“Your Father Is Merciful”

“Continue becoming merciful, just as your Father is merciful.”​—LUKE 6:36.

1, 2. How do Jesus’ words to the scribes and the Pharisees and to his followers show that mercy is a desirable quality?

THE Law given through Moses contained some 600 requirements and regulations. Although discharging the obligations of the Mosaic Law was necessary, the showing of mercy was also of major importance. Consider what Jesus said to the Pharisees, who manifested an unmerciful attitude. On two occasions he rebuked them, pointing out that God had decreed: “I want mercy, and not sacrifice.” (Matthew 9:10-13; 12:1-7; Hosea 6:6) Toward the end of his ministry, Jesus said: “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because you give the tenth of the mint and the dill and the cumin, but you have disregarded the weightier matters of the Law, namely, justice and mercy and faithfulness.”​—Matthew 23:23.

² Undeniably, Jesus placed a high value on mercy. He told his followers: “Continue becoming merciful, just as your Father is merciful.” (Luke 6:36) To “become imitators of God” in this regard, however, we need to know what true mercy is. (Ephesians 5:1) Moreover, appreciating the benefits of mercy will move us to display this quality more fully in our lives.

Mercy Toward the Disadvantaged

3. Why should we look to Jehovah to learn what true mercy is?

³ The psalmist sang: “Jehovah is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and great in loving-kindness. Jehovah is good to all, and his mercies are over all his works.” (Psalm 145:8, 9) Jehovah is “the Father of tender mercies and the God of all comfort.” (2 Corinthians 1:3) Mercy is shown by treating someone in a compassionate way. This is a major facet of God’s personality. His example and his instructions to us can teach us what true mercy is.

4. What does Isaiah 49:15 teach us about mercy?

⁴ As recorded at Isaiah 49:15, Jehovah says: “Can a wife forget her suckling so that she should not pity the son of her belly?” Hebrew words closely related to the one here translated “pity” are used in connection with mercy at Psalm 145:8, 9, quoted above. The emotion that moves Jehovah to be merciful is compared to the warm feeling that a nursing mother normally has for her child. Perhaps the baby is hungry or has some other need. Moved by the feelings of compassion or sympathy that this stirs in her, the mother attends to her infant’s need. Jehovah has such tender feelings for those to whom he shows mercy.

5. How did Jehovah show himself to be “rich in mercy” toward Israel?

⁵ It is one thing to feel compassion but quite another to act on it for the benefit of the disadvantaged. Consider how Jehovah responded when his worshippers were in bondage in Egypt some 3,500 years ago. He told Moses: “Unquestionably I have seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt, and I have heard their outcry as a result of those who drive them to work; because I well know the pains they suffer. And I am proceeding to go down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land to a land good and spacious, to a land flowing with milk and honey.” (Exodus 3:7, 8) About 500 years after the Israelites were delivered from Egypt, Jehovah reminded them: “It was I who brought Israel up out of Egypt and who went delivering you from the hand of Egypt and from the hand of all the kingdoms that were oppressing you.” (1 Samuel 10:18) Because of deviating from God’s righteous standards, the Israelites were frequently in sore straits. Yet, Jehovah felt compassion for them and repeatedly came to their rescue. (Judges 2:11-16; 2 Chronicles 36:15) This illustrates how the loving God responds to those in need, in danger, or in difficulty. Jehovah is “rich in mercy.”​—Ephesians 2:4.

6. How did Jesus Christ imitate his Father in showing mercy?

⁶ When on earth, Jesus Christ imitated his Father perfectly in displaying mercy. How did Jesus respond when two blind men beseeched him, saying: “Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David”? They were begging Jesus to restore their sight miraculously. Jesus did so, but he did not perform the miracle in a matter-of-fact manner. “Moved with pity,” says the Bible, “Jesus touched their eyes, and immediately they received sight.” (Matthew 20:30-34) Pity moved Jesus to perform many miracles that brought relief to the blind, the demon-possessed, the leprous, and the parents of afflicted children.​—Matthew 9:27; 15:22; 17:15; Mark 5:18, 19; Luke 17:12, 13.

