Matthew 5:7 kjv
Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
Matthew 5:7 nkjv
Blessed are the merciful, For they shall obtain mercy.
Matthew 5:7 niv
Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
Matthew 5:7 esv
"Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
Matthew 5:7 nlt
God blesses those who are merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
Matthew 5 7 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ps 18:25 | With the merciful you show yourself merciful; with the blameless man you show yourself blameless; | God shows mercy to the merciful. |
| Prov 11:17 | A man who is kind benefits himself, but a cruel man harms himself. | Kindness (mercy) has personal benefit. |
| Prov 28:27 | Whoever gives to the poor will not want, but he who hides his eyes will get many a curse. | Generosity linked to provision, lack of mercy to curses. |
| Hos 6:6 | For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings. | God values mercy over ritual. |
| Mt 6:14-15 | For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you… | Forgiveness (a form of mercy) is reciprocal. |
| Mt 9:13 | Go and learn what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ | Jesus reiterates God's desire for mercy (from Hos 6:6). |
| Mt 12:7 | And if you had known what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the guiltless. | Mercy prioritised over legalistic condemnation. |
| Mt 18:33-35 | Should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you? ... | Parable of unmerciful servant; illustrates reciprocity. |
| Lk 6:36 | Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful. | Command to imitate God's mercy. |
| Lk 6:37 | Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; | Reciprocity in judgment and forgiveness. |
| Rom 12:8 | ...he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness; | Mercy as a Christian grace, given with joy. |
| Eph 2:4-5 | But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ... | God's own character as merciful, the source of salvation. |
| Col 3:12 | Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, | Mercy (compassionate hearts) as a virtue for believers. |
| Heb 4:16 | Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. | We seek mercy from God. |
| Jas 2:13 | For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment. | Direct consequence of not showing mercy, power of mercy. |
| 1 Pet 1:3 | Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again... | God's great mercy as the basis for new life. |
| Jude 1:21 | keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. | Mercy is an eschatological hope. |
| Deut 13:17 | ...that the LORD may turn from his fierce anger and show you mercy and have compassion on you... | God's mercy can turn away wrath. |
| Zech 7:9 | Thus says the LORD of hosts, Render true judgments, show kindness and mercy to one another; | Old Testament call to justice, kindness, and mercy. |
| Mic 6:8 | He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? | Love kindness (mercy) as a divine requirement. |
| Ps 103:8 | The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. | Description of God's character of mercy. |
| Lm 3:22-23 | The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning... | God's unfailing mercies. |
Matthew 5 verses
Matthew 5 7 Meaning
Matthew 5:7 proclaims that those who actively extend compassion and kindness to others, alleviating their distress, will themselves be shown mercy. This beatitude highlights a fundamental principle of God's Kingdom: displaying practical pity and kindness is a characteristic of those who are truly blessed by God, and it directly corresponds to receiving divine mercy, particularly at the ultimate judgment. It reflects God's character and calls His followers to emulate Him.
Matthew 5 7 Context
Matthew 5:7 is part of Jesus's Sermon on the Mount, a pivotal teaching where He outlines the ethics and character required for citizens of His Kingdom. This verse belongs to the Beatitudes (Mt 5:3-12), a series of declarations that describe who is truly "blessed" by God. The Beatitudes systematically present counter-cultural values: they praise inner qualities and outward actions often overlooked or undervalued by society, and they describe the spiritual state of true disciples, contrasting them with the external righteousness emphasized by some religious leaders of the time. The call to mercy follows pronouncements on spiritual humility, sorrow over sin, meekness, and hunger for righteousness, building towards a portrait of a transformed heart. In a cultural context where an "eye for an eye" (lex talionis) was a known principle (though usually applied in legal settings), and mercy could be seen as weakness, Jesus elevates active, benevolent compassion as a hallmark of His followers.
