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Matthew 5:7 Mercy me, full of mercy, mercy me
1. Matthew 5:7 Mercy me, full of mercy, mercy me
2. George Whitfield and Celtic Kirk
George Whitfield (or Whitefield) (1714-1770) was an English itinerant preacher and evangelist and one of the founders of Methodism along with the Wesley brothers, John Wesley and Charles Wesley.
George Whitefield started an orphanage, the Bethesda Academy, in Savannah, GA, which exists to this day.
Bethesda means "
House of Mercy" in Hebrew.
Whitefield wanted the orphanage to be a place of strong Calvinist influence with a wholesome atmosphere and strong discipline. Boys were taught trades so that they could earn a living as adults. (Wikipedia)
The Whitefield Chapel is still on the grounds of Bethesda Academy in Savannah, GA.
3. Benjamin Franklin: Word of mouth
Benjamin
Franklin had a printing shop in Philadelphia, PA. A statue of Franklin at his printing press is in Philadelphia and a similar one at the Masonic Homes Masonic Lodge in Elizabethtown, PA.
Benjamin
Franklin heard George
Whitefield preach at a revival meeting in Philadelphia, PA. Franklin did not believe Whitefield could preach in open air and be heard by tens of thousands of listeners.
While
Whitefield preached, he paced towards his shop until he could barely hear what he was saying distinctly, about 500 feet. He then estimated that a crowd of 30,000 could hear him preach in open air (at 2 square feet per person). The actual number would be about 29,000 square yards, ignoring other acoustic factors.
4. Matthew 5:7
KJV: Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
Greek: μακαριοι οι ελεημονες οτι αυτοι ελεηθησονται
Latin: beati misericordes quia ipsi misericordiam consequentur
Wessex: Eadige synd þa mild-heortan. for-þan þe hyo mildheortnyssa begytað.
Wycliffe: Blessid ben merciful men, for thei schulen gete merci.
Tyndale: Blessed are ye mercifull: for they shall obteyne mercy.
Luther: Selig sind die Barmherzigen; denn sie werden Barmherzigkeit erlangen.
5. Beatitudes summary
Here is a quick summary of the Beatitudes. Each starts with "
Blessed are".
1. poor in spirit - theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
2. they that mourn - shall be comforted.
3. meek - shall inherit the earth
4. those that hunger and thirst for righteousness - shall be satisfied
5. merciful - shall obtain mercy
6. pure in heart - shall see God
7. peacemakers - shall be called children of God
8. persecuted for righteousness sake - theirs is the kingdom of heaven
...reviled... (follow-on, not same format as previous eight)
To
not be
negative, most series of
ARMS (Attractive Refrigerator Magnet Sermons) stop at number 6 or 7. The Sermon on the Mount then starts with "
salt of the earth" and ends with the "
house built on sand".
6. Crowds and a private briefing
As a
review, Jesus went up on a mountain to get away from the crowds and taught his disciples in what is known as the Sermon on the Mount.
Matthew 5:1 And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him: [kjv]
ιδων δε τους οχλους ανεβη εις το ορος και καθισαντος αυτου προσηλθαν αυτω οι μαθηται αυτου [gnt]
It appears that Jesus was getting away from the crowds. Jesus had many disciples,
not just the
12 remaining at the end. So the Beatitudes "
teachings" are a private briefing these disciples.
Later, in John 6, Jesus starts to explain his real mission and many stop following him (for the food, healing, etc.). The
12 disciples remain.
7. Matthew 5:7 Mercy me, full of mercy, mercy me
Matthew 5:7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. [kjv]
μακαριοι οι ελεημονες οτι αυτοι ελεηθησονται [gnt]
beati misericordes … misericordiam … [v]
The phrase
"mercy me", or more emphatically,
"mercy mercy me", is an expression of surprise or alarm. It is also the name of a contemporary Christian music group. The French word
"merci" ≈ "thank you" is
not related to
"mercy".
What about
"mercy" in the Bible in general and in the
GNT (Greek New Testament) in particular?
