Matthew 5:7-8, Beatitudes 5 and 6

Tod Kennedy, October 6 and 13, 2004

Updated 01/18/2005

The Beatitudes are part of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount recorded in Matthew 5-7. The topics of His sermon are blessed, the Law, anger, reconciliation, adultery, divorce, vows, revenge, love

Key Verse of Matthew 5. Matthew 5:20 “For I say to you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.”

1.     Outline of Matthew 5

a.   Characteristics of Kingdom people, the repentant people, or the righteous remnant (Matthew 5:1-16).

b.   Christ’s relationship to the Old Testament (Matthew 5:17-19). Christ fulfills the Law.

c.    Kingdom righteousness contrasted with the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees (Matthew 5:20).

d.   Illustrations of Kingdom righteousness contrasted with the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees (Matthew 5:21-48).

                                                  i.      Personal conflicts (Matthew 5:21-26).

                                                ii.      Man and woman relationships (Matthew 5:27-32).

                                              iii.      Vows (Matthew 5:33-37).

                                              iv.      Retaliation (Matthew 5:38-42).

                                                v.      Love your enemies (Matthew 5:43-48).

Matthew 5:7, Beatitude 5, Merciful

General help for understanding the beatitude: the first line of each beatitude gives the present qualification or desired attitude and activity. The second line gives the future blessing or reward that will be experienced in the future kingdom of heaven on earth. Jesus says that those who possess these characteristics are or shall be fortunate or happy or gain favor from God.

7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.”

7 μακαριοι οι ελεημονες οτι αυτοι ελεηθησονται

1.     The basic meaning of Matthew 5:7.  Show mercy to others in times when there is no earthly reward or recognition, or when it is dangerous or costly to show mercy will experience mercy from God and others during the kingdom on earth civilization.

2.     Mercy, receive mercy.

a.      Adjective merciful, describes a characteristic of repentant, kingdom awaiting people. ἐλεήμων (eleēmōn), ον (on): adj.: Strong’s 1655; TDNT 2.485; LN 88.77; Swanson 1798. Merciful, pertaining to those who show compassion on the lowly (Matthew 5:7; Hebrews 2:17+)

b.     Verb, “they shall receive mercy,” λεέω eleeō, notes what God will do for them in the kingdom of heaven on earth. Strong’s 1653; ADB 315.The word means to be greatly concerned about someone in need; to feel and show sympathy for another.

c.      To be merciful or show mercy is to think and especially to act in a compassionate way to someone who cannot help themselves. The concept goes back to the Hebrew word for grace.

                                                              i.      Arndt, Danker, & Bauer say “to be greatly concerned about someone in need, have compassion/mercy/pity, feel pity Esp. show mercy to someone, help someone (out of compassion).”

                                                            ii.      Swanson, J. Dictionary of Biblical Languages With Semantic Domains : Greek (New Testament vb. [see also 1790]; DBLHebr 2858, 8163; Str 1653; TDNT 2.477—LN 88.76 show mercy to, show pity to (Matthew 5:7; Matthew 18:33; Luke 16:24; Luke 17:13; Luke 18:38; Romans 9:15; Romans 11:30 [31]; Romans 12:8; 2 Corinthians 4:1; Philippians 2:27; 1 Peter 2:10).

                                                          iii.      Strong’s 1653, 1 to have mercy on. 2 to help one afflicted or seeking aid. 3 to help the afflicted, to bring help to the wretched. 4 to experience mercy.

                                                          iv.      Scripture that uses the verb, show mercy, clarifies the meaning (Matthew 9:27; Matthew 15:22; Matthew 17:15; Matthew 20:30; Romans 11:31; 12:8; 2 Corinthians 4:1; Philippians 2:27; 1 Peter 2:10; and others).

d.     In practical terms, showing mercy to someone is simply to treat graciously, compassionately, and helpfully someone who has no one to help and no place to turn.

e.      Queen Victoria was a close friend of Principal and Mrs. Tulloch of St. Andrews. Prince Albert died and Victoria was left alone. Just at the same time Principal Tulloch died and Mrs. Tulloch was left alone. All unannounced Queen Victoria came to call on Mrs. Tulloch when she was resting on a couch in her room. When the Queen was announced Mrs. Tulloch struggled to rise quickly from the couch and to curtsey. The Queen stepped forward: “My dear,” she said, “don’t rise. I am not coming to you today as the queen to a subject, but as one woman who has lost her husband to another.” (The Gospel of Matthew. The Daily study Bible series.)

3.     Jesus is saying that the repentant and awaiting the kingdom of heaven believer who shows mercy to others in times when there is no earthly reward or recognition, or when it is dangerous or costly to show mercy will experience mercy from God and others during the kingdom on earth civilization.

a.      The kingdom on earth will have people in normal bodies along with those in resurrection bodies. Life will go on. The king will rule; Satan will be bound; sin will still pop out; people will still face suffering.

4.     Today in the church we ought to show mercy to all people and especially to believers. This emphasizes action over just sentiment.

a.      Sympathize with them in their suffering.

b.     Encourage them with God’s word.

c.      Physically help them according to biblical guidelines.

