Understanding the Beatitudes 5 of 8 By Rev. Christine Emmerling D.D., 3/23/2025

Today I am continuing with the series on the eight Beatitudes from Jesus the Christ’s Sermon on the Mount, in Matthew Chapter 5:1-8. This week we are looking at the 5th Beatitude: “Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.”

Christ Jesus was teaching his inner circle of disciples so that they too can carry on his message, and while he was also speaking to the multitudes. We too are of his inner circle that seek to find that deeper meaning in his teachings - if we have ears to hear – and to follow having the right attitude in living the Christ way. These are promises for the multitudes, and instruction for a student of Truth.

The Bible is the story of the soul’s journey in knowing God. That every character either male or female is an aspect of our soul. It is the journey in bringing them forth in their higher aspects, from Adam and Eve to Joseph and Mary. We see it as a marriage, a merging, or balancing of the masculine and feminine aspects, as the bridging of right and left brain, heart and mind, or rising of the kundalini energy. Bringing these into a risen state of awakening as the Christ consciousness within us.

Every character, name, place and even objects in the Bible are aspects of our soul. Much like in a dream where everything is a meaningful message for our soul. Meaning the Bible is speaking to us at multiple levels, and we understand it depending on our level of consciousness. And, that way we can swim on the surface or dive deep for the greater message for our spiritual growth in knowing God.

Christ Jesus was speaking to his Disciples about the Kingdom of Heaven or God, and how to reach it through prayer. The Beatitudes or Blessings, are speaking of those who have discovered the Kingdom, and are living life from the Christ consciousness.

Jesus spoke of not being of this world, and having food you know not of. In these Beatitudes he was referring to the spiritual “inner” world of consciousness where all comes from, and is then manifested or revealed to be experienced in the outer world. He was in the world but not of it – meaning he was experiencing this earth at another level of consciousness – he was seeing and experiencing the true world – God’s Kingdom of wisdom, wholeness, love, joy, abundance and beauty.

Christ Jesus came to teach us, so that we could all experience this great kingdom, heaven right here on earth, right here and now. Rather than the world most people see of separation, misery, and waiting till death for either reward or punishment for their life’s deeds.

His method was to change the inner self; our beliefs, thoughts, and then actions. Thus our experience of the outer world would change – even instantly. Once our eyes were opened to the truth, there would no longer be illness but joyous life, death is transcended to eternal life, and misery becomes abundant life - knowing that we are all truly powerful beings of Divine love. And that is freedom. The truth that sets us all free.

This fifth beatitude “Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy” is fairly easy to understand compared to the prior ones. The dictionary defines “Mercy” as: “A refraining from harming or punishing offenders, enemies, persons in one’s power; kindness in excess of what may be expected or demanded by fairness; forbearance and compassion. The power to forgive or be kind; clemency.” So we are to be kind, compassionate, charitable and forgiving. These are attitudes or state of being in thought, feeling, and in our actions.

A person can make what is to be an act of service worthy or unworthy. If we are thinking unkind thoughts, or resentment while doing a helpful act, then the act is contaminated, degraded from the service it was intended. An example: We’re in a restaurant when our server approaches our table, and is abrupt while taking our order. Then without a word rushes by dropping off our meal, and doesn’t come back except to leave the bill. Their act of service is no longer serving, and has been degraded because of their attitude. True service would be given with a smile; in caring that we have everything we need, and that we are happy with our meal.

Our attitude sets the tone determining the kind of experiences that come to us – the inside out world. That server who hurriedly drops off the food is going to get back unhappy customers and lower tips. Simple as that.

Now if a grumpy customer comes in and the waiter is all happy ready to serve, and approaches with a smile and kindness - that customer will respond back in like manner. Maybe not at first, but persistency in showing kindness and compassion will soften their mood for the better. That is being in service. The customer may even give a good tip to that server.

Its not always easy to respond back to rudeness with kindness. To put ourselves in their place, especially on busy mornings dodging traffic. In my prior career I would commute about 10 miles of traffic lights, in bumper to bumper traffic. Then someone would cut me off and would become upset.