7. What do the examples of Jehovah God and his Son teach us about mercy?

⁷ The examples of Jehovah God and Jesus Christ show that mercy has two components​—feelings of compassion, sympathy, or pity toward the disadvantaged and action that brings relief to the recipient. Being merciful requires both elements. In the Scriptures, mercy most often refers to a positive expression of kind consideration toward those in need. How, though, is mercy displayed in a judicial context? Does it also involve what might be viewed as a negative action, such as a holding back of punishment?

Mercy Toward Transgressors

8, 9. What did the mercy shown to David after his sin with Bath-sheba involve?

⁸ Consider what happened after Nathan the prophet confronted King David of ancient Israel about David’s adulterous relationship with Bath-sheba. The repentant David prayed: “Show me favor, O God, according to your loving-kindness. According to the abundance of your mercies wipe out my transgressions. Thoroughly wash me from my error, and cleanse me even from my sin. For my transgressions I myself know, and my sin is in front of me constantly. Against you, you alone, I have sinned, and what is bad in your eyes I have done.”​—Psalm 51:1-4.

⁹ David was cut to the heart. Jehovah pardoned his sin and exercised restraint in administering judgment upon him and Bath-sheba. According to the Mosaic Law, both David and Bath-sheba should have been put to death. (Deuteronomy 22:22) While they did not escape all the consequences of their sin, their lives were spared. (2 Samuel 12:13) God’s exercise of mercy entails the pardoning of error. However, he does not hold back from administering appropriate punishment.

10. Although Jehovah is merciful in rendering judgment, why must we not presume upon his mercy?

¹⁰ Since “through one man [Adam] sin entered into the world” and “the wages sin pays is death,” all humans are deserving of death. (Romans 5:12; 6:23) How grateful we can be that Jehovah shows mercy when rendering judgment! However, we must be careful not to presume upon God’s mercy. “All [Jehovah’s] ways are justice,” states Deuteronomy 32:4. In granting mercy, God does not ignore his perfect standards of justice.

11. How did Jehovah show due regard for justice in dealing with David for his sin with Bath-sheba?

¹¹ In the case of David and Bath-sheba, before the judgment of the death penalty could be softened, there had to be a pardoning of their sin. The Israelite judges were not authorized to do this. If they had been allowed to handle the case, they would have had no alternative but to pronounce the sentence of death. This is what the Law required. Out of regard for his covenant with David, however, Jehovah wanted to see if there was a basis for forgiving David’s sin. (2 Samuel 7:12-16) Hence, Jehovah God, “the Judge of all the earth,” who is “an examiner of the heart,” chose to handle the matter himself. (Genesis 18:25; 1 Chronicles 29:17) God could accurately read David’s heart, evaluate the genuineness of his repentance, and grant forgiveness.

12. How may sinful humans avail themselves of God’s mercy?

¹² The mercy that Jehovah shows us by making possible our release from the penalty of inherited sin is in accord with his justice. To make possible the forgiveness of sin without the violation of justice, Jehovah has provided the ransom sacrifice of his Son, Jesus Christ​—the greatest expression of mercy ever shown. (Matthew 20:28; Romans 6:22, 23) To avail ourselves of God’s mercy, which can save us from receiving punishment for inherited sin, we must ‘exercise faith in the Son.’​—John 3:16, 36.

A God of Mercy and Justice

13, 14. Does God’s mercy temper his justice? Explain.

¹³ While Jehovah’s mercy does not violate his standard of justice, does it in some way affect his justice? Does mercy lessen the impact of divine justice by tempering it? No, it does not.