We do not just want to ask
Alexa (a computer voice interface) for a definition (as one pastor did on 2021-02-07 as the basis for his sermon).
8. Matthew 5: A eulogy of some blessed words on being blissfully happy
Each of the Beatitudes in Matthew 5 start with the word
"blessed". What does it mean to say someone is "
blessed"?
The Latin word
"beati" ≈ "happy, fortunate, blessed" and is the origin of the English word
"beatitude" and the name of the "
Beatitudes". Latin has
one word as "
fortunate" for which Greek has
two separate words:
"blessed" from the Greek "happy" or "content".
"blessed" from the Greek "good words" as in "eulogy".
Observation: It is easier for a priest, pastor, etc., to wave their hands and
"bless" you than to actually make you
"happy".
In English, both words are merged as one
"blessed" and, historically, conflated with the word "
bliss" which is associated with "
joy".
9. Strongs - mercy
- *G1655 *2 ἐλεήμων (el-eh-ay'-mone) : from G1653; compassionate (actively):--merciful.
- ελεημονες
- Matthew 5:7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
- ελεημων
- Hebrews 2:17 ... that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest ...
10. Usage - mercy
*G1655 *2 ἐλεήμων (el-eh-ay'-mone) : from G1653; compassionate (actively):--merciful.
 |
Words: ελεημονες ελεημων
|
The Greek word for providing
"mercy" is often translated as
"alms" which is something given the poor as charity. Today, the government has taken over much of what the church used to do (for better or for worse).
The English word
"alms" comes from the Old English word
"aelmesse" ≈ "alms" which comes from the Latin word
"eleemosyna" ≈ "alms" which comes from the ancient Greek word
"ἐλεημοσύνη" ≈ "alms" which comes from
"ἐλεέω" ≈ "have mercy" .
The Spanish word
"limosna" ≈ "alms". The German word
"Almosen" ≈ "alms".
11. Mercy
12. Hebrews 2:17 Mercy
Hebrews 2:17 Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. [kjv]
οθεν ωφειλεν κατα παντα τοις αδελφοις ομοιωθηναι ινα ελεημων γενηται και πιστος αρχιερευς τα προς τον θεον εις το ιλασκεσθαι τας αμαρτιας του λαου [gnt]
… misericors … [v]
13. Hebrews 2:17
KJV: Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.
Greek: οθεν ωφειλεν κατα παντα τοις αδελφοις ομοιωθηναι ινα ελεημων γενηται και πιστος αρχιερευς τα προς τον θεον εις το ιλασκεσθαι τας αμαρτιας του λαου
Latin: unde debuit per omnia fratribus similare ut misericors fieret et fidelis pontifex ad Deum ut repropitiaret delicta populi
14. Strongs - mercy
- *G1654 *13 ἐλεημοσύνη (el-eh-ay-mos-oo'-nay) : from G1656; compassionateness, i.e. (as exercised towards the poor) beneficence, or (concretely) a benefaction:--alms(-deeds).
- ελεημοσυνην *7
- Matthew 6:2 Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before ...
- Matthew 6:3 But when thou doest alms, let not thy ...
- Luke 11:41 But rather give alms of such things as ye have; and, behold, ...
- Luke 12:33 ... have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags ...
- Acts 3:2 ... is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered ...
- Acts 3:3 ... into the temple asked an alms.
- Acts 3:10 ... which sat for alms at the Beautiful gate ...
- ελεημοσυνας *2
- Acts 10:2 ... which gave much alms to the people, and prayed ...
- Acts 24:17 ... years I came to bring alms to my nation, ...
- ελεημοσυναι *2
- Acts 10:4 ... prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial ...
- Acts 10:31 ... is heard, and thine alms are had in remembrance in the sight of God.
- ελεημοσυνη
- Matthew 6:4 That thine alms may be in secret: ...
- ελεημοσυνων
- Acts 9:36 ... of good works and almsdeeds which she did.
