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Blessed are the Merciful
Blessed are the
merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. (Matthew 5:7) What exactly did Jesus
mean with those words? Was it a law that Jesus proclaimed, stating
that if one individual puts in X, the result of this action would be that X
would be extended towards that individual thereafter? Was it simply a specific
case of the law of the harvest; you will reap what you sow? Did Jesus mean that
the merciful would be dealt with mercifully by his/her fellow men? If anyone,
Jesus knew that mercy is not always extended to the merciful among the children
of men. Jesus went about doing good and his bowels of
mercy directed his every act during his ministry. Blind received their sight, tormented
received their sanity, lepers were cleansed, deaf would hear, dumb would talk,
dead would walk. Yet he had more enemies than anyone else. He invoked more
feelings opposite of mercy than most people ever did. And so did his apostles
after him, and his prophets before him. So, even though being merciful will
bring mercy from some, and perhaps even many, it is quite clear that really
merciful people will make enemies too. Jesus made a personal
promise to the merciful. That's what it was. Blessed are the merciful
for I will be merciful towards them. Why is that such an important promise? Why
is that so important that I would even want to be merciful unto death to be at
the receiving end of that promise? Jesus is the Judge of
all, both the living and the dead. Living a merciful life
would render a 'get out of hell-card', since on the Day of Judgment Jesus will
make good on his promise. After all, we are all beggars before him. We are all
unworthy. But our faith in the Lord, and our mercy towards our brothers and
sisters, will make Jesus look upon us in mercy, and we will become perfect in
him. 34 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: 35 For I was an hungred,
and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and
ye took me in: 36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I
was in prison, and ye came unto me. 37 Then shall
the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred,
and fed thee? or thirsty, and
gave thee drink? 38 When saw
we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or
naked, and clothed thee? 39 Or when
saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? 40 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.
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