In our text today there is a truth and a duty. The glorious Gospel truth is that God is merciful. The duty of those who believe is that they should be merciful as well. The text reminds us of the similar calling, "Be ye holy; for I am holy." In truth we are to be perfect, even as our Father which is in heaven is perfect, perfect in all His communicable perfections.

The truth that God is merciful we all know by the Word and by experience. If we really believe in God's forgiving mercy to ourselves, we cannot but be merciful in our estimate of, and dealing with, others. Yet we find ourselves so easily dealing harshly with faulty personalities. Jonah was grieved that the Ninevites were not destroyed. John and James wanted to call down fire on a village. This ought not to be the spirit of a Christian.

Still it is hard sometimes for us to be kind to the faulty and fallen. Lest we should be discouraged the Lord does two things in this text. He first of all reminds us God is our Father. That ought to be not only comforting but softening.

It also may be observed that the word for "be" in the original is a different verb from that for "is," and means rather "Become." “Become ye what your Father is, merciful." It is thus a work to be done by degrees, as we grow in grace, and in the knowledge of God and our Saviour. The Lord Jesus knows we are far from being like His Father but He encourages to become so. May God's work continue on in our hearts until His love form more intensely there and we become more like Him.