Matthew 5 7 Word analysis
Blessed (μακάριοι, makarioi): Denotes a profound state of spiritual well-being, divinely favored, and internally satisfied. It's not fleeting happiness based on circumstances but a deep, lasting joy stemming from God's approval and being aligned with His will. This blessedness is bestowed by God, indicating divine favor.
are the merciful (οἱ ἐλεήμονες, hoi eleēmones): Refers to those characterized by active compassion. The Greek term eleēmones is derived from eleos (mercy), which signifies not just a feeling of pity but a concrete action to relieve suffering. It encapsulates tenderheartedness, compassion, and practical kindness towards others, whether in their physical, emotional, or spiritual need.
for they shall obtain (ἐλεηθήσονται, eleēthēsontai): This verb is in the future passive indicative, often called a "divine passive" in biblical Greek. It implies that God is the implicit agent. It assures a definite outcome: it is God who will actively extend mercy to them. This emphasizes that receiving divine mercy is a gift, a response from God, not something earned as a merit.
mercy (ἔλεος, eleos): The same word as for "merciful," used here to denote the compassionate kindness and pity that they will receive, primarily from God. This includes divine forgiveness, compassion in times of need, and grace, especially in the context of the final judgment. It suggests a reciprocity, where one experiences from God the same quality one extends to others.
Words-group analysis:
"Blessed are the merciful": This phrase establishes the divine approval and spiritual felicity of those who embody and act out compassion. It challenges worldly perceptions of "blessing" and aligns true well-being with a benevolent character that reaches out to others in need. This characteristic is a deep-seated spiritual trait.
"for they shall obtain mercy": This clause provides the reason and the glorious outcome of being merciful. The future tense and divine passive strongly affirm God's guarantee: His active compassion will be extended to those who have demonstrated it. This connection highlights the inseparable link between a transformed character (showing mercy) and experiencing divine favor, especially in the ultimate divine assessment. It speaks to both present grace and future salvation.
Matthew 5 7 Bonus section
The Beatitudes are often seen as defining the essential character traits of those who live under God's rule. Being "merciful" (ἔλεος) is more than simply being nice; it's about actively identifying with the suffering of others and taking steps to alleviate it. This deep, practical compassion reflects the very nature of God, who is "rich in mercy" (Eph 2:4) and whose "mercies never come to an end" (Lam 3:22). Thus, the merciful person is becoming more like God. This Beatitude directly challenges self-righteousness and any form of piety that lacks genuine, active love for humanity. It prepares the listeners for Jesus's later teachings on forgiving enemies (Mt 5:44) and true neighborly love (Lk 10:25-37), extending the reach of mercy far beyond comfortable circles. The promised "mercy" from God encompasses both His present favor and His ultimate compassion in the eschatological judgment, securing the hope of eternal life for those who are transformed by His grace to reflect His love.
Matthew 5 7 Commentary
Matthew 5:7 reveals a fundamental dynamic within the Kingdom of Heaven: the principle of divine reciprocity rooted in God's own character. Those who genuinely embody and actively demonstrate mercy, not just with feelings but through compassionate deeds, are declared "blessed." This is not a legalistic bargain where mercy is traded for mercy; rather, it's a description of how God's nature is reflected in His true followers. A heart that has received God's immense mercy naturally overflows with it to others. The promise that they "shall obtain mercy" underscores God's justice and His responsiveness to the hearts that align with His own. It provides profound assurance that, in moments of need, particularly at the ultimate judgment, divine grace will be extended to those whose lives were characterized by compassion for others. It implies that a lack of mercy will result in a withholding of mercy, as articulated in James 2:13. Therefore, this Beatitude calls believers to a consistent, active, and heartfelt practice of mercy, viewing it as essential to living within God's Kingdom and experiencing His favor.
- Example: A person actively visiting and caring for the sick in their community, without expectation of earthly reward, exemplifies the merciful who will experience God's compassionate care in their own time of weakness or judgment.
- Example: A believer who freely forgives an offense against them, thereby showing mercy to their offender, can trust in God's continuing forgiveness and mercy for their own shortcomings.