5.     Summary Beatitude 5. Matthew 5:7. Merciful

a.      Jesus is saying that the repentant and awaiting the kingdom of heaven believer who shows mercy to others in times when there is no earthly reward or recognition for showing mercy, or when it is dangerous or costly to show mercy, will experience mercy from God and others during the coming kingdom on earth.

b.     Though, at the present time the merciful are not often honored with mercy in return, they can continue to show mercy now and anticipate abundant mercy returned to them in the kingdom.

6.     Lesson Beatitude 5. Matthew 5:7. Merciful

a.      Showing mercy is needed today. Mercy demonstrates Christ’s loved and mercy. It opens up opportunities to tell others about God’s mercy. Showing mercy to others is especially important when there is no earthly reward or recognition for doing so, or when it is dangerous or costly.

b.     Do I show mercy to people, and especially to believers? Do I sympathize with them in their suffering, encourage them with God’s word, and physically help them according to biblical guidelines?

Matthew 5:8, Beatitude 6, Pure in heart

General help for understanding the beatitude: the first line of each beatitude gives the present qualification or desired attitude and activity. The second line gives the future blessing or reward that will be experienced in the future kingdom of heaven on earth. Jesus says that those who possess these characteristics are or shall be fortunate or happy or gain favor from God.

“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

μακαριοι οι καθαροι τη καρδια οτι αυτοι τον θεον οψονται

1.     The basic meaning of Matthew 5:8: God is holy. To see him, to be close to him—figurative for close fellowship with him—requires one to be spiritually clean through the avoidance of sin and the confession of sin, and the leaving of sin behind.

2.     The question to begin with is “who are the pure in heart?”

a.      This phrase is found only in Matthew 5:8, 1 Timothy 1:5, and 2 Timothy 2:22.

b.     The heart, of course, is the center of thought, will, and emotions.

c.      The heart is the area of meaningful life: thinking, perception, intelligence, decision making, response, norms and standards.

d.     Augsburger (The Preacher's Commentary Series, Matthew) suggests that “pure heart” means unmixed motives or singleness of commitment, but the wording does not support that meaning.

3.     The word kaqaro~ katharos pure, has three primary classes of use.

a.      Free from dirt or physical contamination (Matthew 23:26; 27:59).

b.     Ceremonially or ritually clean (Romans 14:20; Titus 1:15).

c.      Free from moral guilt (Matthew 5:8; John 13:10-11; 15:3; 2 Timothy 2:22; 1 Peter 1:22; and others).

d.     The use in this verse is to be free from moral guilt.

4.     What, then, does it mean to be free from moral guilt?

a.      John 13 covers it very well. John 13:8-12 teaches two kinds of cleansing.

                                                              i.      The whole bath cleansing or Justification based upon Christ’s work (John 13:11).

                                                            ii.      The foot washing cleansing through the continual application of Christ’s payment for sins made through confession of known sins to God (John 13:10).

b.     John 15:3 uses clean (same Greek word) for believers who have been cleansed after the initial salvation. They can now serve God.

c.      First Timothy 1:5 and 2 Timothy 2:22 speak of the pure heart and say it is necessary for right kind of ministry.

d.     John later taught what Jesus called foot washing fellowship and called it walking in the light by confession. His emphasis is living in fellowship with God as 1 John 1 teaches. We are to walk in the light. The work of Christ continues to cleanse us from known sins when we confess them and also cleanse us from unknown sins.

e.      Moses saw the glory of God through the burning bush (Exodus 3). He had to remove his sandals. This vividly demonstrated that God is holy and only approachable when man is clean.

f.       Psalm 119:9 teaches that God’s word is the standard for keeping our lives pure.

5.     The Practical meaning and application to the repentant ones awaiting the kingdom of heaven:

a.      God is holy. The see Him—figurative for close fellowship with Him—requires one to be spiritually clean.

b.     These repentant Jews need this lesson.

6.     Application or so what? for us right now.

a.      Do I live according to God’s word so that it directs and keeps me clean (Psalm 119:9)?

b.     Do I live in newness of life in Christ, by faith, and by the Holy Spirit’s power (Romans 6-8)?

c.      When I sin, I need to confess it to God.

d.     After I confess the sin, I should leave the sin behind and I should not continually repeat it.

e.      I should walk in the light of God and in fellowship with him.

8.     Summary Beatitude 6. Matthew 5:8. Pure in heart

a.      To be pure in heart is to be spiritually clean from sin—both judicially and in daily experience. Jesus talked about this in John 13. 8-11. When one sins, he should confess that sin and continue to live “pure in heart.”

b.     God is holy, to “see God” is to be close to him—figurative for close fellowship with him. Close fellowship with God is a reward for kingdom believers who have lived in fellowship with God and therefore are called “the pure in heart.”

9.     Lesson Beatitude 6. Matthew 5:8. Pure in heart

a.      God wants us to be clean or “pure in heart” so that He can fellowship with us and we with Him. Personal sin interrupts our clean condition. Christ died for all sins, even those we commit as believers. God wants us to confess our sin when necessary because confession to God is a reminder that Christ died for all our sins, even those we commit now. Confession affirms our faith in God’s holiness, our sinfulness, and in Christ’s death for our sins.