Introduction: The Blessed Are the Merciful in the Bible
In Matthew 5:7, Jesus says, “blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.” This Beatitude highlights the reciprocal nature of mercy: those who show mercy will receive it in return. The Old Testament reinforces this principle, showing that God’s mercy is extended to those who are merciful toward others. This article explores 10 defining Old Testament verses that emphasize this reciprocal relationship and the blessings that come from showing mercy.
Use Bible Gateway to investigate the verses below further.
1. Proverbs 11:17 (NIV):
“Those who are kind benefit themselves, but the cruel bring ruin on themselves.”
This verse shows that those who show kindness and mercy benefit from their own actions, while cruelty leads to negative consequences.
2. 2 Samuel 22:26 (NIV):
“To the faithful you show yourself faithful, to the blameless you show yourself blameless, to the pure you show yourself pure, but to the devious you show yourself shrewd.”
God responds to individuals based on their actions, demonstrating mercy to those who are merciful, echoing the idea in Matthew 5:7.
3. Psalm 18:25 (NIV):
“To the faithful you show yourself faithful, to the blameless you show yourself blameless.”
This passage reiterates that God deals mercifully with those who show faithfulness and mercy to others.
4. Proverbs 21:21 (NIV):
“Whoever pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity, and honor.”
Here, the pursuit of love, often associated with mercy, brings life and blessings, illustrating that merciful behavior leads to divine reward.
5. Psalm 41:1-2 (NIV):
“Blessed are those who have regard for the weak; the Lord delivers them in times of trouble. The Lord protects and preserves them—they are counted among the blessed in the land.”
This verse directly connects showing mercy to the weak with receiving God’s protection and deliverance in return.
6. Proverbs 19:17 (NIV):
“Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will reward them for what they have done.”
Those who show mercy to the poor are promised a reward from God, emphasizing the reciprocal nature of mercy.
7. Proverbs 14:21 (NIV):
“It is a sin to despise one’s neighbor, but blessed is the one who is kind to the needy.”
This verse directly connects showing mercy to others, particularly the needy, with receiving God’s blessing.
8. Zechariah 7:9 (NIV):
“This is what the Lord Almighty said: ‘Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another.’”
This verse demonstrates God’s expectation that His people extend mercy to one another, reflecting His own character.
9. Psalm 103:8 (NIV):
“The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love.”
This verse shows God’s character of mercy, and by following His example, those who are merciful will be shown mercy in return.
10. Psalm 112:4-5 (NIV):
“Even in darkness light dawns for the upright, for those who are gracious and compassionate and righteous. Good will come to those who are generous and lend freely, who conduct their affairs with justice.”
This passage ties mercy and love to receiving favor from both God and others, reinforcing the reciprocal nature of mercy.
Explaining “The Blessed Are the Merciful” Through These Verses
The Old Testament repeatedly highlights the idea that showing mercy leads to receiving mercy, just as Jesus teaches in the Beatitudes. Verses like Proverbs 11:17 and Psalm 41:1-2 clearly show that those who show kindness and mercy to others are blessed and will benefit from their actions. Proverbs 19:17 further reinforces this by stating that those who are merciful to the poor lend to the Lord, who will repay them. The blessed are the merciful because they align their actions with God’s desire for compassion, as seen in Zechariah 7:9.
The verses from 2 Samuel 22:26 and Psalm 18:25 emphasize that God deals with people according to their own actions. If they are merciful and faithful, He will show them mercy in return. The reciprocal nature of mercy is also seen in Psalm 112:4-5, where love and faithfulness bring favor in the sight of both God and man. Now, this reciprocity is not achieved by man changing his own nature but is born out of a transformation by the Holy Spirit, who writes the Word on man’s heart and grants understanding as one reads and meditates on it (Jeremiah 31:33; Ezekiel 36:26-27; John 14:26).
Conclusion: The Old Testament Roots of “The Blessed Are the Merciful”
The phrase “blessed are the merciful” reflects Old Testament teachings where mercy is a central theme. God not only values mercy but rewards it, as seen in verses like Proverbs 19:17 and Psalm 41:1-2. Those who show mercy, like God, will receive mercy in return. This timeless principle of reciprocity is woven throughout the Old Testament, where the blessed are the merciful because they follow God’s character and are rewarded for their compassion.