Feeling bad won't get you to heaven!
True or False: It's the thought that counts? If you think it's true, try to explain that to the homeless guy who hasn't eaten today. Is it really the thought that counts? Can your thoughts miraculously make a sandwich appear in his mouth? This is the question that is at issue in Matthew 5:7.
If you really want to study the Bible in-depth and pull out all of the nuances of what it says, it's helpful to know how to use the Bible study tools (or know the original language, but how many of us really know that). Matthew 5:7 is a case in point. In the English language today, we don't use words very precisely, so when a Bible translator wants to express the full thought behind a Greek word, he's left with limited options. Many times, these limited options can leave us confused.
One great example that's pretty well, known is the word "love." In English, I can use the word love to describe how I feel about my wife or how I feel about peach smoothies; exact same word. If I were to guess, you would probably know figure out that I don't treat my wife the same way I treat a peach smoothie (and vice versa).
In the Greek language, however, there are three different words for love...eros, phileo and agape. "Eros" is where we get our word "erotic." It's the sexual, sensual form of love. "Phileo" is the root of the word "Philadelphia Cream Cheese (which I love). OK, but it IS the root of Philadelphia--the "city of brotherly love"-how ironic is that? If you didn't catch that, phileo is "brotherly love." It's the solidarity of humanity when we're living in harmony. Finally, there's "agape," the deep, deep love of a father for a son or the mother for a child. (I don't know which of these I'd use for my love of peach smoothies!) In any case, you can see that the Greek words are much more precise than the english word. I don't know if this is always the case, but sometimes it is.
Same thing with this word "mercy." When we think about the word mercy, I would guess that most people would equate it with the word "compassion." The two go hand in had in our world and they did in Jesus' day as well. When we look in the Bible, we find that the words that are translated "mercy" and "compassion" are very different words. Biblically speaking, compassion is a feeling, mercy is an action.
The that's translated as compassion is sometimes oikteirō and sometimes splanchnizomai. Oikteiro just means "feeling pity" or "feeling sorry for someone." Splanchnizomai means "bowels." Yep, you read that right, bowels. I'm not sure I completely get this one, except that many cultures back then used "bowels" the same way we use "heart." Thus, "I've got the joy, joy, joy, joy, down in my bowels. Where? Down in my bowels...you get the point." Wait, I've just thought of another love song. Who can forget the Extreme song, "There's a hole in my bowels that can only be filled with you...and this hole in my bowels can't be filled with the things I do." Nice thought, huh? (Makes me glad we made the switch to heart.)
Anyway, compassion is a feeling that comes from deep down inside. Compassion says, "my heart goes out to them." (There's another one...It just sounds wrong to say, "my bowels go out them." I'll stop now.) It's great to feel bad, but it's not enough. Now, compassion isn't a bad thing if it motivates us to action. Any time the gospels use that word for Jesus, the feeling is followed by action. The people were hungry so Jesus fed them (Mt. 15:32). They were sick, so He healed them (Mk 1:41). Jesus' splanchnizomai is always followed by action.
However, we know this isn't true for us. There are many times we feel bad for someone, but that's about as far as it goes. We don't really lift a finger to help because we think it's the thought that counts. Good Christians should feel bad when bad things happen. Well, this isn't Jesus' way.
So when we get to Matthew 5:7 and Jesus says, "blessed are the merciful," He uses the word eleēmōn. Eleēmōn is not a feeling. It's not just pity for others, but taking the initiative to do something about it. Action is built right into the word. So the people listening to Jesus could make no mistake, feelings weren't enough. Anyone can feel bad, but the Kingdom is filled with people who show mercy with action.
As with every other beatitude, there's a particular Kingdom blessing that comes with each one. Those who mourn will be comforted, the meek will inherit the earth, etc. In this case, those who actively show mercy will actively be shown mercy. Perhaps the corollary to this is that God will just "feel sorry for those" who only "feel sorry."
In the world today-as it was in Jesus' day-the ruthless win. "Show no mercy" is the motto of the business and political world. When you have someone down, you go for the kill. But in the counter-cultural world of the Kingdom of God, things are upside-down.
In the last post, I wrote about how I think we should refine our idea of righteousness according to Jesus' teaching. This passage makes me think that all the more. We tend to think that things like murder, stealing, and lying are sins, but bitterness and lack of mercy are just character flaws or "something I have to get over." But Jesus says very clearly here and in other places that we receive mercy from God only in so far as we show mercy to others. In Matthew 23:23, Jesus calls mercy one of the "more important matters of the law."
