Blessed Are the Merciful
Matthew 5:7 — “Blessed are the merciful, For they shall obtain mercy.”
Day 1 — Mercy
Matthew 5:7
7 “Blessed are the merciful, For they shall obtain mercy.”
Mercy is not about giving people what they deserve. By definition, mercy is undeserved kindness, compassion, and forgiveness. The world says, “They don’t deserve mercy.” Exactly. If they deserved it, it wouldn’t be mercy—it would be justice. Mercy belongs not to the deserving but to the needy, and in that way, it mirrors God’s heart toward us.
When Jesus opens this Beatitude with this blessing, He reminds us that the way into the kingdom is not merit but mercy. Those who have received mercy must extend it to others. Mercy becomes the mark of a heart transformed by grace. When we grasp how much God has forgiven us, how could we not also forgive? When we realize we were once beggars at His table, how could we deny bread to another?
Reflection: Where have you received mercy from God that you could extend to someone else today? How might you show that mercy in word or action?
Day 2 — Mercy in Action
Luke 6:27–36
27 “But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you. 29 To him who strikes you on the one cheek, offer the other also. And from him who takes away your cloak, do not withhold your tunic either. 30 Give to everyone who asks of you. And from him who takes away your goods do not ask them back. 31 And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise. 32 “But if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive back, what credit is that to you? For even sinners lend to sinners to receive as much back. 35 But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil. 36 Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.”
Jesus calls us not just to avoid retaliation, but to actively love, bless, give, and forgive. Mercy turns enemies into opportunities for grace. Mercy blesses those who curse, prays for those who abuse, and gives generously without expecting repayment. This is not natural; it is supernatural. It is living proof that the Spirit of Christ dwells in us.
Reflection: Who is hardest for you to love right now? What would mercy in action look like toward them—prayer, kindness, or generosity?
Day 3 — Mercy Expected of God’s Children
Colossians 3:12–14
12 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. 14 But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.
Mercy is not optional for the Christian—it is commanded. Jesus said, “Even sinners love those who love them.” What sets us apart is mercy toward those who do not deserve it. As God’s chosen people, we are to “put on” mercy like a garment. It’s not an accessory for special occasions but daily clothing. Mercy, kindness, humility, patience—these are the wardrobe of heaven.
Mercy becomes expected because of who our Father is. If we are His children, we cannot live in contradiction to His nature. He forgave us freely in Christ; therefore, forgiveness is not negotiable for His people.
Reflection: What “complaint” or grievance are you still holding on to that God is calling you to release in mercy? Will you obey Him today?
Day 4 — Mercy That Distinguishes Us
Luke 17:3–4, 10
3 “Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. 4 And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day returns to you, saying, ‘I repent,’ you shall forgive him.” 10 “So likewise you, when you have done all those things which you are commanded, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do.’”
Forgiveness is one of the hardest expressions of mercy. Yet Jesus makes it the distinguishing mark of His disciples. Mercy does not ignore sin—it rebukes honestly—but it also forgives continually. Sons and daughters of the Most High reflect His nature in righteousness and mercy. To withhold forgiveness is to misrepresent our Father’s heart.
Here we see two directions of forgiveness: vertical and horizontal. Vertical forgiveness is between us and God—handing the offense to Him, releasing bitterness, and trusting His justice. Horizontal forgiveness is with the other person—reconciling when possible, extending grace when they repent. We need both. Vertical forgiveness keeps our heart clean before God; horizontal forgiveness keeps our relationships whole before others.
When we forgive, we proclaim to the world that God’s mercy is stronger than bitterness, stronger than cycles of retaliation, stronger than sin itself. Forgiving seven times in a day may feel impossible—but that’s the point. Mercy requires God’s Spirit and faith. It is not a bonus for the spiritual elite but the duty of every child of God.
Reflection: How is your capacity to forgive connected to your identity as a child of God? Who is God calling you to release into His mercy?
Day 5 — Mercy Multiplied
Luke 6:38
38 “Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.”
Mercy never runs out. The more you pour it out, the more God fills you to overflowing. Forgiveness, generosity, compassion—all return multiplied. Jesus assures us that mercy is not a loss but a gain. The kingdom economy works in reverse of the world: in giving, you receive; in forgiving, you are set free; in showing mercy, you obtain mercy.
When you give mercy freely, you are sowing seeds that God Himself promises to multiply. The measure you use determines the measure you receive. Stingy mercy yields little blessing; generous mercy yields abundant joy.
Reflection: Where might God be inviting you to sow mercy so that you may reap the multiplied blessing He promises? How can you live open-handedly today?