Lord! Have Mercy!

Being Thankful for God’s Mercy

By Samuel E. Ward

For text version: cbckck.blogspot.com

Introduction

Before we approach the main text for study, let’s look a situation that provides evidence that Jesus’ disciples would need a lesson in showing mercy if their training was going to be complete. As will be observed, they had not developed the merciful frame of mind that Jesus thought necessary for those who would be ministering the gospel after He had ascended to His Father.

Luke 9:51-56 (NIV2011) 51 As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem. 52 And he sent messengers on ahead, who went into a Samaritan village to get things ready for him; 53 but the people there did not welcome him, because he was heading for Jerusalem. 54 When the disciples James and John saw this, they asked, “Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them?” 55 But Jesus turned and rebuked them. 56 Then he and his disciples went to another village.

Luke 10-16 contains the record of Jesus intensifying His training of the disciples, as well as His teachings on discipleship, dealing with growing opposition, end times, calls for repentance, parables concerning the kingdom of God and other topics.

In Luke 17:11-19, Jesus uses the story of ten lepers to teach about showing compassion, exercising mercy, being thankful for mercy received, and seeing God’s answers to our prayers as opportunities for God to receive praise. We divide the narrative into seven parts, the first being . . .

I. The Journey of Jesus (Luke 17:11)

Luke 17:11 (NIV2011) Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee.

As Jesus went, He continued to minister to whomever would listen and healing all who would accept His mercy. It was both His nature and mission.

Acts 10:37-38 (NIV2011) 37 You know what has happened throughout the province of Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached— 38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.

II. The Plea from Ten Lepers(Luke 17:12-13)

Luke 17:12-13 (NIV2011) 12  As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance 13  and called out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!”

It is appropriate to pray for mercy, Psalm 6:2.

Psalm 6:2 (NIV2011) Have mercy on me, LORD, for I am faint; heal me, LORD, for my bones are in agony.

III. The Granting of Mercy (Luke 17:14)

Luke 17:14 (NIV2011)  When he saw them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed.

Definition of “eleos”: "mercy; kindness or good will toward the miserable and afflicted, joined with a desire to relieve them"

Note these biblical principles concerning mercy:

A. It is God’s desire to show mercy, Isaiah 55:6-7.

Isaiah 55:6-7 (NIV2011) 6 Seek the LORD while he may be found; call on him while he is near. 7 Let the wicked forsake their ways and the unrighteous their thoughts. Let them turn to the LORD, and he will have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will freely pardon.

B. It is God’s desire that we show mercy, James 2:12-13.

James 2:12-13 (NIV2011) 12 Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, 13 because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

C. It was the inward act of mercy that the Pharisees had neglected in favor of the outward worship found in rituals, Matthew 23:23-24.

Matthew 23:23-24 (NIV2011) 23 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former. 24 You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel.

D. It is God’s desire to reward mercy, Matthew 5:7.

Matthew 5:7 (NIV2011) Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

IV. The Return of One Leper (Luke 17:15-16)

Luke 17:15-16 (NIV2011) 15  One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. 16  He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan.

Praise and thankfulness is the right response of those who have received mercy, Hebrews 13:15.

Hebrews 13:15 (NIV2011) Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name.

Isaiah was moved to praise God for His mercy and compassion toward Israel.

Isaiah 63:7 (NIV2011) I will tell of the kindnesses of the LORD, the deeds for which he is to be praised, according to all the LORD has done for us— yes, the many good things he has done for Israel, according to his compassion and many kindnesses.

V. The Rebuke of the Nine (Luke 17:17)

Luke 17:17 (NIV2011)  Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine?

It would seem that there should be as much praise and thanksgiving in our prayers as there are requests.

VI. The Notice by Jesus(Luke 17:18)

Luke 17:18 (NIV2011)  Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?”

Note some examples in the gospels where the outcasts of society were more prone to be thankful for God’s mercies than the so-called “righteous.”

A. The Pharisee in contrast to the tax collector, Luke 18:10-14

Luke 18:10-14 (NIV2011) 10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’

13 “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’ 14 “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

B. The accusers in contrast to the adulteress, John 8:2-4, 7b-11

John 8:2-4, 7b-11 (NIV2011) 2 At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them. 3 The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group 4 and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery...

7b [Jesus said to them] “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” 8 Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground. 9 At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. 10 Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” 11 “No one, sir,” she said. “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”

VII. The Commendation of the Faith(Luke 17:19)

Luke 17:19 (NIV2011)  Then he said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.”

“Fresh faith remembers the mercies received from God and gives thanks. Stale faith takes it for granted and God is denied His praise.”

Conclusion

God will continue to be merciful even to the ungrateful as He patiently waits and gives them opportunity after opportunity to accept His mercy and grace in Christ. But it does have an expiration date—either our death or Christ’s return--whichever comes first.

2 Peter 3:7-9 (NIV2011) 7 By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly. 8 But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. 9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

The question remains as to whether you will be counted as among the thankful or the thoughtless.

Romans 1:21 (NIV2011) For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.

Surely Christ is worthy of our thanksgiving and praise. Let us not be neglectful in offering it.

Revelation 4:11 (NIV2011) “You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.”