¹⁴ Through the prophet Hosea, Jehovah told the Israelites: “I will engage you to me for time indefinite, and I will engage you to me in righteousness and in justice and in loving-kindness and in mercies.” (Hosea 2:19) These words clearly show that Jehovah’s exercise of mercy is always in harmony with his other attributes, including justice. Jehovah is “a God merciful and gracious, . . . pardoning error and transgression and sin, but by no means will he give exemption from punishment.” (Exodus 34:6, 7) Jehovah is a God of mercy and justice. Concerning him, the Bible states: “The Rock, perfect is his activity, for all his ways are justice.” (Deuteronomy 32:4) God’s justice is perfect, as is his mercy. Neither is superior to the other, nor does one need the other to temper its effect. Rather, both qualities work in perfect harmony with each other.

15, 16. (a) What shows that divine justice is not harsh? (b) When Jehovah executes his judgment upon this wicked system of things, of what can his worshippers be sure?

¹⁵ Jehovah’s justice is not harsh. Justice almost invariably has legal implications, and judgment usually calls for the meting out of deserved punishment to wrongdoers. However, godly justice can also involve salvation for deserving ones. For example, when the wicked in the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah met their end, the patriarch Lot and his two daughters were saved.​—Genesis 19:12-26.

¹⁶ We can be confident that when Jehovah executes his judgment upon the present wicked system of things, the “great crowd” of true worshippers, who “have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb,” will be spared. Thus, they will “come out of the great tribulation.”​—Revelation 7:9-14.

Why Be Merciful?

17. What is a fundamental reason to be merciful?

¹⁷ The examples of Jehovah and Jesus Christ indeed teach us what true mercy is. Giving us a fundamental reason to be merciful, Proverbs 19:17 states: “He that is showing favor to the lowly one is lending to Jehovah, and his treatment He will repay to him.” Jehovah is pleased when we imitate him and his Son by being merciful in our dealings with one another. (1 Corinthians 11:1) And others are encouraged to be merciful, for mercy begets mercy.​—Luke 6:38.

18. Why should we strive to be merciful?

¹⁸ Mercy is a blend of many good qualities. It involves graciousness, love, kindness, and goodness. Tender feelings of compassion or sympathy are at the root of acts of mercy. While godly mercy does not compromise justice, Jehovah is slow to anger and patiently gives wrongdoers sufficient time to attain to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9, 10) Mercy is thus related to patience and long-suffering. As a combination of many desirable traits​—including various aspects of the fruitage of God’s spirit—​mercy becomes a framework within which these qualities may be cultivated. (Galatians 5:22, 23) How vital that we strive to be merciful!

“Happy Are the Merciful”

19, 20. In what way does mercy exult over judgment?

¹⁹ The disciple James tells us why we should make mercy an essential quality in our lives. He wrote: “Mercy exults triumphantly over judgment.” (James 2:13b) James was speaking of the mercy that a worshipper of Jehovah shows toward others. It exults triumphantly over judgment in that when the time comes for a person to “render an account for himself to God,” Jehovah takes into consideration his merciful dealings and forgives him on the basis of the ransom sacrifice of His Son. (Romans 14:12) No doubt, one of the reasons why David was shown mercy for his sin with Bath-sheba was that he himself was a merciful man. (1 Samuel 24:4-7) On the other hand, “the one that does not practice mercy will have his judgment without mercy.” (James 2:13a) No wonder the “merciless” are listed among those whom God views as “deserving of death”!​—Romans 1:31, 32.

²⁰ In his Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said: “Happy are the merciful, since they will be shown mercy.” (Matthew 5:7) How forcefully these words show that those seeking God’s mercy should themselves be merciful! The following article will discuss how we can practice mercy in our daily life.

Practice Mercy​—How?

“Let us work what is good toward all, but especially toward those related to us in the faith.”​—GALATIANS 6:10.

1, 2. What does the parable of the neighborly Samaritan teach us about mercy?

