Matthew 5:7 + Deuteronomy 15:7–8
“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.” – Matthew 5:7
When you think of mercy, what comes to mind? Maybe letting someone off the hook when they’ve wronged you. Or maybe it’s the feeling of compassion when you see someone struggling. Those are part of it, but in Scripture, mercy is not just an emotion—it’s action.
What Mercy Looks Like in Torah
Deuteronomy 15:7–8 paints a clear picture:
“If among you, one of your brothers should become poor… you shall not harden your heart or shut your hand against your poor brother, but you shall open your hand to him and lend him sufficient for his need, whatever it may be.”
That’s mercy in motion. It’s not about feeling sorry for someone—it’s about opening your hand. Mercy is tangible. It feeds the hungry, lifts up the poor, and forgives the guilty.
Mercy Is More Than Fairness
Here’s the thing: mercy often goes beyond what is “fair.” Fairness says, “You made your bed, now lie in it.” Mercy says, “I’ll help you get back up, even if you stumbled.”
Think about it: God shows us mercy constantly. Israel sinned repeatedly in the wilderness, but YHVH never abandoned them. Instead, He gave them chances to repent and return. Mercy is built into God’s character—and He calls us to reflect it.
Why Does Yeshua Link Mercy with Receiving Mercy?
Yeshua’s promise is simple: if you show mercy, you’ll receive mercy. That’s not a transaction, like “do this, get that.” It’s more like planting and reaping. When you live with an open hand, you experience God’s open hand toward you.
It’s also a reminder: we all need mercy. No one earns salvation. Keeping Torah is our reasonable service. However, even though perfection is possible more often than not our lives fall short of the goal. If we want God to deal gently with us, we should deal gently with others.
What if God treated us the way we treat him and others? Guess what? He does.
Mercy Where You (and Beyond)
So what does mercy look like for us today?
With people: Forgive quickly. Don’t hold grudges. When someone wrongs you, choose compassion over revenge, over hatred. It’s easy to show kindness to those we love but a truer reflection of who God is seen when we stop thinking it is our job to judge to condemn our enemies or at least the people we think are beneath us.
With resources: Share what you have. That could be money, food, time, a smile, or even just attention. Don’t harden your heart.
With yourself: Sometimes the hardest person to show mercy to is… you. God’s mercy covers you—don’t drown in guilt. Repent, learn, and move forward.
Final Thought
Mercy isn’t weakness. It’s one of the strongest ways we imitate God. When Yeshua says the merciful will receive mercy, He’s pointing us back to Torah’s vision of a community where no one is left behind and everyone reflects God’s generous heart.
Mercy matters—because it’s who God is, and it’s who He calls us to be.
Torah Road 