Church Fathers Commentary Matthew 5:7

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

Glossa Ordinaria: Justice and mercy are so united that one should be mixed with the other. Justice without mercy is cruelty; mercy without justice is wastefulness—and for this reason, He moves from one to the other.

Remigius of Auxerre: The merciful person is one who has a sorrowful heart; he considers the misery of others to be his own and grieves over their sorrow as if it were his own.

St. Jerome: Mercy here does not refer only to giving alms, but is also shown toward the sin of a brother, whenever we bear one another's burdens.

St. Augustine of Hippo: He pronounces blessed those who help the miserable, because they are rewarded by being delivered from all misery themselves; as it is written, for they shall obtain mercy.

St. Hilary of Poitiers: So greatly is God pleased with our benevolence toward all people, that He will bestow His own mercy only on the merciful.

St. John Chrysostom: The reward here seems at first to be only an equal return; but indeed it is much more, for human mercy and divine mercy cannot be equated.

Glossa Ordinaria: Mercy is justly given to the merciful, so that they receive more than they have deserved. And just as one who has more than enough receives more than one who has only enough, so the glory of mercy is greater than that of the things mentioned until now.¹

1. ap. Anselm