One day it occurred to me, that I have been guilty of accidently cutting someone else off. It was like a light turned on, and I decided to put myself in their position by thinking that they must be running late, or afraid of losing their job. I would then say, “God bless you” while sending love and light. I arrived to work much more peaceful, and more quickly at times.

Unconditional love, as understood in this Beatitude, sees only the good and noble and right that is within all. Unconditional love sees the whole person and condition. With the eyes of unconditional love, we know that in every seeming harsh and dark experience, there is Truth – there is Light – there is Love.

Mother Teresa wrote about how each person she served, regardless of their circumstance in life, that she was serving the Christ. We too can see past the surface to the truth. “I know you, you are the Christ of the living God.”

The matching teaching in the Bible is in Matthew 7:12 “Whatever you wish men to do for you, do likewise also for them; for this is the law and the prophets.” Now when we look back at the law of Moses “An eye for an eye” we can see its higher meaning of “like begets like” or for every action there is an equal reaction - like a boomerang.

Throughout the years people have interpreted this law for punishment or revenge, which will only bring more pain and suffering. When we see through the eyes of Oneness, then whatever we do is always being done to our own self. We now understand the law of do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

In Matt. 18:21-22, “Then Peter came up and said to him, My Lord, if my brother is at fault with me, how many times should I forgive him? Up to seven times? Jesus said to him, I do not say to you up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.” It was Jewish law at that time to forgive a person 3 times. So the disciple offering to forgive 7 times was really a stretch.

Jesus teaching goes further, that it is more than the words “I forgive you.” It is about releasing through our whole consciousness; mind, body and soul. The number 7 means spiritually complete, and here ten fold. Also when multiplied is 490 times. When seen as sacred numbers of numerology we add the 4 & 9 to make 13, and reduced to a 4. The 4 is a new foundation, and 13 is the Christ consciousness.

Meaning to forgive until there is nothing but love between the two of you. And, when you think of the situation, there are no more negative feelings or emotional triggers. For any suppressed anger will fester, and when least expected will have uncontrolled mis-directed emotional outbursts.

Jesus goes on to teach in Matt. 18:23-34 the following parable called The Unmerciful Servant paraphrased. There is a king that wants one of his servants to pay him back a large sum of money, and since the servant couldn’t, the king ordered to take all his belongings and family in payment. The servant pleaded, and the king had mercy and forgave the debt. Now this same servant went out to a fellow servant that owed him a small amount of money, and when he begged for mercy he refused it, and sent him to prison. When the king heard how unmerciful his servant was, he reversed his forgiveness of the debt and sent him to prison.

In this story we learn that the choice is ours in how we respond. We are here on this earthly journey to learn love and our oneness with each other. To serve others as though we are serving God. That is to treat each other with respect, kindness and loving compassion. We will all learn our lessons one way or another.

In the Scripture Matt 5:40-42, it reads “If anyone wishes to sue you at the court and take away your shirt, let him have your robe also. Whoever compels you to carry a burden for a mile, go with him two. Whoever asks from you, give him; and whoever wishes to borrow from you, do not refuse him.” Jesus the Christ was asking us to go one step further in our actions than the law required. He was teaching the difference between the letter of the law and the spirit of the law; its about our attitude.

I am reminded of the movie “Pay it Forward.” When someone unexpectedly does a kind act for you, then you too do an unexpected kind act for someone else. Or, as in Random Acts of Kindness, to just do kindness for the joy of it. And, for the receiving person it is even so much more special because its like a miracle to them.

The next level to this Beatitude is about prayer. We are reminded in the Lord’s prayer to forgive, and Jesus tells us that we must forgive before bringing our offerings to the Holy Temple. Our Holy Temple is within our inner consciousness. This is where we abide in stillness and quietness for that still small voice – and commune in the consciousness of oneness in God.

As we prepare for prayer, we let go of all negative thoughts, first with others, and then those we direct to our self. We give love, kindness, and compassion in place of judgement until we find that place of peace – the peace that passes all understanding. And, what do we get back, more love, kindness and compassion, and peace of mind. And, great gifts of wisdom, inspiration, healing, abundance and so much more.

I shall now rewrite this Beatitude as, “Joyful am I, who is compassionate in all that I think, say, and do; then the measure freely given is also returned unconditionally.”