How do I become merciful?

When I read Matthew 5:7, I am perplexed. Jesus declares, “Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.” I thought that the mercy that God showed to me was not dependent upon me being merciful to others. So I had to ask God to unpack this for me. Is this beatitude, nestled within the Sermon on the Mount, just another way of saying do unto others as I would want them to do to me? Or is it a call to something greater–to embody divine compassion in a world where self-interest seems to be preeminent?

When Jesus was speaking to the people gathered on the hillside above the Sea of Galilee, he was addressing a crowd steeped in Roman law and Jewish tradition. In both, mercy was often seen as weakness. His words flipped the cultural script. Mercy, in this context, is not mere pity—it’s active compassion. The Greek word eleēmōn implies a deep, heartfelt response to suffering, leading to action. Jesus wasn’t calling for occasional kindness; He was inviting His followers into a lifestyle of grace, forgiveness, and restorative love.

So how does one become merciful? It takes a heart change to trigger a physical change. Merciful people are those who:

• Forgive even when wronged.
• Show compassion to the suffering.
• Offer help without expecting repayment.
• Choose empathy over condemnation.

Mercy is not passive—it’s a courageous choice to reflect God’s heart. Because God forgives us, we should, in turn, show compassion toward others. Jesus links the two. In Matthew 6:14–15, He teaches that forgiving others is essential to receiving forgiveness from God. Mercy is reciprocal—not transactional, but transformational.

Many across the centuries have reflected upon this beatitude. More than 500 years ago John Calvin wrote that mercy is a fruit of regeneration; it flows from a heart transformed by grace. Twenty-first-century preacher and writer, John Piper, added a twist by showing that mercy grows in a broken heart that knows its own need for grace.

Mercy is not a virtue we adopt at will—it’s our response to having received mercy ourselves. That’s why outside Christian circles, mercy is often seen as admirable but not essential. In many societies, mercy is still considered weakness. In some Islamic contexts, mercy is revered but tied to divine justice. Christians living among Muslims note how revolutionary the Lord’s Prayer is to Muslim friends—especially the line “forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.”

In a world fractured by division, injustice, and outrage, mercy is revolutionary:

• It heals relationships.
• It bridges political divides.
• It restores dignity to the marginalized.
• It reflects the heart of God in tangible ways.

Mercy is not weakness—it’s strength under control. It’s the power to choose grace when vengeance is easier. Jesus didn’t say “Blessed are the perfect” or “Blessed are the powerful.” He said “Blessed are the merciful.” In doing so, He invited us into a life that mirrors the mercy we’ve received—a life that changes others and transforms us.

If you would like to know the mercy of God that will transform your life, give you assurance of an eternity free from pain. suffering, guilt and shame, and create in you a merciful spirit, we encourage you to read our post: How does one become a Christian?

.

Image by Pete Linforth from Pixabay