The fifth beatitude describes the Christian as “merciful.” Behind the Greek word is the rich Hebrew term, chesed, which is often translated as “lovingkindness” or “steadfast love.” To be merciful has nothing to do with a stirring of the emotions, or an easygoing temperament, but rather is an intentional kindness. The word chesed is used 250 times in the Hebrew Scriptures, most often as an attribute of God. Its first appearance is in Genesis 19, where God shows mercy in answering Abraham’s prayer by rescuing Lot and his family from the judgment that was coming upon Sodom and Gomorrah. Mercy looks especially upon the miserable consequences of sin, and with pity, seeks to relieve the associated suffering. The merciful are ‘under-standing,’ meaning not only feeling sad for someone, but standing under them to support and assist them through their misery. Calvin defined the merciful as those, “who are not only prepared to put up with their own troubles, but who also take on other people’s troubles.”
Those blessed in the sixth beatitude are those who are “pure in heart.” This does not refer to an external show of religious zeal, but an inward holiness resulting in a conscience that is void of offense. “Man looks at the outward appearance, but God looks on the heart” (1 Sam 16:7) and makes an incredibly beautiful promise to those who are pure in heart, that “they shall see God.” In Scriptural terms, to “see God,” refers to both, an accurate understanding of the faithfulness of God, as well as a visible manifestation of His presence.
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A native of New York, Pastor LoSardo was saved by the grace of God in 1986 after hearing the Gospel from his brother, while pursuing a career in scientific research. He was ordained into the ministry in 1995 and served as the Associate Pastor of a large Messianic Congregation...
