Pastor Phil Newton offers a well worded synopsis regarding the significance and purpose of the Beatitudes writing that...

The Beatitudes were not given as commands but as realities for those who are part of Christ’s kingdom. We might call them Kingdom-Characteristics or Kingdom-Evidences. They describe the believer, and by the same token, they are effective instruments to root out unbelief in the heart and expose an unregenerate condition. They do reflect attitudes of the heart, but they also explain the way believers will relate not only to God but also to those about them. Without attempting to slice them too neatly, it does appear that the first four Beatitudes focus primarily toward the believer’s relationship with God, while the latter four aim primarily toward others. We must take care at boxing them too tightly, though, for the all Beatitudes have to do with kingdom life, and thus each of them will impact relationships Godward and manward. (Matthew 5:7 The Blessing of Mercy).

Keep the historical context in mind as you study this "be attitude". The religious leadership in Jesus’ day tended toward being judgmental and merciless ("mercy less") because of their demand for rigorous observance of the law. The Scribes and Pharisees did not receive God’s mercy because they had become so self-satisfied with their own religious attainments that they did not sense their dangerous condition of total spiritual bankruptcy and their desperate need for God's rich mercy.

Blessed (see makarios) means spiritually prosperous, independent of one's circumstances because it is a state bestowed by God and not a feeling felt. Fortunate, approved of God, happy independent of happenings.

Merciful (1655) (eleemon from eleos = mercy) (Click for in depth study of eleos) refers to one who is actively compassionate or one who is benevolently merciful involving thought and action. It reflects  being concerned about people in their need. One might say they are "mercy full"!  The idea is that they possess a compassionate heart leading one to acts of mercy, the purpose of which is to relieve the suffering and misery of the object of that compassion.  It sometimes meant giving money to a needy person. As referring to believers eleemon refers not merely to those who express acts of mercifulness, but who have this attribute as a result of the indwelling Spirit of Christ.

Eleemon is used only here and in Hebrews 2:17 (but used 20 times in the Septuagint or LXX, mostly referring to the compassion of God, the uses in Proverbs referring to men: Ex 22:27, 34:6, 2Chr 30:9, Neh 9:17, 31, Ps 88:15, 103:8, 103:8; 111:4; 112:4; 116:5; 145:8; Pr 11:17; 19:11; 20:6; 28:22; Jer 3:12; Joel 2:13; Jonah 4:2)

“Blessed are the mercy full” (those "full" of mercy)

Believers deserve hell but because of God's mercy and forgiveness receive heaven!

The basic idea of eleemon is "to give help to the wretched, to relieve the miserable." Here the essential thought is that mercy gives attention to those in misery. From this we make the important distinction between mercy and grace. Grace is shown to the undeserving; mercy is compassion to the miserable. Thus the synonym for mercy is compassion

Mercy is not simply feeling compassion but exists when something is done to alleviate distress. This is nicely illustrated in the Old Testament by the "mercy seat" in the holy of holies. This was the place where the Lord God accepted the propitiatory (satisfactory) sacrifice to atone for the nation’s sins, once each year on the "Day of Atonement" (see Lev 16:2,13-15). Here at the mercy seat God was moved with pity and compassion for the sinful people, and took action to reconcile them to himself through accepting the blood of a goat in their stead. (See also notes on God's Attribute of Mercy).

In Lamentations (see Lam 3:19-23 "His compassions [mercies] never fail. They are new every morning") we see the Lord’s mercies being new each morning. And who does He demonstrate such bountiful mercies to? Toward His undeserving, rebellious, stiff necked chosen people! This observation helps us to understand the character of the mercy Jesus is calling for in those who claim to be citizens of His Kingdom. It is an "impossible" mercy (for the natural man) and is only "Him-possible" (supernatural in the Spirit controlled regenerate man).

Being merciful is a characteristic that demands of us a disposition of heart and life that is contrary to human nature.  Indeed a merciful heart is a characteristic Jesus says of a citizen of the Kingdom, one who has received a supernatural "heart transplant" (Ezekiel 36:25-26, 2Cor 5:17). This Beatitude then begs the question from all who would profess Christ as Savior - Does the demonstration or lack of demonstration of mercy affirm us or condemn us (respectively)?

