“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This isn't just about feeling sorry for someone; the Greek word emphasizes a deep, active compassion that springs from a heart moved by suffering. It's a mercy that doesn't just feel but does, actively seeking to alleviate distress, and in doing so, invites God's own active mercy towards us.
“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus is delivering the Sermon on the Mount, a foundational teaching for his followers, outlining the qualities of life in God's kingdom. He's just spoken about the peacemakers, and now he pivots to the outward expression of compassion towards those in need. This beatitude establishes a reciprocal principle: the mercy shown to others will be mirrored back to the merciful, both in this life and in the final judgment.
What does it truly mean to be merciful? It's more than just a feeling; it's a powerful outward expression of compassion.
Jesus calls the merciful blessed. The original Greek word here points to a deep, active kindness. It's not just feeling bad for someone's suffering, but being moved to help.
Think of it like this:
This active compassion reflects God's own heart, who actively reaches out to humanity's deepest needs.
Ever feel like you're giving more than you receive? Jesus reveals a divine principle about how mercy works.
Jesus states a clear cause and effect: 'Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.' This isn't a transactional formula, but a profound reflection of God's character and how He interacts with us.
The Principle:
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Understand the original words
eleēmōn · Greek Adjective
Showing active compassion, forgiveness, and kindness to those in need or those who have caused offense, reflecting the character of God.
eleeō · Greek Verb
The outward manifestation of pity and compassion that results in the relief of suffering or the withholding of deserved punishment.
This passage is the parallel to Jesus' teaching in Matthew, stating directly, 'Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.' It reinforces the idea that mercy is a core characteristic we are called to reflect from God Himself.
Matthew 6:14-15Here, Jesus explicitly links the forgiveness we receive from God to the forgiveness we extend to others. It directly mirrors the 'you shall receive mercy' part of the Beatitude, showing that our mercy is a prerequisite for God's.
The Parable of the Unmerciful Servant powerfully illustrates this principle. It shows a servant forgiven an enormous debt who then refuses to forgive a tiny debt owed to him, leading to severe consequences, thus highlighting the reciprocal nature of mercy.
James directly quotes the principle behind this Beatitude, stating, 'For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.' This emphasizes that showing mercy is crucial for receiving God's own mercy.
bensonMatthew 5:7: "Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy."
Matthew 5:7 . Blessed [or happy ] are the merciful — The tender-hearted, compassionate, kind, and beneficent, who, being inwardly affected with the infirmities, necessities, and miseries of their fellow-creatures, and feeling them as their own, with tender sympathy endeavour, as they have ability, to relieve them; and who, not confining their efforts to the communicating of temporal relief to the needy and wretched, labour al…
cambridgeMatthew 5:7: "Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy."
7 . they shall obtain mercy ] This principle in the divine Government that men shall be dealt with as they deal with their fellow-men is taught in the parable of the Unmerciful Servant, ch. 18, and underlies the fifth petition in the Lord’s Prayer, ch. Matthew 6:12 .
This isn't just about feeling sorry for someone; the Greek word emphasizes a deep, active compassion that springs from a heart moved by suffering. It's a mercy that doesn't just feel but does, actively seeking to alleviate distress, and in doing so, invites God's own active mercy towards us.
Jesus is delivering the Sermon on the Mount, a foundational teaching for his followers, outlining the qualities of life in God's kingdom. He's just spoken about the peacemakers, and now he pivots to the outward expression of compassion towards those in need. This beatitude establishes a reciprocal principle: the mercy shown to others will be mirrored back to the merciful, both in this life and in the final judgment.
Jesus is delivering the Sermon on the Mount, a foundational teaching for his followers, outlining the qualities of life in God's kingdom. He's just spoken about the peacemakers, and now he pivots to the outward expression of compassion towards those in need. This beatitude establishes a reciprocal principle: the mercy shown to others will be mirrored back to the merciful, both in this life and in the final judgment.
"“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy." — This isn't just about feeling sorry for someone; the Greek word emphasizes a deep, active compassion that springs from a heart moved by suffering. It's a mercy that doesn't just feel but does, acti…
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Last reviewed October 2026