user5315: It is said that merit transfer is a later development. We reap what we sow, it is not possible for the merit to be transferred. Is it true any recipient will not be able to receive any merit that is done and transferred by someone? 

user254: I think that the Paccha-bhumika Sutta implies that people's destiny is influenced by their own actions.
There are other topics on this site about transferring merit which explain the practice in more detail.
Perhaps it's similar to metta meditation, i.e. it could at least have an effect (or begin by having an effect) on the practitioner.

user8157: Of course merit can be transferred, such as when the love or goodness of one person makes another person feel love or goodness, such as when parents love their children & thus transfer their merit to their children.
However, transferring merit to dead or unconnected people, yes, that would bring the results to the giver similar to a metta or gratitude meditation.
Whether there is actual merit being transferred to the dead would be not knowable.

In five ways, young householder, a child should minister to his
parents as the East:
(i) Having supported me I shall support them,
(ii) I shall do their
duties, (iii) I shall keep the family tradition, (iv) I shall make
myself worthy of my inheritance, (v) I shall offer alms
in honor of my departed relatives.
Sigalovada Sutta


user5838: Merits(punya/the good deeds) as well as the bad deeds can be transferred/dedicated(anumodana) to others. But there is an element of action involved at the receiving end. For example; someone commits a noble deed and transfers that merit to me. To receive the merit, I should endorse and acknowledge the action. This is usually expressed as "Sadhu! Sadhu! Anumodami". Same applies for evil deeds.

“Chethanaham bikkawe kamman wadami.  Chethaithwa kamman karothi kayena
  wachaya manasa”
Dear Bikkhus, I introduce thought as karma. It is after having thought
  that we engage in action physically, verbally and mentally.

Nibbedhika Sutta: AN 6.63

5315: <p>It is said that merit transfer is a later development. We reap what we sow, it is not possible for the merit to be transferred. Is it true any recipient will not be able to receive any merit that is done and transferred by someone? </p>
 254: <p>I think that the <a href="http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/sn/sn42/sn42.006.than.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Paccha-bhumika Sutta</a> implies that people's destiny is influenced by their own actions.</p>

<p>There are <a href="https://buddhism.stackexchange.com/search?q=transfer+merit+is%3Aquestion">other topics on this site about transferring merit</a> which explain the practice in more detail.</p>

<p>Perhaps it's similar to metta meditation, i.e. it could at least have an effect (or begin by having an effect) on the practitioner.</p>
 8157: <p>Of course merit can be transferred, such as when the love or goodness of one person makes another person feel love or goodness, such as when parents love their children &amp; thus transfer their merit to their children.</p>
<p>However, transferring merit to dead or unconnected people, yes, that would bring the results to the giver similar to a metta or gratitude meditation.</p>
<p>Whether there is actual merit being transferred to the dead would be not knowable.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>In five ways, young householder, a child should minister to his
parents as the East:</p>
<p>(i) Having supported me I shall support them,
(ii) I shall do their
duties, (iii) I shall keep the family tradition, (iv) I shall make
myself worthy of my inheritance, (v) <strong>I shall offer alms
in honor of my departed relatives</strong>.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/dn/dn.31.0.nara.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Sigalovada Sutta</a></p>
</blockquote>
 5838: <p>Merits(punya/the good deeds) as well as the bad deeds can be transferred/dedicated(<em>anumodana</em>) to others. But there is an element of action involved at the receiving end. For example; someone commits a noble deed and transfers that merit to me. To receive the merit, I should endorse and acknowledge the action. This is usually expressed as "<em>Sadhu! Sadhu! Anumodami</em>". Same applies for evil deeds.</p>

<blockquote>
  <p><strong>“Chethanaham bikkawe kamman wadami.  Chethaithwa kamman karothi kayena
  wachaya manasa”</strong></p>
  
  <p>Dear Bikkhus, I introduce thought as karma. It is after having thought
  that we engage in action physically, verbally and mentally.</p>
</blockquote>

<p><a href="http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/an/an06/an06.063.than.html" rel="nofollow">Nibbedhika Sutta: AN 6.63</a></p>