Merciful means “full of mercy.” Just as a graceful person is one full of grace, the merciful person is the one who is full of the fountain of mercy, who is full of God. Mercy moves the merciful to bestow mercy. The merciful man is the man who is full of love, and who loves with the love of God. He is the man in whose life the cross has done a transforming work to conform him to Jesus Christ; that which is not a natural characteristic of his life becomes the character and pattern of his life. But just as the Lord tells his people to be holy because he is holy, he also calls for his people to reflect his mercy. Sometime we want to hide from the Bible’s description of Christians as merciful. It is a characteristic that demands of us a disposition of heart and life that is contrary to human nature.

Ray Pritchard explains that mercy includes three elements...

1. ”I see the need”—that’s recognition.
2. “I am moved by the need”—that’s motivation.
3. “I move to meet the need”—that’s action.

Having a feeling of sorrow over someone's bad situation I now want to try to do something about it. Mercy is more than a feeling, but not less than that. Mercy begins with simple recognition that someone is hurting around you. But mere seeing or feeling isn’t mercy. Mercy moves from feeling to action. It is active compassion for those in need.

Tasker explains,

"The merciful are those who are conscious that they are themselves the unworthy recipients of God’s mercy, and that but for the grace of God they would be not only sinners, but condemned sinners."

William Barclay noted the Hebrew word (hesed) for "merciful" has the idea of

"the ability to get right inside the other person's skin until we can see things with his eyes, think things with his mind, and feel things with his feelings."

Leon Morris observes

"These are people who show by their habitual merciful deeds that they have responded to God's love and are living by His grace. They will receive mercy on the last day."

Nothing proves that we have been forgiven (received God's mercy) better than our own readiness to forgive (dispense God's mercy)!

The point is that Jesus is referring to those who as their lifestyle demonstrate mercy. Their life is not one of an occasional show of mercy but a continually inclination to show mercy. (Sermon on Matthew 5:7)

Mercy is love in action.

And still wherever mercy shares
Her bread with sorrow, want and sin
And love the beggar’s feast prepares,
The Uninvited Guest comes in.

Unheard, because our ears are dull,
Unseen, because our eyes are dim,
He walks our earth, the Wonderful,
And all good deeds are done to Him.

The Uninvited Guest is Jesus

Mercy serves as a constant reminder that we are living under God’s mercy, as spiritual paupers (Mt 5:3) daily in need of His great mercy, and only able to call ourselves “Citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven” because the King has emptied Himself of His royal prerogatives and in mercy has stooped to meet our need through the provision of His life, death, resurrection and sending of His Spirit. Beloved, mercy known will result in mercy shown. Ask God to show you who and how you can be merciful to this day, this week, this year...He will be faithful to show you...and then you won't miss the blessing of basking in His overflow of mercy in your life...for the King's commanded contains His promise...

"Give, and it will be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, they will pour into your lap. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return." (Luke 6:38, cf Deut 15:10, Proverbs 28:27 [remember giving will not always be money but sometimes an even more valuable commodity, your time, as you demonstrate mercy received to one who is needy], Eccl 11:1-2, Galatians 6:7) (Download InstaVerse the nifty, easy to load, simple to use Bible Verse pop up tool that will make it easy to read every cross reference in this study quickly, in context and in the Version you prefer but only KJV is free)

FOR THEY SHALL RECEIVE MERCY: hoti autoi eleethesontai. (3PFPI): (Hosea 1:6; 2:1,23; Romans 11:30; 1 Corinthians 7:25; 2 Corinthians 4:1; 1 Timothy 1:13,16; 2 Timothy 1:16-18; Hebrews 4:16; 6:10; James 2:13; 1 Peter 2:10)

Spurgeon notes...

They forgive, and they are forgiven. They judge charitably, and they shall not be condemned. They help the needy, and they shall be helped in their need. What we are to others, God will be to us. Some have to labour hard with their niggardliness in order to be kind; but the blessing lies not only in doing a merciful act, but in being merciful in disposition. Followers of Jesus must be men of mercy; for they have found mercy, and mercy has found them. As we look for "mercy of the Lord in that day ", we must show mercy in this day. (The Gospel of the Kingdom: A Popular Exposition of the Gospel According to Matthew)

Receive mercy (1653) (eleeo from eleos) in the active voice means to be greatly concerned for someone in need and as used here in the passive voice means to be shown mercy, compassion or pity.

