A SERIES OF DEVOTIONS BASED ON THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MATTHEW 

HAVE MERCY ON US      

Matthew 20:30 (read verses 29 – 34) “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!” 

Two blind men had heard of Jesus, learned of His approach, and cried out that He would have mercy upon them by restoring their sight. The time was drawing near for Jesus to die on Calvary’s cross. Therefore, He was beginning to feel the huge weight of the sins of humanity and His pending sacrificial death. The last thing He needed was to be distracted by two blind beggars from His journey into Jerusalem to meet up with His Cross.   

The crowd of people following Jesus demonstrated they had no concern for the two blind men. Hearing them crying out to Jesus for Mercy, the crowd “ . . . rebuked them and told them to be quiet . . .” The men, however, shouted all the louder to Jesus with their request for Him to have mercy upon them. 

“Jesus stopped and called them. ‘What do you want Me to do for you?’ He asked. “Lord,” they answered, ‘we want our sight.’ Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight and followed Him.” 

Jesus, in His Sermon on the Mount, taught, “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.” (Luke 6:36) In this same sermon, Jesus said, “Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.” (Matthew 5:7) In the parable of the Unmerciful Servant, Jesus taught that as we have received God’s mercy in forgiving all of our sins, “I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with Me. And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’” (Matthew 18:32-33)  

Through the Prophet Micah Yahweh says to you, “And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” (Micah 6:8) 

Prayer: Lord, as you have poured out Your mercy upon me, grant that I show mercy to my brothers and sisters. In Jesus name. Amen. 

Blest be the tie that binds  
Our hearts in Christian love;  
The fellowship of kindred minds  
Is like to that above. 

Before our Father’s throne  
We pour our ardent prayers;  
Our fears, our hopes, our aims are one,  
Our comforts and our cares. 

We share our mutual woes,   
Our mutual burdens bear,  
And often for each other flows  
The sympathizing tear. 

When here our pathways part,  
We suffer bitter pain;  
Yet, one in Christ and one in heart,  
We hope to meet again. 

From sorrow, toil, and pain,  
And sin we shall be free  
And perfect love and friendship reign  
Through all eternity.  

Blest Be the Tie That Binds // LSB 649