Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
The Hebrew word for mercy is “rachamim.” It comes from “racham,” which means to love tenderly, to pity, to sympathize with, and to have compassion on. In first century Rome, this was seen as weakness. In the American Church of today, it is considered, “Liberal” Woke” and “Weak.”
The Roman Empire that Jesus lived under wasn’t known for mercy. The Stoic philosophers did not consider mercy a virtue. Instead, they taught it undermined justice. In the first century Roman Empire mercy was expressed as social obligation. Wealthy people would contribute to the poor as a civic duty to maintain the social order. Emperors might be associated with the goddess Clementia for showing mercy in special situations. However, mercy was not encouraged.
Jesus in proclaiming that the truly blessed people show mercy is echoing the ethic of reciprocity found in both the Old and New Testament.
In the Old Testament, this ethic was based on the idea of covenant. God as Lord had made a covenant with the nation of Israel as his vassal. In exchange for their obedience and faithfulness, God would protect and bless them.
In Exodus 23:22-32 it says, “But if you indeed obey His voice and do all that I speak, then I will be an enemy to your enemies and an adversary to your adversaries. . . So you shall serve the LORD your God, and He will bless your bread and your water. And I will take sickness away from the midst of you. No one shall suffer miscarriage or be barren in your land; I will fulfill the number of your days. “
Jesus taught that this reciprocity still exists. “Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. 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.” (Luke 6:37-38)
Jesus using this ethic, declared that the way of wisdom and blessedness was in showing mercy. Despite what Roman culture taught, mercy was a virtue. Those who gave it would receive it. It might not come from their Roman oppressors, but it should come from their fellow Christians and especially from God.
Paul taught the ethic of reciprocity as well, “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.” (Galatians 6:7) If we are unforgiving and show no mercy then we will receive none.
Today’s American Church is lacking in mercy. Compassion has dried up and withered away. There is no love and care for those who suffer. Instead, the American Church practices victim blaming. People aren’t poor because a few families and corporations control the food supply and price gouge. People are poor because they aren’t thrifty. People aren’t poor because multi-billion-dollar corporations exploit labor and practice wage theft; people are poor because they are lazy and aren’t willing to work three jobs for poverty wages. The American church loudly proclaims these lies and then says that if you want to be rich, you must plant your seeds of faith and give what little money you have to the mega-Church pastor who flies around in private jets and lives a life of luxury.
Mercy has all but disappeared. I call on you my beloved to practice mercy like the first century Christians did. It is a virtue. It can change the world. How do you plan to practice mercy today?