Matthew's arrangement that the first four beatitudes express our total dependence upon God and the next three are the outworking in everyday life of that dependence upon Him.

This beatitude is similar to Psalm 18:25

With the kind and merciful You will show Yourself kind and merciful, with an upright man You will show Yourself upright, (Amplified)

Spurgeon writes: With the merciful thou wilt shew thyself merciful; with an upright man thou wilt shew thyself upright. Every man shall have his meat weighed in his own scales, his corn meted in his own bushel, and his land measured with his own rod. No rule can be more fair, to ungodly men more terrible, or to the generous man more honourable. How would men throw away their light weights, and break their short yards, if they could but believe that they themselves are sure to be in the end the losers by their knavish tricks! Note that even the merciful need mercy; no amount of generosity to the poor, or forgiveness to enemies, can set us beyond the need of mercy. Lord, have mercy upon me, a sinner.

John Stott notes that this beatitude, too, is tied to the context.

"It is `the meek' who are also `the merciful'. For to be meek is to acknowledge to others that we are sinners; to be merciful is to have compassion on others, for they are sinners too" (Stott, p. 48, The Message of the Sermon on the Mount).

Holman New Testament Commentary adds that,,,

"Kingdom servants must reflect in their own hearts the heart of the King. That they are part of the Kingdom implies that they are objects of mercy. They are "others-oriented." What we have received in such abundance, we must dispense abundantly. (Holman New Testament Commentary: Matthew)

Barnes emphasizes that...

Nowhere do we imitate God more than in showing mercy. In nothing does God more delight than in the exercise of mercy, Exodus 34:6; Ezekiel 33:11, 1 Timothy 2:4; 2 Peter 3:9. To us, guilty sinners; to us, wretched, dying, and exposed to eternal woe, he has shown his mercy by giving his Son to die for us; by expressing his willingness to pardon and save us; and by sending his Spirit to renew and sanctify the heart. Each day of our life, each hour, and each moment, we partake of his undeserved mercy. All the blessings we enjoy are proofs of his mercy. If we also show mercy to the poor, the wretched, the guilty, it shows that we are like God; we have his spirit, and shall not lose our reward. And we have abundant opportunity to do it. Our world is full of guilt and woe, which we may help to relieve; and every day of our lives we have opportunity by helping the poor and wretched, and by forgiving those who injure us, to show that we are like God. (Matthew 5.) (Bolding added)

The stress is on the feelings of pity showing itself in action, and not just existing in thought only. Mercy in the abstract is absolutely meaningless to Jesus. Compassion in action.

Grace is getting what we do not deserve.
Justice is getting what we do deserve.
Mercy is not getting what we do deserve.

Distinguish grace from mercy...

Dwight Pentecost explains the rich reward of mercy flowing from a believer's life, writing that...

"To show mercy because we have received mercy demonstrates the life of Christ, the work of the Cross in a man’ life, and permits God to open up the windows of heaven and pour out blessing upon us. A man whose life is lived by the love of God manifested at the Cross will find his life flooded by the love of God. God, the source of mercy, has caused His mercies to flood my life through the cross. His righteousness will manifest itself through my life in loving, gracious concern. As His righteousness is perfected in me, His blessings may fall upon me. Mercy is the manifestation of the righteousness of Christ in the life of the child of God that opens a life to the blessings of God." (Pentecost, D: Design for Living: Lessons in Holiness from the Sermon on the Mount)

Showing mercy is evidence
that we have received mercy

Matthew 5:7 is often misinterpreted as a formula for how to get along with people - be nice to them and they in turn will be nice to you. The logic is that the way to receive benefit from people is to bestow some benefit on them. We all know from our personal experience that while this may be true some of the time, it is not always true. Clearly, this is not what Jesus is teaching. Neither is He teaching that by a believer's demonstration of mercy, he or she earns credits so that one day at the judgment God will show them mercy because they had earned it. Here is the point in a nutshell - Showing mercy does not make us believers (it's not the a condition God demands of us before He lets us in the Kingdom). To the contrary, showing mercy demonstrates we are believers. This godly (God-like) mercy Jesus is referring to is not a natural characteristic of the human heart. Mercy belongs to God and He gives it to His children to dispense to those in need. In the dispensing process, those individuals show that they are true believers and also receive the wonderful reward of more mercy from God. We can't out give His mercy to us. We give. He bestows more.

