The fourth Beatitude talks of Mercy. What is mercy? Strong's concordance gives this definition of the greek word translated as merciful in Matthew 5:7: "Full of pity, merciful, compassionate. From the greek word eleeo; compassionate" (Strong's Concordance). So the emphasis in the greek word used was compassionate. So what does compassionate mean? Webster defines it as: "sympathetic consciousness of others' distress together with a desire to alleviate it". So mercy or compassion carries with it not just feelings for someone but the desire to do something for them. Think of the last time you felt compassion for someone. What did your feelings prompt you to do? Did you follow through with those feelings?
The Bible puts a high emphasis on the attitude of Mercy. It is one of the words used to describe our Creator. “Therefore know that the Lord your God, He is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments …” (Deuteronomy 7:9) God's Mercy is shown to us day by day "Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning" (Lamentation 3:22-23 NIV). As an ultimate expression, God showed His mercy and compassion by giving us Jesus as a Savior from our sins.
And Jesus Himself talked about Mercy or compassion many times. Jesus gave us examples of Mercy in His parables: the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37) for example or the parable of the Shepherd and the Lost Sheep (Matthew 18:12-14). How about the parable of the Prodigal Son in Luke 15:11-32)? He also talked about the consequences of showing Mercy. To illustrate the consequences of not showing compassion, He told the story of the servant to whom the master showed compassion by totally erasing a huge debt that servant owed to him. The servant, instead of showing this same compassion to someone else, threw the man in prison for a much smaller debt and was then in turn thrown in prison himself by his angry Master. Jesus also talked about the positive results of showing compassion to others here on earth in the parable of the Sheep and the Goats in Matthew 25. "The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me'." (Matthew 25:40 NIV).
So an attitude of Mercy or Compassion is very important to Our Father. He wants us to be more like His Son as we go about our daily lives. Just like Jesus who “...saw a great multitude and was moved with compassion for them, because they were like sheep not having a shepherd. So He began to teach them many things.” (Mark 6:34), we are to be "moved with compassion" as well. Sometimes, in this digital age of tv and internet, we can be "moved with compassion" by a news story and pictures of disasters or tragedies. In those cases, our only recourse is prayer for those involved. But this too is an expression of compassion. Sometimes we are "moved with compassion" to give to someone in obvious need. Sometimes we are "moved with compassion" to share a wordless hug. Sometimes we are "moved with compassion" to reach out via a text or a phone call. Regardless of what it is that moves us to act with compassion, it is important to follow those impulses. They are an indication of the Holy Spirit of Jesus Christ living and working in us.
Jesus said that being Merciful or Compassionate will make us feel Blessed. It will make us Happy. If you have ever been moved with compassion and done something for someone else you know what He means. It makes you feel good inside yourself, creates a special glow inside you that lasts through the trials of the rest of your day. That one "good deed" creates a feeling of happiness. Jesus also said that the Merciful would be "shown Mercy". You can say that He is referring to our final confrontation with our Heavenly Father, when we will be shown Mercy for Christ's sake. However, I think it also means here on Earth in our everyday lives. Could it be, that when we allow compassion to find expression in some kind of action, the "good feeling" that we have afterwards is like a big compassionate hug from our Creator? To me it is the only thing that really explains the special kind of happiness that helping someone else creates in us.
Finally I will leave this discussion of Mercy with these words from the prophet Micah who explained the importance God puts on this attitude of compassion:
"Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousand rivers of olive oil? Shall I offer my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?
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." (Micah 6:7-8 NIV)