4 | Matthew 5:7 | Blessed are the Merciful

Reflection Questions

Opening

Read Matthew 5:7. What comes to mind when you hear the word mercy? How would you define mercy in your own words? What does the world think about mercy?

1. Jesus said, “Blessed are the merciful,” which seems to go beyond merely doing occasional acts of mercy. What would it look like to become merciful instead of just showing mercy here and there?
2. When it comes to showing mercy, it involves forgiving someone who has sinned against you (The Unforgiving Servant: Matthew 18:23-35) or sacrificially serving someone in need (The Good Samaritan: Luke 10:25-37). Do you find it easier to show mercy to someone who has hurt you or to serve someone in need sacrificially?
3. Mercy flows from experiencing God’s mercy in Christ. God absorbed our debt on the Cross—mercy cost Him everything. Share a time when God’s mercy felt real to you. How should that shape how we show mercy to others?
4. Jesus never shows mercy reluctantly or begrudgingly; He loves to show it. Do you really love showing mercy? What are the blessings that come both to us and to others when we become merciful people? Who needs mercy from you right now? What do you need in order to show it?