And one day future, believers receive His mercy at the Judgment Seat of Christ (for believers only). Paul alludes to this "future mercy" in his "prayer" (or "wish") for his dear friend Onesiphorus...

15 You are aware of the fact that all who are in Asia turned away from me, among whom are Phygelus and Hermogenes.
16 The Lord grant mercy to the house of Onesiphorus for he often refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chains;
17 but when he was in Rome, he eagerly searched for me, and found me--
18 the Lord grant to him to find mercy from the Lord on that day (day of the Judgment Seat of Christ)-- and you know very well what services he rendered at Ephesus. (see notes 2 Timothy 1:15-18)

Clearly Onesiphorus as a believer is not in need of mercy in the same sense as when he was an unbeliever. But he, as is true of all believers, will stand before Christ at which time all his works as a human being on earth will be judged. It is at this time which Paul is seeking for his dear friend to find mercy and receive his eternal reward based on his works in the body, whether good or bad. The same idea is seen in (1Cor 3:10-15) where only those deeds done in Christ for the glory of God will survive the testing fires and endure for eternity. May we all find mercy on that awesome day in time and eternity. Amen.

To reiterate, notice that this beatitude begins and ends with mercy. Those who are merciful will receive God’s mercy. And yet Jesus is not saying that God’s mercy depends on our mercy. Everything in the spiritual life begins and ends with God. What Jesus is saying is that as God pours out His rich mercies on us, we respond by showing mercy to others, which causes us to receive even more mercy from God.  If God did not forgive and keep on forgiving, if he did not continue to pour out his mercy like the “gentle rain from heaven,” we would be utterly and completely lost. I receive mercy from God. I show mercy to others. I receive more mercy from God. I have more in the end than I had in the beginning.

Albert Barnes adds that...

Some think "receive mercy" speaks of a reward in the future...to an extent these verses speak of mercy given in a tangible way...and Jesus clearly says such "mercy" will be repaid in the future.The same sentiment is found in Matthew 10:42. Whosoever shall give a cup of cold water only unto one of these little ones, in the name of a disciple, shall not lose his reward. See Matthew 25:34-40. It should be done to glorify God; that is, in obedience to his commandments, and with a desire that he should be honoured; and feeling that we are benefiting one of his creatures. Then he will regard it as done to him, and will reward us. (Matthew 5)

Believers can only demonstrate mercy because God gives them His mercy. Before we were saved, we were in great need and God being rich in mercy held back His just and righteous judgment from us. Paul explained that...

you were dead in your trespasses and sins, 2 in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience.3 Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest.  4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),6 and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places, in Christ Jesus,7 in order that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. (Ephesians 2:1-7)

In his second letter to the Corinthians Paul wrote...

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
the Father of mercies and God of all comfort (2Cor 1:3)

Shakespeare was not wrong when he wrote (Merchant of Venice) that...

The quality of mercy is not strained;
It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven.

Indeed genuine godly mercy always comes down from on high, having its source in the infinite riches of God's mercy and raining down on mercy needing men and woman on earth.

John wrote that

"as many as received Him (Jesus), to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name" (John 1:12)

So now believers are citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven, and sons of the Most High God (El Elyon - God Most High) and Luke explains how as such we are to bear God's "family resemblance" as God's "mercy dispensers" as it were...

"But love (present imperative) your enemies, and do good (present imperative), and lend (present imperative), expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men." "Be (present imperative) merciful, just as your Father is merciful.) (Luke 6:35-36)

Warren Wiersbe summed it up in his usual pithy way

”Mercy is a bridge God built to mankind. Mercy is a bridge we build toward others.”

