Mercy is defined as the act of treating an offender with less severity than he deserves; it is also forbearance to injure another when one has the power to do so; it is the act of relieving those who are hurting and suffering. It is compassion and willingness to help the needy. It entails putting ourselves in the shoes of one who is struggling and straining in this life. Mercy is patience shown toward the weak. It is refraining from being hypercritical, having realized one’s own shortcomings. To some extent, it includes one’s being understanding toward others with whom we do not agree, yet never compromising the truth. Mercy has been shown by God toward man, and man toward man. Mercy is a Christian characteristic. Do we not all stand in need of mercy from time to time? We need God’s mercy all of the time, and man’s mercy at various times. Thus, we need to show mercy and compassion toward our fellowman.
God is merciful. Paul begged the Roman saints on the basis of the mercies of God to present themselves as living sacrifices, holy, acceptable unto him. (Rom. 12:1.) The Psalmist wrote:
He made known his ways unto Moses, his acts unto the children of Israel. The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy. He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever. He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him. As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us. Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him. For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust. As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth. For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more. But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children's children; To such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them. (Ps 103:7-18.
Jesus in his rebukes of the scribes and Pharisees said, “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cumin, and have omitted the weighter matters of the law, judgment, mercy and faith: these ought yet to have done, and not to leave the other undone.” (Matt. 23:23.) We should not be of that number who teach that we are not under law today. There are too many verses to show otherwise (Isa. 2:2-3; Rom. 8:2;1 Cor. 9: 21; Gal. 6:2; James 1:21; 2: 8.) However, while upholding the law of Christ, we must keep in mind that his law includes showing mercy.
Jesus was a compassionate man. Matthew records, “But when he [Jesus] saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.” (Matt 9:36.) On another occasion we read, “Then Jesus called his disciples unto him, and said, I have compassion on the multitude, because they continue with me now three days, and have nothing to eat: and I will not send them away fasting, lest they faint in the way.” (Matt 15:32.) A verytouching scene during our Lord’s personal ministry is the compassion he showed toward a widow whose son had died. The text says:
And it came to pass the day after, that he went into a city called Nain; and many of his disciples went with him, and much people. Now when he came nigh to the gate of the city, behold, there was a dead man carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow: and much people of the city was with her. And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not. And he came and touched the bier: and they that bare him stood still. And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise. And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he delivered him to his mother. And there came a fear on all: and they glorified God, saying, That a great prophet is risen up among us; and, That God hath visited his people. (Luke 7:11-16.
We are saved by the mercy of God when we comply with his will. (Titus 3:5.) Therefore, because mercy has been shown to us, we should show mercy to others. James wrote, “For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.” (James 2:13.) We should not be as the servant who owed 10,000 talents, and was forgiven the debt; but who turned around, and would not forgive a man who owed him a hundred pence. This is like having been forgiven a debt of several million dollars, but one’s refusing to forgive someone who owed a debt of a few dollars. Remember, those who receive mercy should show mercy. Likewise, those who are merciful (compassionate and caring) will be shown mercy.
A lawyer in trying to justify himself, asked Jesus, “Who is my neighbor?” Jesus then told the familiar story of the Good Samaritan. A man went down from Jerusalem unto Jericho, and fell among robbers, who stripped him of his raiment, wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. A priest and then a Levite saw the man left half dead, and passed by on the other side. However, a Samaritan saw him, and the Bible says, that “he had compassion on him.” He went to him, took care of his wounds, put him on his donkey, and took him to an inn and paid the host to care for him. He also said that when he returned, if he owed the host anymore, he would pay it. Jesus then asked the question, “Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbor unto him that fell among the thieves?” The lawyer said, “He that showed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, “Go, and do thou likewise.” (Luke 10:37.) The Lord’s command to the lawyer is for us as well: Go and show mercy.
“Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.” (Matt. 5:7.)