Mat 5:7, Mercy Overrules Rules.

Class Outline:

Sunday April 14, 2024

 

Idea: Mercy overrules all rules. 

 

Introduction:

Jesus told us that He was sending up the Holy Spirit to teach us about the things of Himself and the Father, which, He said, are one and the same.

 

Teachers cannot show us Christ. They can only point the way to Him. The way of seeing the Lord for yourself is to obey Him  (1JO 2:3). 

 

Beatitudes are to always be together.

 

Blessed are the merciful (plural) (MAT 5:7). 

 

Mercy defined:  Pertaining to being concerned about people in their need. Merciful, sympathetic, compassionate. Pity, clemency (noun). Greatly concerned about someone in need. 

 

Mercy and Rules:

To whom do I show mercy?

Love your neighbor. Who is my neighbor?

When do I show mercy and when do I hold it back?

 

Each of these questions demand a rule. Rules make up religion.

 

Religion is man made rules for the worship of God and expression of God. And all of us, regardless of how mature, carry some in us.

 

Mercy of humans toward humans.

1) Covenant with one another. 2) Neighbor to all. 3) Cloister religion (MAT 9:13; 12:7; 23:23; JAM 2:13; 3:17; LUK 10:37).

 

MAT 9:13; 12:7,

Eating with the wrong people, wrong thing, on the wrong day - rules! Jesus quotes HOS 6:6 and teaches that mercy is a function of eternal covenant.

 

The covenant is not based on rule since it is unconditional. We give mercy to all; concerned about their need and doing something about it. Pity and compassion with action. To all.

 

LUK 10:37,

When the lawyer asked who was his neighbor, Jesus taught the parable of the Good Samaritan and showed him that he was not to determine who was his neighbor but that he was to be a neighbor to all - by showing mercy. 

 

Mercy seeks the fulfillment of a need. Hence, David broke the law by eating the bread reserved for the priests and was vindicated by God (MAT 12:3-4. 

 

Cloister your religion (lock it away as best you can). 

We all have some. Some have more religion than others. This is a good thing to know or you will get legalistic about banishing your legalism.

 

Your legalism will limit the mercy of Christ in you.

 

All of us have some prejudice/legalism in us. Know this and do not fear. Give mercy to all and you will receive mercy.

 

This week we will explore what it means to receive mercy because you give it.