James warns somewhat sternly that...

judgment will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment. (James 2:13)

There is some disagreement on the interpretation, some interpreting this as a reference to the Judgment Seat of Christ when believers might lose rewards because they failed to show mercy. A greater number of commentators (of the conservative evangelical tradition) favor the first part of James' statement as a reference to non-believers, those who have never shown a God-like mercy because they were not able to, having never been born again. Thus in the passage these commentaries feel that James gives us a "benchmark" if you will by which one can evaluate whether their profession is genuine or not. (See more discussion here). The last section of James 2:13 is less problematic teaching that those who have received the mercy of God ("Mercy" here in a  sense personified as the believer's "Defense Attorney") will win the case for their client (the believer) over the opposing "attorney" (Judgment).

Later in Matthew's gospel Jesus gives a scathing rebuke to the merciless religious leaders declaring...

"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cummin (they would carefully count out the leaves and seeds, separating out one for God from each ten counted and boasted in such self-righteous minutiae), and have neglected the weightier (rabbinic tradition divided the law into light and heavy categories) provisions of the law (they were indifferent to basic ethics): justice and mercy and faithfulness; but these are the things you should have done without neglecting the others" (Mt 23:23, cf Micah 6:8)

John MacArthur has an interesting commentary on Jesus' declaration noting that...

Almost without exception, false religions strongly magnify the insignificant and minimize or entirely ignore the truly spiritual. The worldly is idolized; the spiritual is disregarded. (MacArthur, J: Matthew 16-23 Macarthur New Testament Commentary Chicago: Moody Press)

How is it possible to show mercy (in the form of forgiveness) like God showed us mercy? The only way is by "Christ in us" (Col 1:27). By the "Spirit of Christ" the Spirit-controlled person has access to His power to love (Gal 5:22-23) the offender and demonstrate mercy. Remember, you become like God who is merciful. God chose to forgive us and show His mercy to us on the basis of the death of Christ, and now we can choose to demonstrate that same kind of mercy to those who "sin" against us. It is not natural but supernatural, the gift and fruit of God's Spirit.

How can believers show mercy? What actions can (and should) we take?

1. Forgive

Read Jesus' parable in Matthew 18:21-35, in which Peter asked Jesus if forgiveness "times 7" was enough. Jesus began by explaining that the Kingdom of Heaven could be compared to the teaching in this parable, and thus this teaching applied to Kingdom citizens or believers. The slave was unable to pay the king an "impossible" debt and sought release and forgiveness which was granted out of compassion (Mt 18:26-27, 32). The forgiven slave was in turn unwilling to forgive a lesser debt, throwing the debtor into prison. (Mt 18:28-30) The lord was informed, was angry and handed him to the torturers asking should he not have had mercy even as he had received mercy (Mt 18:33-34).

Boice explains that there are three main points to this parable...

The parable of the forgiven but unforgiving debtor makes three points. First, there is a judgment coming. Jesus did not pass over that teaching. He spoke of forgiveness, but He also spoke clearly of what happened to the wretched man in His story. He was cast into prison until he should pay back all he owed. That judgment hangs over everyone who has not experienced God's forgiveness through Christ. Second, there is forgiveness. God does forgive. God sent Jesus to be the basis for that forgiveness. Third, the only sure proof of a person's having received God's forgiveness through true faith in Jesus is a transformed heart and a changed life. How do we get that down into the practical areas of our lives, so that we actually begin to treat others as we have been treated? It is by standing before the thrice holy God and thus seeing ourselves as the vile sinners we are—vile and yet forgiven through the death of God's own beloved Son. That awareness should humble us so that we have simply no other option but to be forgiving to others from our heart. (Boice, J M: The Parables of Jesus )

As new creations in Christ, whose hearts of stone has been replaced with a heart that beats for God, believers are benefactors of the rich mercy of the "King" (Eph 2:4) and as such should be motivated to show mercy, including mercy in the form of forgiveness (cf Col 3:12-13  Eph 4:32, 5:1, Mt 6:12, 14-15, Ro 12:20-21) In the same way that we are forgiven we will forgive others (cf Col 3:12-13, Eph 4:32, 1 Pet 3:8)

The question we must ask is am I bearing a grudge, maintaining bitterness, seeking revenge, or holding someone as an "emotional hostage"? The call of the King is to forgive as those who have been greatly forgiven. Release them from the "sentence of condemnation" or indebtedness toward you. Now when you do this, does it mean that your emotions over a hurt are immediately erased and made perfect? Kent Hughes addresses this question writing...