WHILE speaking with Jesus, a man versed in the Law asked him: “Who really is my neighbor?” In reply, Jesus related the following parable: “A certain man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho and fell among robbers, who both stripped him and inflicted blows, and went off, leaving him half-dead. Now, by coincidence, a certain priest was going down over that road, but, when he saw him, he went by on the opposite side. Likewise, a Levite also, when he got down to the place and saw him, went by on the opposite side. But a certain Samaritan traveling the road came upon him and, at seeing him, he was moved with pity. So he approached him and bound up his wounds, pouring oil and wine upon them. Then he mounted him upon his own beast and brought him to an inn and took care of him. And the next day he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said, ‘Take care of him, and whatever you spend besides this, I will repay you when I come back here.’” Next, Jesus asked his listener: “Who of these three seems to you to have made himself neighbor to the man that fell among the robbers?” The man answered: “The one that acted mercifully toward him.”​—Luke 10:25, 29-37a.

² How vividly the Samaritan’s treatment of the injured man illustrates what true mercy is! Moved by a feeling of pity, or compassion, the Samaritan acted in a way that brought relief to the victim. Moreover, the man in need was a stranger to the Samaritan. Mercy is not hindered by national, religious, or cultural barriers. After giving the illustration about the neighborly Samaritan, Jesus advised his listener: “Go your way and be doing the same yourself.” (Luke 10:37b) We can take that admonition to heart and strive to be merciful to others. But how? In what ways can we practice mercy in our everyday life?

“If a Brother . . . Is in a Naked State”

3, 4. Why should we be especially concerned about practicing mercy within the Christian congregation?

³ “As long as we have time favorable for it,” said the apostle Paul, “let us work what is good toward all, but especially toward those related to us in the faith.” (Galatians 6:10) Let us, then, first consider how we can abound in deeds of mercy toward those related to us in the faith.

⁴ Exhorting true Christians to be merciful to one another, the disciple James wrote: “The one that does not practice mercy will have his judgment without mercy.” (James 2:13) The context of these inspired words tells us some ways in which we can practice mercy. At James 1:27, for example, we read: “The form of worship that is clean and undefiled from the standpoint of our God and Father is this: to look after orphans and widows in their tribulation, and to keep oneself without spot from the world.” James 2:15, 16 states: “If a brother or a sister is in a naked state and lacking the food sufficient for the day, yet a certain one of you says to them: ‘Go in peace, keep warm and well fed,’ but you do not give them the necessities for their body, of what benefit is it?”

5, 6. How may we abound in deeds of mercy in our association with the local congregation?

⁵ Caring for others and helping those in need is a feature of true religion. Our way of worship does not allow us to limit our concern for others to a mere oral expression of the wish that everything will turn out well for them. Rather, a tender feeling of compassion moves us to act in behalf of those in serious need. (1 John 3:17, 18) Yes, preparing a meal for a sick person, assisting an elderly one with chores, providing transportation to Christian meetings when necessary, and not being closefisted toward deserving ones are among the deeds of mercy we should abound in.​—Deuteronomy 15:7-10.

⁶ Of greater importance than giving materially is giving spiritually to assist members of the expanding Christian congregation. We are exhorted to “speak consolingly to the depressed souls, support the weak.” (1 Thessalonians 5:14) “The aged women” are encouraged to be “teachers of what is good.” (Titus 2:3) Concerning Christian overseers, the Bible states: “Each one must prove to be like a hiding place from the wind and a place of concealment from the rainstorm.”​—Isaiah 32:2.

7. From the disciples in Syrian Antioch, what do we learn about displaying mercy?

⁷ In addition to caring for widows, orphans, and those in need of assistance and encouragement locally, the first-century congregations at times organized relief measures in behalf of believers in other places. For example, when the prophet Agabus foretold that “a great famine was about to come upon the entire inhabited earth,” the disciples in Syrian Antioch “determined, each of them according as anyone could afford it, to send a relief ministration to the brothers dwelling in Judea.” This was dispatched to the elders there “by the hand of Barnabas and Saul.” (Acts 11:28-30) What about today? “The faithful and discreet slave” has organized relief committees to care for our brothers who may be affected by natural disasters, such as hurricanes, earthquakes, or tsunamis. (Matthew 24:45) Voluntarily contributing our time, effort, and resources in cooperation with this arrangement is a fine way for us to display mercy.

