Messiahs Mercy Matthew 12 1 14 Merciful Jesus

Messiah’s Mercy Matthew 12: 1 -14

Merciful Jesus • Charged with evil, Jesus went about doing good • He faced injustices of men with candor, caring and consistency • Merciful when those around him were not, Matthew 12: 1 -14 • Our challenge: To walk in his steps (1 John 2: 5 -6) 2

BE MERCIFUL 12: 1 -8; Hosea 6: 4 -6 Matt. • Must first recognize our need for mercy, Matthew 12: 1 -2 – “Manifestation of pity. . . Sympathy manifested in act” (Vine, III: 60 -61) – God’s mercy to us, Matt. 9: 10 -13; Lk. 6: 36; 18: 13 • Law of Moses obligated Israel to show mercy, Deut. 23: 25 (24: 19) 3

BE MERCIFUL 12: 1 -8; Hosea 6: 4 -6 Matt. • Do not fight against the mercy of God, Matt. 12: 2 -7 – The unmerciful watch for the slightest “violation”, 12: 2 – Being unmerciful is often arbitrary, leading to inconsistencies and contradictions, 12: 3 -7 • David’s violation was acceptable to them (3 -4) 4

BE MERCIFUL 12: 1 -8; Hosea 6: 4 -6 Matt. –Being unmerciful is often arbitrary, leading to inconsistencies and contradictions, 12: 3 -7 • Priests’ labor on the Sabbath was lawful and allowed – Mercy on the Sabbath was also allowed (12: 5, 12) • If priests were justifiable, much more His disciples, for He is greater than the temple and the Lord of the Sabbath 5

BE MERCIFUL 12: 1 -8; Hosea 6: 4 -6 Matt. • Mercy is not in conflict with obeying the truth of God, Matt. 12: 7, 12 – Obedience is not to be ignored so that “mercy” may be shown (cf. how to be saved) Psa. 89: 14 (Deut. 7: 9) • Rather, obedience is only accepted when it is also joined with mercy, Matt. 23: 23 -24 (9: 10 -13) 6

ALWAYS BE MERCIFUL Matthew 12: 9 -14 • Characteristics of mercy: –Comes from a merciful heart, Matt. 18: 33 -35; Lk. 10: 36 -37; Col. 3: 12 –Not given grudgingly, Romans 12: 8 –An expression of wisdom, James 3: 17 7

ALWAYS BE MERCIFUL Matthew 12: 9 -14 • Why we are not always merciful: –Have forgotten and are not always thankful for the mercy we have received, Matt. 18: 32 -33 –Pride and self-righteousness, Lk. 18: 9 -12 –Power over others, Lk. 10: 31 -32 8

ALWAYS BE MERCIFUL Matthew 12: 9 -14 • Why we are not always merciful: –Selfishness, Phil. 2: 3 -4 –Unforgiving, Matt. 6: 14 -15 –Uncaring (insensitive, not thinking of others), 2 Cor. 7: 2 9

Messiah’s Mercy I will sing of the mercies of the LORD forever; With my mouth will I make known Your faithfulness to all generations. For I have said, “Mercy shall be built up forever; Your faithfulness You shall establish in the very heavens. ” 10