“The fact that you have forgiven and continue to forgive is a sign of grace, despite the ambivalences and imperfections of your forgiveness” (Hughes, R. K. Sermon on the Mount: The Message of the Kingdom. Crossway Books)

2. Have Compassion

Embrace the fallen and downtrodden. Paul exhorts believers in Galatians 6:1

Brethren, even if a man is caught (apprehended, taken by surprise, caught red-handed) in any trespass, you who are spiritual (walking in the Spirit Gal 5:16, filled with the Spirit Ep 5:18-20; Col3:16, evidencing fruit of Spirit Gal 5:22-23, mature in the faith 1Co 2:15; Heb 5:13-14), restore (present imperative - “mend” or “repair” mend or make whole or perfect, of setting bones, mending nets) such a one in a spirit of gentleness (see notes on meekness Matthew 5:5); each one looking to yourself (Keeping an eye on like a runner on the goal, emphasizing a continual, diligent attentiveness with the consciousness that no one is immune from falling into sin 1Co 10:12), lest you too be tempted.

Rather than speaking about or acting vindictively toward the sinning brother in this passage we are to gently restore them, showing mercy by the action of restoration. Notice how the beatitude of meekness is integrally related to a forgiving spirit. .

3. Giving

God has made us stewards of all He has given us and we demonstrate the mercy of God to others by the way we give to meet pressing needs. John writes...

But whoever has the world's goods, and beholds (not a hasty glance but seeing a Christian in need of the necessities of life over a long period) his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him? Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth. (1John 3:17-18, cf James 2:15-17, Acts 9:36, Gal 6:10, Heb 13:16)

John is not referring to a chance encounter with someone in need, as it would be impossible to help all such needs, but a continual refusal to help a truly needy fellow Christian with whom we are in frequent contact and who really needs the help we have the resources to provide. Thus, mercy does not mean we are to throw our resources to the wind, but to as good stewards use them wisely in meeting the needs of those in distress.

4. Speaking

Mercy is found in speaking the gospel of Christ, the good news of forgiveness and mercy, to fellow sinners.

The Psalmist declares,

“Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom He has redeemed from the hand of the adversary” (Ps 107:2)

Peter echoes this thought writing

But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God's OWN POSSESSION, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; for you once were NOT A PEOPLE, but now you are THE PEOPLE OF GOD; you had NOT RECEIVED MERCY, but now you have RECEIVED MERCY. (1 Pet 2:9-10).

As believers who have receive such infinite mercies we should now show mercy by proclaiming Jesus Christ as Redeemer to those still in bondage to sin and under an imminent sentence of eternal death (John 3:18, Heb 12:25, 1Jo 5:10)

5. Praying

We show mercy when we pray for the conversion of unbelievers. Is it because others deserve to know Christ and his forgiveness? Mercy was not given to us in our unregenerate state because we deserved it but because God is rich in mercy. As Peter declares...

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, (cf 1Peter 1:3-4)

And so we pray because none of us deserve to know Christ, none deserve forgiveness, and none are even seeking after God (Ro 3:11). We pray because as the recipients of "His great mercy", a mercy we long for others to know and appropriate through placing their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. By definition, the only people who receive mercy are those who don’t deserve it. If you deserve it, it’s not mercy. Therefore, the basis for this verse is not how you want others to treat you but how God has already treated you. “Do unto others as God has done unto you.”

Merciful describes one who forgives another who is in the wrong, and this display of the forgiving aspect of mercy  is poignantly demonstrated by Joseph in the treatment of his errant, "caught red handed" brothers...

17 'Thus you shall say to Joseph, "Please forgive, I beg you, the transgression of your brothers and their sin, for they did you wrong."' And now, please forgive the transgression of the servants of the God of your father." And Joseph wept when they spoke to him. 18 Then his brothers also came and fell down before him and said, "Behold, we are your servants."

19 But Joseph said to them, "Do not be afraid, for am I in God's place? 20 "And as for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive. 21 "So therefore, do not be afraid; I will provide for you and your little ones." So he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.  (Genesis 50:17-21)

Kent Hughes offers some serious warnings in regard to personal application of Jesus' parable writing that...