“If You Continue Showing Favoritism”

8. How does favoritism work against mercy?

⁸ Warning about a characteristic that works against mercy and “the kingly law” of love, James wrote: “If you continue showing favoritism, you are working a sin, for you are reproved by the law as transgressors.” (James 2:8, 9) Showing undue favor to the materially rich or to those having prominence can make us less sensitive to “the complaining cry of the lowly one.” (Proverbs 21:13) Favoritism stifles a merciful spirit. We practice mercy by treating others impartially.

9. Why is it not wrong to show special consideration to deserving ones?

⁹ Does being impartial mean that we should never show special consideration to anyone? Hardly. Concerning his fellow worker Epaphroditus, the apostle Paul wrote to Christians in Philippi: “Keep holding men of that sort dear.” Why? “Because on account of the Lord’s work he came quite near to death, exposing his soul to danger, that he might fully make up for your not being here to render private service to me.” (Philippians 2:25, 29, 30) The faithful service rendered by Epaphroditus deserved recognition. Moreover, at 1 Timothy 5:17, we read: “Let the older men who preside in a fine way be reckoned worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard in speaking and teaching.” Good spiritual qualities also merit acknowledgment. Showing such consideration is not favoritism.

“The Wisdom From Above Is . . . Full of Mercy”

10. Why should we control our tongue?

¹⁰ Concerning the tongue, James said: “An unruly injurious thing, it is full of death-dealing poison. With it we bless Jehovah, even the Father, and yet with it we curse men who have come into existence ‘in the likeness of God.’ Out of the same mouth come forth blessing and cursing.” In this context, James added: “If you have bitter jealousy and contentiousness in your hearts, do not be bragging and lying against the truth. This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is the earthly, animal, demonic. For where jealousy and contentiousness are, there disorder and every vile thing are. But the wisdom from above is first of all chaste, then peaceable, reasonable, ready to obey, full of mercy and good fruits, not making partial distinctions, not hypocritical.”​—James 3:8-10a, 14-17.

11. How can we be merciful in the use of our tongue?

¹¹ Hence, the way we use our tongue is an indication of whether we have the wisdom that is “full of mercy.” What if because of jealousy or contentiousness we were to boast, lie, or spread harmful gossip? Psalm 94:4 states: “All the practicers of what is hurtful keep bragging about themselves.” And how quickly injurious talk can damage an innocent one’s good reputation! (Psalm 64:2-4) Moreover, think of the harm that can be done by “a false witness [who] launches forth mere lies.” (Proverbs 14:5; 1 Kings 21:7-13) After discussing the misuse of the tongue, James says: “It is not proper, my brothers, for these things to go on occurring this way.” (James 3:10b) True mercy requires that we use our tongue in a chaste, peaceable, and reasonable way. Jesus said: “I tell you that every unprofitable saying that men speak, they will render an account concerning it on Judgment Day.” (Matthew 12:36) How important it is that we be merciful in the use of our tongue!

“Forgive Men Their Trespasses”

12, 13. (a) What do we learn about mercy from the parable of the slave who owed his master a large sum of money? (b) What does it mean to forgive our brother “up to seventy-seven times”?

¹² Jesus’ parable of the slave who owed his master, a king, 60,000,000 denarii shows another way to be merciful. Having no means to pay the debt, the slave begged for mercy. “Moved to pity at this,” the master of the slave forgave his debt. But the slave went out and found a fellow slave who owed him only a hundred denarii and mercilessly had him thrown into prison. When the master heard what had happened, he summoned the forgiven slave and said to him: “Wicked slave, I canceled all that debt for you, when you entreated me. Ought you not, in turn, to have had mercy on your fellow slave, as I also had mercy on you?” With that the master had him delivered to the jailers. Jesus concluded the parable, saying: “In like manner my heavenly Father will also deal with you if you do not forgive each one his brother from your hearts.”​—Matthew 18:23-35.

