<p><span class="fs-17 fg-mustard bold">For Reading and Meditation:</span><br><span class="italic">     <span class="scriptRef" ref="lu+6:27-40">Luke 6:27-40</span></span></p><p>The fifth Beatitude - "Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy" - is quite different from the ones that precede it. In the first four, there is a contrast between the need and the fulfilment. The "poor in spirit" receive the kingdom; those "who mourn" are comforted; "the meek" inherit the earth; those who "hunger and thirst" are satisfied; but in the fifth Beatitude the theme changes: "the merciful will be shown mercy". It is as though we cannot receive mercy without first giving it. We must move carefully here, for no Beatitude has been more misunderstood than this one. There are those who take these words to mean that we can only be forgiven by God to the extent that we forgive others. They bring alongside this Beatitude such passages as: "Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us" (<span class="scriptRef" ref="lu+11:4">Luke 11:4</span>), and "This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart"  (<span class="scriptRef" ref="mt+18:35">Matthew 18:35</span>). Putting all these Scriptures together, they claim that it is the clear meaning of the Bible that we are forgiven by God only to the degree that we forgive others. If this is so, then salvation is by works and not by grace. We must never interpret Scripture in a way that contradicts other Scriptures. What our Lord means in this fifth Beatitude is that when we demonstrate mercy to others, we make it possible for God's mercy to penetrate deeper into our own lives and personalities. The act of giving makes us more able to receive.</p><p class="center-it italic bold mlr40 mtb20">O Father, help me not to stumble over this truth. Show me that although my forgiveness of others is not a condition of salvation, it must be a consequence of it. In Jesus' Name I pray. Amen.</p><div class="tl-lightgrey mt20 pt20 flexbox-row-wrap jc-around"><div><div class="fs-17 fg-mustard bold center-it">AdditionalVerses</div><ul style="margin-top:0px"><li><span class="scriptRef" ref="2co+9:1-6">2 Corinthians 9:1-6</span></li><li><span class="scriptRef" ref="pr+11:25">Proverbs 11:25</span></li><li><span class="scriptRef" ref="pr+22:9">Proverbs 22:9</span></li><li><span class="scriptRef" ref="mt+10:8">Matthew 10:8</span></li></ul></div>

<div><div class="fs-17 fg-mustard bold center-it">Questions to Consider</div><ul style="margin-top:0px"><li>What is the law of sowing and reaping?</li><li>What was Jesus' instruction to the disciples?</li></ul></div></div>

Let a little light into your soul every day with this wonderful devotional from English pastor Selwyn Hughes.

Every Day Light with Selwyn Hughes

"Give, and it will be given to you '" (v. 38) 

<p><span class="bible-text "> <sup class="verse-num poetry-line">9 </sup><poetry>The generous will themselves be blessed,  <br/><indent>for they share their food with the poor.  </indent><span class="pb"></span><poetry></poetry> </span></p>

The generous will themselves be blessed,<cr>1</cr> <br/><indent>for they share their food with the poor.<cr>2</cr> </indent><pb/><poetry>

Proverbs 22:9

 The generous will themselves be blessed,  for they share their food with the poor.  

From Wikipedia: 

The New International Version (NIV) is an English translation of the Bible first published in 1978 by Biblica (formerly the International Bible Society). The NIV was published to meet the need for a modern translation done by Bible scholars using the earliest, highest quality manuscripts available. Of equal importance was that the Bible be expressed in broadly understood modern English.

The NIV is published by Zondervan in the United States and Hodder & Stoughton in the UK. The NIV was updated in 1984 and 2011 and has become one of the most popular and best-selling modern translations.

OT: Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia; additional sources;
NT: UBS Greek New Testament; Novum Testamentum Graece; additional sources;

New International Version

 The generous will themselves be blessed, for they share their food with the poor. 

Proverbs 22:9 NIV

Proverbs 22:9 NIV

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