. He demonstrated that even though one had gifts of such extreme nature, they have no value for salvation. The apostle Paul was teaching that all the law and the gospel hang upon the law of love, i.e., to love God above all, and your neighbour as yourself. Love is the first and great commandment. MAT 22:37-40 says, "Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets." Love is the essential element to salvation. All these gifts, which Paul mentioned, in and of themselves have no salvation in them. The first and great commandment is love. In love we see mercy. If we have not love, we have nothing. That is how important it is to show mercy, my friends! If we don't have love, we are destitute of anything good. If we have love, we will show mercy. If we do not understand what it means to honor our father and mother, to not kill, to not commit adultery, we do not understand love. If we love our neighbors as ourselves, we would not commit these sins against them. That is showing mercy. We won't kill, commit adultery, or steal because we have mercy and love. This is the commandment of love. Being merciful requires keeping the law of love contained in the last six commandments, EXO 20:12-20. There shall be judgment without mercy for those who show no mercy. This is so awesome. It should cause our hearts to tremble. JAM 2:13 says, "For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment." Once I read of John Wesley when he was on a ship coming to America. The captain of the ship was administering discipline to one of the shipmates. John Wesley pleaded for mercy for the man. The captain of the ship held up his fist and said that he would show mercy to no one. Then John Wesley told him that the Lord hath judgment without mercy to him that hath showed no mercy. John Wesley told the captain, "You must profess to be a perfect man!" Because you may never pray for mercy if you boast of showing no mercy. "For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy." The Jews did not look for a merciful Messiah. They were looking for a Messiah who would avenge them of the Romans. While the disciples stood on Mount Olive as the Lord Jesus Christ was being taken from them, they asked the Lord if He would restore again the kingdom of Israel at that time. They were still looking for the overthrow of the Roman rule. The disciples were looking for revenge. As the Lord answered their question, He was taken up into heaven. ACT 1:6-9 says, "When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight." We must understand the progressive work of conversion, sanctification, and repentance. Becoming merciful is a continual quest throughout our entire lifetime. The Lord Jesus told Peter to strengthen his brethren when he became converted. Peter already had the work of conversion in him, yet he did not understand the mercy of God. The disciples still looked for the overthrow of the Roman kingdom. They still looked for an earthly kingdom. Until the Day of Pentecost, they did not fully understand the true work of regeneration in the soul and the true work of conversion. They did not even understand Christ's first coming while they were with the Lord on the Mount of Olives. ACT 1:9 says, "And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight." The continual, progressive work of conversion must accompany the work of regeneration. When we look to that, we will understand what the Lord Jesus said in His first four beatitudes. He was describing the work of regeneration. In the next three beatitudes, we will look at the work of conversion. The first of the last three beatitudes is, "Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy." That is the fruit that flows from the work of regeneration. Amen. |
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