¹³ How forcefully the above-mentioned parable points out that mercy includes a readiness to forgive! Jehovah has forgiven us a huge debt of sin. Should we not also “forgive men their trespasses”? (Matthew 6:14, 15) Before Jesus related the parable about the merciless slave, Peter asked him: “Lord, how many times is my brother to sin against me and am I to forgive him? Up to seven times?” Jesus replied: “I say to you, not, Up to seven times, but, Up to seventy-seven times.” (Matthew 18:21, 22) Yes, a merciful person is ready to forgive “up to seventy-seven times,” that is, without limit.

14. According to Matthew 7:1-4, how may we practice mercy daily?

¹⁴ Showing still another way to display mercy, Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount: “Stop judging that you may not be judged; for with what judgment you are judging, you will be judged . . . Why, then, do you look at the straw in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the rafter in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Allow me to extract the straw from your eye’; when, look! a rafter is in your own eye?” (Matthew 7:1-4) Therefore, we can practice mercy daily by putting up with the weaknesses of others without being judgmental or overly critical.

“Work What Is Good Toward All”

15. Why are acts of mercy not limited to fellow believers?

¹⁵ While the Bible book of James highlights mercy among believers, this does not mean that acts of mercy are limited to those within the Christian congregation. “Jehovah is good to all,” says Psalm 145:9, “and his mercies are over all his works.” We are exhorted to “become imitators of God” and to “work what is good toward all.” (Ephesians 5:1; Galatians 6:10) While we do not love “either the world or the things in the world,” we are not insensitive to the needs of those in the world.​—1 John 2:15.

16. What factors affect the way we show mercy to others?

¹⁶ As Christians, we do not hesitate to provide whatever help we can to victims of “unforeseen occurrence” or to those in dire situations. (Ecclesiastes 9:11) Of course, circumstances would dictate what we can do and how much. (Proverbs 3:27) When providing material help to others, we want to be careful that a deed that seems good does not promote laziness. (Proverbs 20:1, 4; 2 Thessalonians 3:10-12) Hence, a true act of mercy is a response that combines tender feelings of compassion or sympathy with sound reasoning.

17. What is the finest way to show mercy to those outside the Christian congregation?

¹⁷ The finest way to show mercy to those outside the Christian congregation is to share Bible truth with them. Why? Because the majority of mankind today are groping about in spiritual darkness. Having no way to deal with problems that confront them nor any real hope for the future, most people are “skinned and thrown about like sheep without a shepherd.” (Matthew 9:36) The message of God’s Word can be ‘a lamp to their foot,’ helping them to deal with life’s problems. It can also be ‘a light to their roadway’ in that the Bible foretells God’s purpose for the future, giving them a basis for having a bright hope. (Psalm 119:105) What a privilege it is to carry the wonderful message of truth to those who are in dire need of it! In view of the nearness of the impending “great tribulation,” now is the time to have a zealous share in the Kingdom-preaching and disciple-making work. (Matthew 24:3-8, 21, 22, 36-41; 28:19, 20) No other act of mercy is as important.

Give “the Things That Are Inside”

18, 19. Why should we work to increase the influence that mercy has on our lives?

¹⁸ “Give as gifts of mercy the things that are inside,” said Jesus. (Luke 11:41) For a good deed to be an act of true mercy, it must be a gift that comes from inside​—from a loving and willing heart. (2 Corinthians 9:7) In a world where harshness, selfishness, and a lack of concern about the suffering and problems of others are the norm, how refreshing such mercy is!

¹⁹ Let us, then, work to increase the influence that mercy has on our lives. The more merciful we are, the more we become like God. This helps us lead a truly meaningful and satisfying life.​—Matthew 5:7.