is how we will find mercy towards God, when we have pity on all those who
CHAPTER 3: The Meek Those Who Hunger for Righteousness and the Merciful
is how we will find mercy towards God, when we have pity on all those who have failed, and who are stumbled by frailty, and when we bear with them, and try to set them straight. Now Paul puts us both: that is to say, he shows us that we must not be favorable to use mercy towards those who have failed to feed them in their evil: and nevertheless that we must not be too severe, and without measure, so as not to tolerate them. For he says that we must rebuke those who have failed: even, but in a gentle spirit. And so let (he said) consider within yourself that you can also fall: and when you have known your weakness, you will have pity on those who are like you. Thus we see in everything and in everything how we must exercise humanity to take mercy on those who have committed some offense, and to provide for those who need our help, and to help those who will be unjustly oppressed, and to maintain their quarrel, even if we provoke the rage of the wicked by this means against us.
Now hearing all these things, let us also note what is said in Luke, Blessed are you, he says. It is to show that it is not enough to have understood this doctrine and to have confessed that it is true: but that we must practice it each for himself. And this is so that this does not merely pass before our eyes, and does not strike our ears only to remember, Blessed are they, Blessed are they: But that we may know, that our Lord Jesus Christ wants us to apply everything to our instruction, and that first of all we Let us learn to be gentle and patient in all circumstances.
the injuries done to us. Then let us learn to hunger and thirst patiently. Even when we know that we have wronged no one and are pursued unjustly, let us remain gentle. Finally, let us have pity upon those who suffer and help them according to the ability and opportunity God gives us.
Let us apply all these things to ourselves. Although God now gives us only a partial experience of his Son's teaching during this mortal life, its perfect fulfillment awaits us on the final day. In the confusion of this present state, let us show compassion toward those who suffer and patiently bear our own afflictions. Even when others treat us with cruelty and inhumanity, let us remain gentle and kind. The one who spoke these promises possesses all authority, and he will fulfill them when he gathers us into the heavenly fellowship for which we now hope.