“Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.”

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“Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.”

Institute of Biblical Discipleship New Testament Commands of Christ Jesus: Bible study # 75

by Nolan McFadden Α Bible text: Luke 6:36 “Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.” (Luke 6:36) Our Lord Jesus commanded His disciples, “Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.” (Luke 6:36) What does it mean that our Father in Heaven is merciful? As Christians, how do we follow God’s example of being merciful? To what extent are we to have mercy on others? As twenty-first century followers of Christ Jesus, how do we apply this New Testament command in our daily lives? Using the Holy Bible as our textbook, let’s consider what the Scriptures reveal about God’s mercy.

I. God is merciful. It is one aspect of His eternal character. Our LORD desires that we follow His example by being merciful to others (Exodus 20:3-6, Nehemiah 9:31, Psalm 118:1,2,3,4,29; 136:1,2,3,4,5) A. In Luke 6:36 the word “merciful” is translated from the Greek word οίκτίρμονες.

It means “…pitiful, compassionate for the ills of others,…(of the character of God, to be expressed in His people);…” (1) B. Our LORD commanded, “Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; and shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.” (Exodus 20:3-6) B. Concerning the marvelous fact that the “mercy” of our LORD (Jehovah) is eternal, five times in Psalm 118 the psalmist declared, “his mercy endureth for ever…”

(Psalm 118:1,2,3,4,29) Likewise, five times in referring to the LORD’s eternal mercy in Psalm 136 we find the words, “his mercy endureth forever…”

(Psalm 136:1,2,3,4,5).

C. The psalmist proclaimed, “Praise ye the LORD. O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.” (Psalm 106:1) D. As Christians, it is comforting to know that God’s mercy toward us is forever through Jesus Christ our Lord (Romans 8:28-39; 9:15-24). In Romans 9:2224 the apostle Paul declared, “What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath [the unsaved] fitted to destruction: and that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy [the saved], which he had afore prepared unto glory, even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?”

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II. God demonstrates His mercy toward all by sending rain so that the earth might produce food such as vegetables, fruits, seeds and nuts (Acts 14:17).

A. To the idolatrous pagans the apostles testified about “the (singular) living God.” They explained, “Nevertheless he left not himself without witness, in that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.” (Acts 14:17) B. In Matthew 5:44-45 Jesus taught, “But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; that ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.”

C. The apostle Paul testified, “Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? but after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; who will render to every man according to his deeds: to them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life: but unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; but glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile: for there is no respect of persons with God.” (Romans 2:4-11) III. God the Father showed His great mercy toward us by sending His Son Jesus to die as a sinless sacrifice to pay the penalty of our sins (Romans 5:8, I John 2:1-2).

A. The apostle Paul said, “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8) B. Concerning the spiritual adoption and redemption that we have in Christ Jesus, Paul proclaimed, “…in whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;…” (Ephesians 1:7) IV. Jehovah reveals His great mercy to us by forgiving our sins (Proverbs 28:13, Psalm 103:12). God desires that we forgive others just as He has forgiven us (Matthew 6:14-15, Ephesians 4:31-32).

A. In Proverbs 28:13 we read, “He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.”

B. In Psalm 103:12 David declared, “As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.”

C. Our Lord Jesus explained, “For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: but if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” (Matthew 6:14-15) D. The apostle Paul instructed believers, “Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: and be ye

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kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” (Ephesians 4:31-32) V. God manifests His great mercy by withholding His judgment against our sins (Psalm 13:5; 103:10-11, 2 Peter 3:9).

A. King David said “He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.” (Psalm 103:10-11) B. David prayed, “But I have trusted in thy mercy; my heart shall rejoice in thy salvation.” (Psalm 13:5) C. The apostle Peter proclaimed, “But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.” (2 Peter 3:8-14) VI. As followers of Christ Jesus, God demonstrates His great mercy to us by preparing a place for us in Heaven (John 14:1-6, Philippians 3:20-21, 1 Peter 1:3-5).

A. Jesus said, “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know. Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

(John 14:1-6) B. The apostle Paul assured Christians, “For our conversation [citizenship] is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.”

(Philippians 3:20-21) C. To followers of Christ Jesus the apostle Peter declared, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away,

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reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” (1 Peter 1:3-5) VII. We imitate God’s example of mercy by forgiving others for their wrongs against us (Luke 23:34, Colossians 3:12-15).

A. While dying on the cross, Jesus prayed for the Roman soldiers who crucified him saying, “…Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.” (Luke 23:34) B. Paul taught Christians to: “Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. And above all these things put on charity [Christian love], which is the bond of perfectness. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.”

(Colossians 3:12-15) VIII. We show God’s mercy by praying for the salvation of sinners (Exodus 32:30-32, Matthew 5:44, 1 Timothy 2:1-6).

A. Our Lord Jesus instructed His disciples to: “…Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; that ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven:…” (Matthew 5:44) B. In Exodus 32:30-32 we read, “And it came to pass on the morrow, that Moses said unto the people, Ye have sinned a great sin: and now I will go up unto the LORD; peradventure I shall make an atonement for your sin. And Moses returned unto the LORD, and said, Oh, this people have sinned a great sin, and have made them gods of gold. Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin—; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written.”

C. Paul instructed Christians, “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; for kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.”

(1 Timothy 2:1-6) IX. We demonstrate God’s mercy by doing good to those who hate us and persecute us.

A. In Matthew 5:44 Jesus said, “But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;…”

B. Christ Jesus taught, “And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain. Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.” (Matthew 5:41-42)

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X. We show God’s mercy by proclaiming the message of the gospel of Christ Jesus to sinners (Mark 16:15-16, Romans 1:14-16).

A. In Acts 17:16-17 we read, “Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred in him, when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry. Therefore disputed he in the synagogue with the Jews, and with the devout persons, and in the market daily with them that met with him.”

B. The apostle Paul proclaimed, “I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise. So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also. For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.” (Romans 1:14-16) In conclusion, have you received God’s eternal mercy by repenting of your sins, believing the gospel message and personally receiving Jesus as your Lord and Savior? If not, why not pray now to God the Father in the name of His Son Jesus and commit your heart and life to Him. In Romans 10:8-14 the apostle Paul proclaimed, “But what saith it?

The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; that if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Romans 10:8-13) By faith, you can make the eternal decision to be saved now. You can choose to believe the message of the gospel of Christ Jesus and give your heart and life to Him today. If it is your desire to be saved, pray this prayer of faith out loud: Dear Heavenly Father, I come to you in the name of Jesus. I believe that Jesus is the Son of God. I confess that I have sinned against you. I believe in my heart that Jesus Christ died to pay the penalty for my sins, was buried and rose again from the dead for me. I repent of my sins.

Lord Jesus, please forgive my sins and come live in my heart and life forever. Please save me from my sins and make me a child of God by your Holy Spirit. Thank you my Lord Jesus for the gift of eternal life in Heaven. Amen.

Write the date that you made this salvation decision in your Bible. Please let us know if you have personally received Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord today so that we may rejoice with you. Confess Jesus before others. Be baptized by immersion, worship, attend and serve with other Christians in a church where the Holy Bible is the final authority. Ω End Notes: 1. W. E. Vine, VINE’S EXPOSITORY DICTIONARY OF NEW TESTAMENT WORDS, (Iowa Falls, Iowa, RIVERSIDE BOOK AND BIBLE HOUSE), p. 744 © 2017, Nolan McFadden copies permitted