The merciful - The word mercy, among the Jews, signified two things: the pardon of injuries, and almsgiving. Our Lord undoubtedly takes it in its fullest latitude here. To know the nature of mercy, we have only to consult the grammatical meaning of the Latin word misericordia, from which ours is derived. It is composed of two words: miserans, pitying, and cor, the heart; or miseria cordis, pain of heart. Mercy supposes two things:

1. A distressed object: and,

2. A disposition of the heart, through which it is affected at the sight of such an object.

This virtue, therefore, is no other than a lively emotion of the heart, which is excited by the discovery of any creature's misery; and such an emotion as manifests itself outwardly, by effects suited to its nature. The merciful man is here termed by our Lord ελεημων, from ελεος, which is generally derived from the Hebrew חיל chil, to be in pain, as a woman in travail: or from ילל galal, to cry, or lament grievously; because a merciful man enters into the miseries of his neighbor, feels for and mourns with him.

They shall obtain mercy - Mercy is not purchased but at the price of mercy itself; and even this price is a gift of the mercy of God. What mercy can those vindictive persons expect, who forgive nothing, and are always ready to improve every advantage they have of avenging themselves? Whatever mercy a man shows to another, God will take care to show the same to him. The following elegant and nervous saying of one of our best poets is worthy of the reader's most serious attention: -

"The quality of mercy is not strained;

It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven

Upon the place beneath. It is twice blessed;

It blesseth him who gives, and him who takes:

'Tis mightiest in the mightiest: it becomes

The throned monarch better than his crown

It is an attribute of God himself;

And earthly power doth then show likest God's,

When mercy seasons justice. -

continued...

are.

Matthew 6:14,15 For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you...

Matthew 18:33-35 Should not you also have had compassion on your fellow servant, even as I had pity on you...

2 Samuel 22:26 With the merciful you will show yourself merciful, and with the upright man you will show yourself upright.

Job 31:16-22 If I have withheld the poor from their desire, or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail...

Psalm 18:25 With the merciful you will show yourself merciful; with an upright man you will show yourself upright;

Psalm 37:26 He is ever merciful, and lends; and his seed is blessed.

Psalm 41:1-4 Blessed is he that considers the poor: the LORD will deliver him in time of trouble...

Psalm 112:4,9 To the upright there rises light in the darkness: he is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous...

Proverbs 11:17 The merciful man does good to his own soul: but he that is cruel troubles his own flesh.

Proverbs 14:21 He that despises his neighbor sins: but he that has mercy on the poor, happy is he.

Proverbs 19:17 He that has pity on the poor lends to the LORD; and that which he has given will he pay him again.

Isaiah 57:1 The righteous perishes, and no man lays it to heart: and merciful men are taken away...

Isaiah 58:6-12 Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free...

Daniel 4:27 Why, O king, let my counsel be acceptable to you, and break off your sins by righteousness...

Micah 6:8 He has showed you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you, but to do justly, and to love mercy...

Mark 11:25 And when you stand praying, forgive, if you have ought against any...

Luke 6:35 But love you your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great...

Ephesians 4:32 And be you kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake has forgiven you.

Ephesians 5:1 Be you therefore followers of God, as dear children;

Colossians 3:12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, long-suffering;

James 3:17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits...

for.

Hosea 1:6 And she conceived again, and bore a daughter. And God said to him, Call her name Loruhamah...

Hosea 2:1,23 Say you to your brothers, Ammi; and to your sisters, Ruhamah...

Romans 11:30 For as you in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief:

1 Corinthians 7:25 Now concerning virgins I have no commandment of the Lord: yet I give my judgment...

2 Corinthians 4:1 Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not;

1 Timothy 1:13,16 Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief...

2 Timothy 1:16-18 The Lord give mercy to the house of Onesiphorus; for he oft refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain...

Hebrews 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

Hebrews 6:10 For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labor of love, which you have showed toward his name...

James 2:13 For he shall have judgment without mercy, that has showed no mercy; and mercy rejoices against judgment.

1 Peter 2:10 Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

Salt Without Savour
'Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? It is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.'--MATT. v. 13. These words must have seemed ridiculously presumptuous when they were first spoken, and they have too often seemed mere mockery and irony in the ages since. A Galilean peasant, with a few of his rude countrymen who had gathered round him, stands up there on the mountain, and says to them, 'You, …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

The Lamp and the Bushel
'Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 15. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. 16. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.'--Matt. v. 14-16. The conception of the office of Christ's disciples contained in these words is a still bolder one than that expressed by the preceding metaphor, which …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

The New Form of the Old Law
'Think not that I am come to destroy the law or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. 18. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. 19. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20. For I say …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture