OUR FATHER WHO SENT A SAVIOUR TO TEACH US PART 3

We now look at the next set of beatitudes from the fifth to the sixth one.

7 Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

This is a principle of reciprocation related to the conduct shown to other people. It is mirrored in the words of the Lord Jesus in Mathew chapter 6 verse 15 which says; But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. In the inverse sense, the showing mercy to others allows for mercy to be shown to us. This conditional axiom adjures believers to follow the Lord's example of being merciful to others. 

Mathew chapter 18 verse 18 says; “Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. 

For believers, to be merciful towards someone is to loose  them in the spirit and vice versa. Because these types of obligations cross into the spirit realm, to bind someone with fetters into that realm will cause the retention of any fetters that one may themselves be linked to. Similarly, to sever obligations held over other people will generally sever any obligations or debts against ones' own self.

The next beatitude is fearsome because it suggests that there are ways that a believer can behave that would prevent them from seeing God.

8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

The pure in heart are those who are sincere in their disposition towards the Lord. They harbour no concealed agendas and do not present false impressions of themselves to appear pious before men. An example of people who are not pure in heart is mentioned in Mathew 6 verse 6 which says; And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full.

Here, the praying is done in public to enhance their reputations and enhanced reputions will be the full reward for this behaviour while the sincere behaviour is to pray in secret.

The sincerity of private prayer results in intimacy with God and one is brought into the inner circle of the Lord and they will see God.

To try to do spritual practices with motives apart from the pure-hearted love of God will exclude one from direct contact with Him.

Amen.

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