The first is this: If we have no mercy toward those who are physically and economically in distress, we are not Christians. Notice I did not say we become Christians by showing mercy toward the unfortunate, but that we are not believers if we are unwilling to show mercy to them. The second test involves the corresponding aspect of mercy - forgiveness. The test is this: If we refuse to exercise mercy by extending forgiveness, we are not Christians. Of course, it is frightening to maintain that we cannot be truly forgiven unless we have forgiving spirits. But it is true, because when God's grace comes into our hearts it makes us merciful. Forgiveness demonstrates whether we have been forgiven. So the telling line is this: If we refuse to be merciful, there is only one reason - we have never understood the grace of Christ. We are outside grace and are unforgiven. Jesus taught this in the Parable of the Unmerciful Slave (Matthew 18:21-35). (see note) ...The Lord here warns the religious person who attends church, can recite the appropriate answers, leads an outwardly moral life, but holds a death grip on his grudges. Jesus warns the one who will not forgive his relatives or his former business associates regardless of their pleas. He warns the one who nourishes hatreds, cherishes animosities, and otherwise lives in settled malice. Such a person had better take stock of his life. Some words of qualification are in order. The warning is not for those who find that bitterness and hatred recur even though they have forgiven the offender. The fact that you have forgiven and continue to forgive is a sign of grace, despite the ambivalences and imperfections of your forgiveness. The warning is for those who have no desire to forgive. Their souls are in danger. There may also be some who find forgiveness difficult because they have been recently offended and are still in such emotional shock that they cannot properly respond. The warning is not for these. The overall lesson is, if we are Christians, we can forgive and will forgive, however imperfectly it may be. We cannot live like the miserable brothers who divided over a dollar bill. (Hughes, R. K. Sermon on the Mount: The Message of the Kingdom. Crossway Books)

For an incredible example of forgiveness click here for the testimony by Corrie Ten Boom. As you read this convicting illustration, take note of whether her dispensing of mercy was countered by a receipt of mercy from God in an unusual "package".

A Modern Example
of "Mercy Full"

A modern example of mercy is seen in Calcutta which has one of the largest leprosy populations in all of India. While the government does provide packets of medicine for leprosy patients, most of the lepers have no one willing to bandage their sores. With their acts of service (bandaging the sores of the lepers), the Bible college students with the Gospel for Asia have been demonstrating God's compassion and love for those shunned by most of the Indian society. As a result of demonstrating mercy to the often shunned and otherwise hopeless lepers throughout India, the Lord has blessed these efforts tremendously. In many of the leper colonies, fellowship groups of new believers have sprung up, and some of these have matured into churches. The believers of one church recently had the joy of sending the first young man from their leper colony to one of Gospel for Asia's Bible colleges to prepare for full-time ministry! May we as believers in America go out in the same power of the Spirit, demonstrating God's mercy to "the spiritual lepers" that are all around us and may God bless our efforts allowing us as His children to bear much fruit that will bring glory to Him and will endure througout eternity. Amen.

Solomon writes that...

He who despises his neighbor sins, but happy is he who is gracious to the poor. (Proverbs 14:21) [Amplified rendering "He who despises his neighbor sins [against God, his fellowman, and himself], but happy (blessed and fortunate) is he who is kind and merciful to the poor."]

Note what Jesus desires in the following passage...

 And as Jesus passed on from there, He saw a man, called Matthew, sitting in the tax office; and He * said to him, "Follow Me!" And he rose, and followed Him. 10 And it happened that as He was reclining at the table in the house, behold many tax-gatherers and sinners came and were dining with Jesus and His disciples. 11 And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to His disciples, "Why is your Teacher eating with the tax-gatherers and sinners?" 12 But when He heard this, He said, "It is not those who are (spiritually) healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick. 13 "But go and learn (this phrase was commonly used by rabbis to rebuke those who did not know what they should have known) what this means, 'I DESIRE COMPASSION, AND NOT SACRIFICE (quoting Hosea 6:6),' for I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners." (Matthew 9:9-13)

Puritan Thomas Watson offered this explanation for the promise attached to this beatitude. He said that it is only the merciful who have “good security” in heaven. They will be paid with an “over-plus.”

 “For every wedge of gold you part with, you will have a weight of glory. For a cup of cold water, a river of pleasure at God’s right hand. The interest comes to far greater than the principal. Your after crop of glory will be so great that though you spend a thousand years you will not take it all in.” (