Proverbs 11:17 (Mini Sermon)

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1.      Pro 11:17 – “The merciful man doeth good to his own soul: but he that is cruel troubleth his own flesh.”

1. The merciful man doeth good to his own soul:
   1. Definitions
      1. Merciful adj. – Of persons, their actions, attributes, etc.: Having or exercising mercy; characterized by mercy.
      2. Mercy n. – 1. a. Forbearance and compassion shown by one person to another who is in his power and who has no claim to receive kindness; kind and compassionate treatment in a case where severity is merited or expected.
      3. Good n. – II. The neuter adj. used absol., passing into sb.: That which is good. 2. a. In the widest sense: Whatever is good in itself, or beneficial in effect. 5. Phrases. a. to do good: (a) to act rightly, fulfil the moral law; (b) to show kindness to; (c) to employ oneself in philanthropic work; (d) to improve the condition of, be beneficial to.
      4. Soul n. – 1. The principle of life in man or animals; animate existence. 2. a. The principle of thought and action in man, commonly regarded as an entity distinct from the body; the spiritual part of man in contrast to the purely physical.
      5. In other words, the man who is characterized by mercy ― and therefore shows forbearance and kind and compassionate treatment to himself and others when severity is merited ― acts rightly in fulfillment of God’s law toward, shows kindness to, and improves the condition of his own spiritual inward man.
   2. A merciful man will obtain mercy from God (2Sa 22:26) and others (Mat 5:7) and therefore indirectly does good to his own soul.

• A merciful man accrues blessings in his life.
  1. The man who shows mercy shall find favor and good understanding in the sight of God and man (Pro 3:3-4).
  2. He that follows after righteousness and mercy finds life, righteousness, and honour (Pro 21:21).
  3. A merciful man therefore benefits himself and thus does good to his own soul.

1. A merciful man shows mercy towards himself.
   1. He does not treat sin in his life lightly.
   2. But he also does not condemn himself as a reprobate every time he sins and tell himself that he doesn’t love God and God doesn’t love him.
   3. He reminds himself of God’s mercy, and is therefore merciful to himself.
   4. In this he does good to his own soul.
2. A merciful man lends or gives to others in need (Psa 37:26).
   1. In turn, God will repay him (Pro 19:17).
   2. The man that has mercy on the poor is blessed (Pro 14:21).
   3. By being merciful by lending or giving to the poor he therefore indirectly does good to his own soul.
3. but he that is cruel troubleth his own flesh.
   1. Definitions
      1. Cruel adj. – 1. Of persons (also transf. and fig. of things): Disposed to inflict suffering; indifferent to or taking pleasure in another’s pain or distress; destitute of kindness or compassion; merciless, pitiless, hard-hearted.
      2. Trouble v. – 1. trans. To disturb, agitate, ruffle (water, air, etc.); esp. to stir up (water) so as to make it thick or muddy; to make (wine) thick by stirring up the lees; to make turbid, dim, or cloudy. 2. trans. To disturb, derange; to interfere with, interrupt; to hinder, mar. II. 3. To put into a state of (mental) agitation or disquiet; to disturb, distress, grieve, perplex. 4. trans. To do harm or hurt to; to injure; to molest, oppress.
      3. Flesh n. – 10. a. The animal or physical nature of man; human nature as subject corporeal necessities and limitations.
      4. In other words, the man who is disposed to inflict suffering; is indifferent to or takes pleasure in another’s pain or distress; is destitute of kindness or compassion; and is merciless, pitiless, and hard-hearted agitates, disquiets, disturbs, distresses, grieves, perplexes, harms, hurts, injures, molests, and oppresses his own self including his physical body.
   2. Those who are cruel show no mercy (Jer 6:23).

• Those who are cruel will be punished severely by God and therefore bring trouble upon their own flesh (Lam 4:3-6).

1. He will have judgment without mercy who shows no mercy (Jam 2:13).
2. He that is cruel and unmerciful to others will be treated harshly by God and will thus trouble his own flesh (Mat 18:23-35).