Mercy typically signifies the kindness and forgiveness extended to someone, especially when there is the power to punish or harm them. It involves a compassionate response to those in need or distress, often highlighting forgiveness and leniency. Compassion is defined as feeling or showing sympathy and concern for others. It describes someone who is empathetic, understanding, and caring towards others’ suffering or misfortune. These concepts are closely aligned and often indistinguishable in the New Testament translations.

When the lawyer asked, “Who is my neighbor?” Jesus’ response provided the more essential information the lawyer needed to know − mercy and compassion.

Luke 10:30-37. Jesus replied and said, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among robbers, and they stripped him and beat him, and went away leaving him half dead. “And by chance a priest was going down on that road, and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. “Likewise, a Levite also, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. “But a Samaritan, who was on a journey, came upon him; and when he saw him, he felt compassion, and came to him and bandaged up his wounds, pouring oil and wine on them; and he put him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn and took care of him. “On the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper and said, ‘Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I return I will repay you.’ “Which of these three do you think proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell into the robbers’ hands?” And he said, “The one who showed mercy toward him.” Then Jesus said to him, “Go and do the same.”

Compassion and mercy are used here as synonyms. The ‘seemingly’ religious men could not be bothered to help the man in need. A significant indicator that I am not walking with God and Christ as I should is when I feel annoyed or imposed upon when faced with helping someone in need. Another gauge is when I am blind or have a hardened heart that prevents me from seeing the obvious need someone may have. In such times, self-interest takes precedence over Christcenteredness, making repentance and seeking God’s help imperative. The Samaritan, the least likely person in their culture, had compassion requiring his time, energy, and resources. Jesus lived like the good Samaritan in that he constantly gave of himself to those in need.

One of the many records in the Gospels tells of a time when for three days Jesus ministered to thousands of people. He did not do “group healings”; rather, he worked with each individual. Can you imagine how exhausted he must have been, yet his concern was not for himself but for the people. He said, “I feel compassion for the people, because they have remained with Me now three days and have nothing to eat; and I do not want to send them away hungry, for they might faint on the way.”
The miracle of the loaves and fishes followed.

Apparently, people in Jesus’ day were expecting the Messiah, the son of David, to come with mercy to heal. Two blind men cried out, “Have mercy on us, Son of David!” Jesus healed them. The Canaanite woman “cried out, saying, “Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David”. He healed her demon-possessed daughter.” Two other blind men “cried out, ‘Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!’” They received their sight. The Gospels contain many incidents of afflicted people asking for mercy and receiving healing or deliverance from demons.

Every healing and deliverance Jesus performed was a result of God’s grace and mercy, not the merit of the afflicted. Jesus never asked those seeking his help if they had been good or promised future obedience. Salvation, healing, and deliverance are not earned or deserved; they are gifts from God.

Ephesians 2:1-5 emphasizes that redemption and salvation come through God’s grace and mercy, not our own works. We are not saved because we are “good boys or girls,” but through faith alone. Jesus healed thousands without demanding sinlessness or any other requirement beyond faith.

The awareness of God’s mercy in our lives is necessary for right living for we are instructed to be merciful as God is merciful. We are to be different, much different than those without Christ.

Luke 6:31-35. “Treat others the same way you want them to treat you. If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. If you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners in order to receive back the same amount. But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.”

Our dealing with others should not be reactions to their actions, but rather reflections of how God has dealt with us. He has been and continues to be merciful to us. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus frequently uses the word “blessed”, derived from the Greek word “makarios”. This term signifies a profound, enduring joy and contentment that stems from a right relationship with God. In the beatitudes, “blessed” refers to a state of spiritual well-being and divine favor. Things are right when we are merciful to others.

Matthew 5:7. “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.”

James 2:13 states the opposite – “For judgment will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy, mercy triumphs over judgment.” Jesus told a parable that explicitly illustrated this point when Peter asked how often he should forgive someone who offends.

Jesus tells Peter to forgive not just seven times, but seventy times seven emphasizing that forgiveness should be limitless. He tells a story about a king who forgives a servant’s enormous debt. However, this servant refuses to forgive a small debt owed to him by another servant. When the king learns of the unforgiving servant’s actions, he punishes him severely, highlighting the importance of showing mercy as we have received mercy (Matthew 18:23-30).

1 Peter 1:3. “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to His great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.”

Be merciful like your Father God!