To comprehend how God engages with humans, it’s crucial to recognize the role of mercy and its significance according to the Scriptures. The term “merciful” indicates an attribute of God that He also expects from His followers. When we come across expressions like “to have mercy on” or “to show mercy toward,” these phrases point to acts of compassion and love, going beyond just sentiments or emotional states.
In essence, God’s mercy is that He does not punish us and instead blesses us even when we don’t deserve it. Mercy is the withholding of just punishment. God’s mercy is wholly manifested in Jesus Christ. Mercy is kindness and compassion; it is discussed in the context of God not punishing us as justly as our sins warrant.
Contents
What Is Mercy?
“He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?”
— Micah 6:8
The definition of mercy is the capacity to overlook a mistake and grant a person another chance. It is a kind gesture for those who have wounded us. Merciful people demonstrate empathy and compassion and are patient, kind, and tender-hearted.
They are moved to care for the underprivileged and needy. They do not retaliate or exact retribution when someone wrongs them. As human beings, they believe in God’s justice and see Him as their vengeance.
Mercy[1] is a virtue that Christians should strive to develop because it is a central biblical concept. God shows mercy if we turn from our sins and repent. Because of His great love for us, He is abundant in mercy. In our sins, we were already dead, but His grace and great mercy raised us to eternal life. We do not deserve these undeserved blessings from God’s grace.
The Unjust Servant’s Parable
In Matthew 18:23–35, Jesus recounted a story about an implacable servant. A king had decided to settle his debts with his vassals. As he started, he spoke to a man who owed him the equivalent of 10,000 bags of gold.
The servant’s owner gave the order to sell him and his family to pay off the debt because he could not pay it. The master felt sorry for him and gave him compassionate treatment. He canceled the debt and let the servant go, saying, “Be patient with me, and I will pay back everything.” The servant avoided punishment.
What Is The Meaning Of Mercy In The Bible?
Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
— Hebrews 4:16
Mercy is a quality that God expects from His servants. This demonstrates that mercy is the exact opposite of cruelty. The term “mercy” appears in the Bible as having a profound connotation that encompasses goodness and kindness.
He has been kind to us despite our repeated transgressions. In an act of kindness that we do not deserve, He even sent His one and only Son to save us all. Grace is divided into two categories in Christian theology: universal grace and saving grace. The first thing common to all is humanity’s grace, regardless of a person’s faith in God. The splendor of creation, the life we lead, and the resources at our disposal are a few instances of common grace.
Christians should not be cold, unfeeling, or cruel; instead, they should be characterized by their warmth and generosity toward others. According to Jesus Christ’s teachings, mercy is one of the fundamental tenets of Christianity (Matthew 5:7).
Although extending forgiveness and pardoning people for wrongs they have committed is not the only way we exhibit mercy, it is one of the most common. Being friendly and warm to others should make it easier to forgive others when they wrong us (Matthew 6:14–15).
God’s mercy is grounded in His love for us, as stated in Psalm 86:15: “You, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to wrath and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.” He forgives because He is love (1 John 4:8). We deserve punishment since we are sinners (Romans 3:23). God’s righteousness requires punishment for sin—He wouldn’t be holy otherwise.
God sent His Son because He loves us and wants us to receive mercy (John 3:16). Matthew 27 demonstrates His mercy in all its glory. On our behalf, Jesus is mercilessly beaten and killed. Jesus took our rightful punishment, and we received God’s mercy.
What Is God’s Mercy?
The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
— Lamentations 3:22-23
Mercy is the absence of punishment, even when justice calls for it. The decision to grant clemency, another name for mercy in the legal system, is totally up to the grantor; they are not required to justify it. Grace and mercy are similar but distinct concepts. Mercy is not receiving what we deserve, and grace is receiving what we do not deserve.
We might compile a mile-long list of the mercies God has shown us. But Jesus’ payment of our debt on the cross best illustrates God’s mercy. Like in the story, when we sincerely repent, God is merciful and extends a warm welcome to us.
The one true God is characterized by mercy, which expresses God’s love for His creation. Because Jesus’ death on the cross had conquered death, access to God had been made possible for us after the fall of man in the Garden of Eden. Prayers, Bible study, and the filling of the Holy Spirit in the born-again Christian earned him new mercy. God’s gift to a heart that is remorseful is mercy.
What Does Mercy Look Like?
For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.
— James 2:13
Giving to the needy was a common practice in the time of Jesus. Jesus instructs His students that giving is a habit expected of them in the Sermon on the Mount, but it is not intended to resemble the giving of those who do it as an outward sign of righteousness. Jesus instructs His disciples to give so that their heavenly Father can repay them. He also cautions against donating so that men will notice you.
Mercy provides and forgives in addition to receiving. And some of the best givers could falter at this point. Living a life of service—giving liberally to others—poses a risk because it opens our hearts to disappointment, resentment, and wrath when the people we offer our gifts to do not reciprocate, pay us back, or wisely employ the gifts.
Mercy Forgives
The final thing to observe is how true mercy serves God’s glory. Christian kindness cannot be separated from living to magnify God’s compassion, even though giving and forgiving are the actions of the merciful. In other words, individuals who have experienced the goodness of God’s mercy will not merely practice compassion in the privacy of their hearts but will also carry out deeds of understanding that will result in God’s praise.
Jesus encourages His followers to perform numerous acts of kindness so that God may be holy. The Christian is called to be a factory of good deeds, to give and forgive so that others can praise God for what is done well. This is relevant to the topic of mercy. Put another way, we shouldn’t be apathetic toward mercy; instead, we should be fervently committed to acts of selfless generosity and genuine forgiveness so that God receives the praise.
Why Is Mercy Important?
Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.
— Matthew 5:7
Because it implies that God cares about the person and that He wants the Christian to benefit from the fruits of His benevolence, God’s mercy is crucial for us Christians. The role of God’s mercy is vital because it reveals His character and His tenderness for us.
As a believer, it is crucial to pray for God’s mercy because, with God’s help, the believer can accomplish much in life. God chooses to whom He will extend understanding. For this reason, we must aspire to share in God’s kindness.
God’s mercy deters attacks and rescues them from the clutches of adversaries. No tyranny from the enemy can stand in a Christian’s life because God desires an escape route for His beloved, according to the confidence of God’s kindness. When mercy is active for us Christians, all principalities and powers are subdued. In such a life, which is surrounded by God’s kindness, nothing negative can exist.
Conclusion
God’s forgiveness is shown to us. Rather than punishing us for our sins, God allowed His Son to bear the condemnation in our place. It is impossible to overstate the importance of God’s kindness.
Without it, the current world, where injustice and wickedness are at an all-time high, can be pointless and burdensome. The operation of God’s mercy in a Christian’s life will lead to success in all aspects; God’s mercy avoids even untimely death. Thus, a Christian must pray for God to show mercy.