Mercy. What exactly does it mean to be merciful? Is mercy something we give freely? Are we quick to judge and condemn and slow to forgive and embrace? Do we put mercy first…or last?
Anyone who has studied the Bible or indeed, watched the great program “The Chosen,” knows that in the days of Jesus’s time on earth, the religious “leaders” of the day were often less than compassionate. In fact, many of the Pharisees were so pious and self-righteous that they openly condemned not only other people, but also Jesus — the Son of God. Let that sink in. Many of the religious leaders were so rigid, self-important and convinced of their own piety, that they actually betrayed and condemned Jesus Christ. Awful.
When Jesus welcomed Matthew into the fold of His disciples, many of the Pharisees were indignant. The Jews detested tax collectors and thought of them as the worst of the sinners. When they saw Jesus having a meal with a group of tax collectors and others, who they also considered “sinners,” the Jewish leaders asked “Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” (Matthew 9:11). Jesus answered “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice. For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
Jesus was quoting from Hosea 6:6, in which God rebuked Israel because they had become slaves to the law and ritual, while completely ignoring the spirit — they had become so rigid, that they spent their time following rituals and rules and condemning others, but they neglected to nurture their spirit. They also caused other Jews of the day to do the same and thus, ignored God’s will.
God desires love, mercy, compassion and faithfulness from His people more than their mindless observance of the law. He wants us to be open to His Word and He wants us to be filled with hope, love and light. Compassion and not condemnation. Love and not hatred. Peace and not anger. Generosity and not cold hardheartedness.
“Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” – James 1:27
Jesus taught us to forgive as we too have been forgiven and He expects us to show the same kindness and mercy that God has shown to us. Jesus came to fulfill the law and as such, His commands to us to be good, faithful, kind, generous and peaceful are not to be taken lightly. That bears repeating: Any of God’s children who act as the Pharisees did and judge and condemn others and those who are cruel and cold…are absolutely getting it all wrong. I mean, Jesus comes right out and tells us what He wants of us, so ignoring that is basically ignoring the Will of God.
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” – John 14:6
“And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” – Acts 4:12
“Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.” – John 3:36