15. Usage - mercy
*G1654 *13 ἐλεημοσύνη (el-eh-ay-mos-oo'-nay) : from G1656; compassionateness, i.e. (as exercised towards the poor) beneficence, or (concretely) a benefaction:--alms(-deeds).
 |
Words: ελεημοσυναι=2 ελεημοσυνας=2 ελεημοσυνη ελεημοσυνην=7 ελεημοσυνων
|
16. Strongs - mercy
- *G1653 *31 ἐλεέω (el-eh-eh'-o) : from G1656; to compassionate (by word or deed, specially, by divine grace):--have compassion (pity on), have (obtain, receive, shew) mercy (on).
- ελεησον *11
- Matthew 9:27 ... saying, Thou Son of David, have mercy on us.
- Matthew 15:22 ... and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou Son ...
- Matthew 17:15 Lord, have mercy on my son: for ...
- Matthew 20:30 ... passed by, cried out, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou Son of David.
- Matthew 20:31 ... they cried the more, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou Son of David.
- Mark 10:47 ... Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me.
- Mark 10:48 ... a great deal, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me.
- Luke 16:24 ... and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send ...
- Luke 17:13 ... and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.
- Luke 18:38 ... Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me.
- Luke 18:39 ... the more, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me.
- ηλεησεν *2
- Mark 5:19 ... hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee.
- Philippians 2:27 ... death: but God had mercy on him; and not ...
- ηλεηθην *2
- 1 Timothy 1:13 ... and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly ...
- 1 Timothy 1:16 Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me ...
- ελεηθησονται
- Matthew 5:7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
- ελεησαι
- Matthew 18:33 ... thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?
- ηλεησα
- Matthew 18:33 ... thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?
- ελεησω
- Romans 9:15 For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on ...
- ελεω
- Romans 9:15 For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on ...
- ελεωντος
- Romans 9:16 ... of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.
- ελεει
- Romans 9:18 Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom ...
- ηλεηθητε
- Romans 11:30 ... God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief:
- ελεηθωσιν
- Romans 11:31 ... mercy they also may obtain mercy.
- ελεηση
- Romans 11:32 ... in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.
- ελεων
- Romans 12:8 ... he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.
- ηλεημενος
- 1 Corinthians 7:25 ... I give my judgment, as one that hath obtained mercy of the Lord to be faithful.
- ηλεηθημεν
- 2 Corinthians 4:1 ... this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not;
- ηλεημενοι
- 1 Peter 2:10 ... of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.
- ελεηθεντες
- 1 Peter 2:10 ... of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.
- ελεατε
- Jude 1:23 And others save with fear, pulling ...
17. Usage - mercy
*G1653 *31 ἐλεέω (el-eh-eh'-o) : from G1656; to compassionate (by word or deed, specially, by divine grace):--have compassion (pity on), have (obtain, receive, shew) mercy (on).
 |
Words: ελεατε ελεει ελεηθεντες ελεηθησονται ελεηθωσιν ελεησαι ελεηση ελεησον=11 ελεησω ελεω ελεων ελεωντος ηλεηθημεν ηλεηθην=2 ηλεηθητε ηλεημενοι ηλεημενος ηλεησα ηλεησεν=2
|
18. Matthew 9:12-13 Paraphrase
Matthew 9:12 But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick. [kjv]
9:13 But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. [kjv]
The strong (who oppress the harmed) are righteous (in their own eyes) and do not want the healer (Jesus).
The harmed (who are oppressed by the strong) want a healer (Jesus).
Mercy is needed from the strong (who oppress) and not sacrifice from the harmed (as man's additions to God's laws).
I have not come to call the righteous (in their own eyes) as they do not want the healer (Jesus). (They will not listen nor repent)
I have come to call the sinners as they want the healer (Jesus). (They, at least, will listen and may or may not repent.)
19. Mercy
20. Ephesians 4:32
Ephesians 4:32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you. [kjv]
γινεσθε δε εις αλληλους χρηστοι ευσπλαγχνοι χαριζομενοι εαυτοις καθως και ο θεος εν χριστω εχαρισατο υμιν [gnt]
21. Ephesians 4:32
KJV: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.