So the question for me is, "Where do I need to show mercy?" This question is not just a hypothetical-remember mercy is not a feeling, it's an action. Where am I an agent of God's Kingdom mercy?
If you really want to study the Bible in-depth and pull out all of the nuances of what it says, it's helpful to know how to use the Bible study tools (or know the original language, but how many of us really know that). Matthew 5:7 is a case in point. In the English language today, we don't use words very precisely, so when a Bible translator wants to express the full thought behind a Greek word, he's left with limited options. Many times, these limited options can leave us confused.
One great example that's pretty well, known is the word "love." In English, I can use the word love to describe how I feel about my wife or how I feel about peach smoothies; exact same word. If I were to guess, you would probably know figure out that I don't treat my wife the same way I treat a peach smoothie (and vice versa).
In the Greek language, however, there are three different words for love...eros, phileo and agape. "Eros" is where we get our word "erotic." It's the sexual, sensual form of love. "Phileo" is the root of the word "Philadelphia Cream Cheese (which I love). OK, but it IS the root of Philadelphia--the "city of brotherly love"-how ironic is that? If you didn't catch that, phileo is "brotherly love." It's the solidarity of humanity when we're living in harmony. Finally, there's "agape," the deep, deep love of a father for a son or the mother for a child. (I don't know which of these I'd use for my love of peach smoothies!) In any case, you can see that the Greek words are much more precise than the english word. I don't know if this is always the case, but sometimes it is.
Same thing with this word "mercy." When we think about the word mercy, I would guess that most people would equate it with the word "compassion." The two go hand in had in our world and they did in Jesus' day as well. When we look in the Bible, we find that the words that are translated "mercy" and "compassion" are very different words. Biblically speaking, compassion is a feeling, mercy is an action.
The that's translated as compassion is sometimes oikteirō and sometimes splanchnizomai. Oikteiro just means "feeling pity" or "feeling sorry for someone." Splanchnizomai means "bowels." Yep, you read that right, bowels. I'm not sure I completely get this one, except that many cultures back then used "bowels" the same way we use "heart." Thus, "I've got the joy, joy, joy, joy, down in my bowels. Where? Down in my bowels...you get the point." Wait, I've just thought of another love song. Who can forget the Extreme song, "There's a hole in my bowels that can only be filled with you...and this hole in my bowels can't be filled with the things I do." Nice thought, huh? (Makes me glad we made the switch to heart.)
Anyway, compassion is a feeling that comes from deep down inside. Compassion says, "my heart goes out to them." (There's another one...It just sounds wrong to say, "my bowels go out them." I'll stop now.) It's great to feel bad, but it's not enough. Now, compassion isn't a bad thing if it motivates us to action. Any time the gospels use that word for Jesus, the feeling is followed by action. The people were hungry so Jesus fed them (Mt. 15:32). They were sick, so He healed them (Mk 1:41). Jesus' splanchnizomai is always followed by action.
However, we know this isn't true for us. There are many times we feel bad for someone, but that's about as far as it goes. We don't really lift a finger to help because we think it's the thought that counts. Good Christians should feel bad when bad things happen. Well, this isn't Jesus' way.
So when we get to Matthew 5:7 and Jesus says, "blessed are the merciful," He uses the word eleēmōn. Eleēmōn is not a feeling. It's not just pity for others, but taking the initiative to do something about it. Action is built right into the word. So the people listening to Jesus could make no mistake, feelings weren't enough. Anyone can feel bad, but the Kingdom is filled with people who show mercy with action.
As with every other beatitude, there's a particular Kingdom blessing that comes with each one. Those who mourn will be comforted, the meek will inherit the earth, etc. In this case, those who actively show mercy will actively be shown mercy. Perhaps the corollary to this is that God will just "feel sorry for those" who only "feel sorry."
In the world today-as it was in Jesus' day-the ruthless win. "Show no mercy" is the motto of the business and political world. When you have someone down, you go for the kill. But in the counter-cultural world of the Kingdom of God, things are upside-down.
In the last post, I wrote about how I think we should refine our idea of righteousness according to Jesus' teaching. This passage makes me think that all the more. We tend to think that things like murder, stealing, and lying are sins, but bitterness and lack of mercy are just character flaws or "something I have to get over." But Jesus says very clearly here and in other places that we receive mercy from God only in so far as we show mercy to others. In Matthew 23:23, Jesus calls mercy one of the "more important matters of the law."
So the question for me is, "Where do I need to show mercy?" This question is not just a hypothetical-remember mercy is not a feeling, it's an action. Where am I an agent of God's Kingdom mercy?
posted by Kory at
8:55 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home