MERCY

MERCY Mercy Defined Any loving action that is taken to establish justice in pursuit of shalom Love in action on behalf of those in need

MATTHEW 25:31-46 When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on his right, “Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.

MATTHEW 25:31-46 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.” Then the righteous will answer him, saying, “Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?”

MATTHEW 25:31-46 And the King will answer them, “Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.” Then he will say to those on his left, “Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.”

MATTHEW 25:31-46 Then they also will answer, saying, “Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?” Then he will answer them, saying, “Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.” And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.

MATTHEW 25:31-46 SHEEP GOATS Where will Jesus put his people? Left (v. 33) Right (v. 33) How does Jesus describe them? Blessed by his Father (v.34) Cursed (v.41) Where will they go? Kingdom prepared for them (v. 34) Eternal life (v. 46) Eternal fire prepared for the devil & his angels (v. 41) Eternal Punishment (v. 46) What did they do/not do for him? VERSE 35 Gave him food when hungry Gave him drink when thirsty Welcome him when a stranger VERSE 36 Clothed him when naked Visited him when sick Came to him in prison VERSE 42 Gave him no food when hungry Gave him no drink when thirsty VERSE 43 Did not welcome him when a stranger Did not clothe him when naked Did not visit him when sick Did not visit him in prison

SIGNIFICANCE OF MERCY Mercy is Eternally Significant What we do now has eternal significance Mercy is Universally Required Jesus judges “all nations” Mercy is the Ultimate Test We do not do mercy to become sheep; doing mercy is evidence that we are sheep. Check sermon on mercy for notes

THE REALITY OF JUDGMENT We’re all searching for a impossible combination of justice and mercy. We all desire shalom – but there is no way that can happen unless injustice is addressed by a just judge. This is good news for those suffering injustice of any kind!

THE PRACTICE OF MERCY The sheep are those who experienced mercy and extend it to others They gave out food/drink to meet basic needs They welcomed strangers; showed hospitality They clothed the naked They visited the sick They visited prisoners

Doing mercy is not safe or comfortable MERCY IN ACTION Doing mercy is not safe or comfortable

MERCY IN ACTION How can I make selfless love-in-action a way of life? Experience my identity in Christ We no longer fear judgment We don’t earn an identity through mercy; we put love into action because it is our identity. We become imitators of Jesus

BELIEVERS’ MERCY “Our deeds of mercy are a platform to help people believe the gospel, but that is not the primary reason for mercy. Mercy is ultimately a natural expression from those who already believe the gospel.” -Randy Smith