Greek: γινεσθε δε εις αλληλους χρηστοι ευσπλαγχνοι χαριζομενοι εαυτοις καθως και ο θεος εν χριστω εχαρισατο υμιν
22. 1 Peter 3:8 Pitiful
23. 1 Peter 3:8
KJV: Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:
Greek: το δε τελος παντες ομοφρονες συμπαθεις φιλαδελφοι ευσπλαγχνοιφιλοφρονες ταπεινοφρονες
Latin: in fine autem omnes unianimes conpatientes fraternitatis amatores misericordes humiles
Wycliffe: And in feith alle of oon wille in preier be ye eche suffringe with othere, loueris of britherhod, merciful, mylde, meke;
24. Compassion
25. Psalms 85:10-11
Psalms 85:10 Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other. [kjv]
חסדואמת … [he]
ελεος και αληθεια συνηντησαν δικαιοσυνη και ειρηνη κατεφιλησαν [lxx]
85:11 Truth shall spring out of the earth; and righteousness shall look down from heaven. [kjv]
אמת … [he]
αληθεια εκ της γης ανετειλεν και δικαιοσυνη εκ του ουρανου διεκυψεν [lxx]
An idea of the Hebrew idea of
"mercy" might come from Psalms 85:10 since Hebrew has a poetry form that rhymes by meaning. The Hebrew word
"חסד" (he-sed) ≈ "mercy". Both the Hebrew
and Greek words for
"truth" mean
"reality" and
not "
logic" or "
opinion".
26. Hebrew
27. Psalms 85:10
KJV: Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other.
Hebrew: חסד ואמת נפגשו צדק ושלום נשקו׃
Greek: ελεος και αληθεια συνηντησαν δικαιοσυνη και ειρηνη κατεφιλησαν
Latin: misericordia et veritas occurrerunt iustitia et pax deosculatae sunt
28. Psalms 85:11
KJV: Truth shall spring out of the earth; and righteousness shall look down from heaven.
Hebrew: אמת מארץ תצמח וצדק משמים נשקף׃
Greek: αληθεια εκ της γης ανετειλεν και δικαιοσυνη εκ του ουρανου διεκυψεν
Latin: veritas de terra orta est et iustitia de caelo prospexit
29. Reflection
Psalms 85:11 Truth shall spring out of the earth; and righteousness shall look down from heaven. [kjv]
אמת … [he]
αληθεια εκ της γης ανετειλεν και δικαιοσυνη εκ του ουρανου διεκυψεν [lxx]
Truth shall spring out of the earth; and righteousness shall look down from heaven. [kjv]
אמת … [he]
αληθεια εκ της γης ανετειλεν και δικαιοσυνη εκ του ουρανου διεκυψεν [lxx]
This verse appears to support the view, from Hebrew and Greek, that "
truth" is related to what is called reality.
How does "
righteousness" from "
heaven" fit in the comparison here?
30. Owls and howls
31. Weeping and laughing
Matthew 5:7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. [kjv]
μακαριοι οι ελεημονες οτι αυτοι ελεηθησονται [gnt]
The fifth Beatitude in Matthew about
"mercy" has a Greek word that relates to making sounds which could be "
weeping" or "
laughing" or some other sound. The following Beatitude in Luke is
not in Matthew.
Luke 6:21 Blessed are ye that hunger now: for ye shall be filled. Blessed are ye that weep now: for ye shall laugh. [kjv]
μακαριοι οι πεινωντες νυν οτι χορτασθησεσθε μακαριοι οι κλαιοντες νυν οτι γελασετε [gnt]
Is it a different Beatitude?
Is it a re-stating of a Beatitude in Matthew but not as precise or as remembered and written down?
32. Luke 6:21
KJV: Blessed are ye that hunger now: for ye shall be filled. Blessed are ye that weep now: for ye shall laugh.
