Albert Barnes Commentary Matthew 5:7

"Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy." — Matthew 5:7 (ASV)

Blessed are the merciful. That is, those who are so affected by the sufferings of others that they are inclined to alleviate them. This is given as evidence of piety, and it is said that those who show mercy to others will obtain it.

The same sentiment is found in Matthew 10:42: Whosoever shall give a cup of cold water only unto one of these little ones, in the name of a disciple, shall not lose his reward. See also Matthew 25:34-40.

Mercy should be shown to glorify God—that is, in obedience to His commandments, with a desire that He should be honoured, and with the feeling that we are benefiting one of His creatures. Then He will regard it as done to Him and will reward us. This sentiment—that the merciful shall obtain mercy—is more fully expressed in 2 Samuel 22:26–27 and Psalm 18:25-26.

Nowhere do we imitate God more than in showing mercy. In nothing does God delight more than in the exercise of mercy: Exodus 34:6; Ezekiel 33:11; 1 Timothy 2:4; 2 Peter 3:9. To us, guilty sinners—to us, wretched, dying, and exposed to eternal woe—He has shown His mercy by giving His Son to die for us, by expressing His willingness to pardon and save us, and by sending His Spirit to renew and sanctify the heart.

Each day of our life, each hour, and each moment, we partake of His undeserved mercy. All the blessings we enjoy are proofs of His mercy. If we also show mercy to the poor, the wretched, and the guilty, it shows that we are like God; we have His Spirit and will not lose our reward.

And we have abundant opportunity to do it. Our world is full of guilt and woe, which we can help to relieve. Every day of our lives, we have the opportunity—by helping the poor and wretched, and by forgiving those who injure us—to show that we are like God. (See the commentary on Matthew 6:14.)