Greek: μακαριοι οι πεινωντες νυν οτι χορτασθησεσθε μακαριοι οι κλαιοντες νυν οτι γελασετε
33. Interesting connection
There is an interesting connection between the Greek word for
"mercy" as used in the fifth Beatitude in Matthew and the Greek word for "
weeping" as used in the Luke Beatitude.
"οἰκτρός" ≈ "pitiable, pitiful".
"οἶκτος" ≈ "pity, compassion, wailing".
"κλαῖον" ≈ "cry, weep".
That is, another word for "
mercy" is one which means both "
mercy" and "
weeping" which leads to a word that means "
weeping". This wrong-path translation happens a lot in modern machine translation. Such a change can happen in what is called the "
whisper game".
34. Psalms 51:1-2
Psalms 51:1 Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. [kjv]
εις το τελος ψαλμος τω δαυιδ εν τω ελθειν προς αυτον ναθαν τον προφητην ηνικα εισηλθεν προς βηρσαβεε ελεησον με ο θεος κατα το μεγα ελεος σου και κατα το πληθος των οικτιρμων σου εξαλειψον το ανομημα μου [lxx]
51:2 Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. [kjv]
35. Psalms 51:1
KJV: Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.
Hebrew: למנצח מזמור לדוד בבוא אליו נתן הנביא כאשר בא אל בת שבע חנני אלהים כחסדך כרב רחמיך מחה פשעי׃
Greek: εις το τελος ψαλμος τω δαυιδ εν τω ελθειν προς αυτον ναθαν τον προφητην ηνικα εισηλθεν προς βηρσαβεε ελεησον με ο θεος κατα το μεγα ελεος σου και κατα το πληθος των οικτιρμων σου εξαλειψον το ανομημα μου
36. Psalms 51:2
KJV: Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
Hebrew: הרבה כבסני מעוני ומחטאתי טהרני׃
Greek: επι πλειον πλυνον με απο της ανομιας μου και απο της αμαρτιας μου καθαρισον με
37. Martin Luther and mercy
The idea of "
mercy" was an important part of what Martin Luther discovered.
The law works fear and wrath; grace works hope and mercy. Martin Luther
At last, by the mercy of God, meditating day and night, I turned to… the following words: “In it [the Gospel] the righteousness of God is revealed, as it is written, ‘He who through faith is righteous shall live.’” There I began to understand the righteousness of God is that by which the righteous live through a gift of God, namely by faith. And this is the meaning: The righteousness of God which is revealed by the gospel, is a passive righteousness with which the merciful God justifies us by faith, as it is written, “He who through faith is righteous shall live.” Here I felt that I was altogether born again and had entered paradise itself through open gates. Martin Luther (1483-1546).
38. Historical interpretation of church history
1 Churches
2 Parables
3 Beatitudes
4 Time periods
| Interpretations |
| ☐ Literal |
☐ Christian living |
| ☐ Figurative |
☐ Heresies over time |
| ☐ Historical |
☐ Prophetic details |
|
Note that the time of Roman persecutions was that of the universal church as a collection of small "mustard seeds" while the time of Roman acceptance was that of the universal church as "tree with birds making a home in the branches".
|
39. Matthew 5:8 Blessed are the pure in heart
Matthew 5:8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. [kjv]
μακαριοι οι καθαροι τη καρδια οτι αυτοι τον θεον οψονται [gnt]
beati mundo corde … videbunt [v]
Ivory Soap is
99.44% pure and it
floats! That specific number appears to have resulted due to a rounding error in calculations that was then adopted as part of a marketing slogan. [chaos theory]
In the Beatitudes, Jesus talks about the
"pure" or
"clean" in
"heart" and
"seeing" God.
What does it mean to be "pure" or "clean" in "heart"?
What does it mean to "see" God?
It appears that
"pure" in
"heart" refers to not having any ulterior motives used to do "
evil" as in "
oppress" others.
The important words are
"blessed",
"pure",
"heart" and
"see"
This should be answered in the sense of the Beatitudes and not in a general or otherwise sense.
40. End of page
