Compassion and forgiveness provided by God in place of judgment.
1. The Biblical Definition of Mercy
In Scripture, mercy is not a vague feeling of pity; it is God’s active compassion that withholds deserved judgment and releases undeserved kindness, based on His covenant love.
Key Hebrew and Greek Terms
1. Hebrew: ḥesed (חֶסֶד)
Often translated “mercy,” “lovingkindness,” or “steadfast love.”
It carries the idea of covenant loyalty, faithful love, and mercy in action.
Example: “For His mercy (ḥesed) endures forever” (Psalm 136:1).
This is not sentimental; it is God’s committed, loyal love that moves Him to forgive, rescue, and restore His people.
2. Hebrew: raḥamim (רַחֲמִים)
From a root related to “womb,” it speaks of tender compassion, deep feeling, and mother-like care.
“The LORD’s mercies (raḥamim)… are new every morning” (Lamentations 3:22–23).
3. Greek: eleos (ἔλεος)
The primary New Testament word for mercy.
It means compassion that acts to relieve misery, especially the misery caused by sin.
“Blessed are the merciful (eleēmōn), for they shall obtain mercy (eleos)” (Matthew 5:7).
4. Greek: oiktirmos (οἰκτιρμός)
Often translated “compassion” or “tender mercies.”
Emphasizes pity that moves the heart (Romans 12:1; 2 Corinthians 1:3).
Putting this together:
Biblical mercy is God’s covenant-based, compassionate action that withholds deserved judgment and releases forgiveness, healing, and restoration.
It is not God ignoring sin; it is God dealing with sin in such a way that the sinner can be forgiven, cleansed, and restored without compromising His holiness.
2. Old Testament Foundation
Mercy is not a New Testament invention; it is woven into the entire story of Israel.
2.1 God’s Self-Revelation as Merciful
When God reveals His own name and nature to Moses, mercy is central:
“The LORD, the LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth” (Exodus 34:6).
Before He is known as Judge, He reveals Himself as merciful. Judgment is real, but mercy is His first move.
2.2 Mercy in the Law and the Covenant
The Law itself is framed by mercy:
The Ten Commandments are given after God has already redeemed Israel from Egypt (Exodus 20:2). Mercy precedes command.
The sacrificial system (Leviticus 1–7) is God’s provision of mercy—blood is shed so that sinners can be forgiven and remain in covenant.
At the heart of the Tabernacle was the “mercy seat” (kapporet)—the golden cover of the Ark of the Covenant (Exodus 25:17–22).
Once a year, on the Day of Atonement, the high priest sprinkled blood on the mercy seat (Leviticus 16).
This is where God said He would meet with His people (Exodus 25:22).
Mercy is the meeting place between a holy God and sinful people.
2.3 Mercy in Israel’s History
Israel’s story is a cycle of sin, judgment, and mercy.
Judges: Israel repeatedly turns to idols; God allows oppression; when they cry out, He raises deliverers “for He had compassion on His people” (Judges 2:18).
David: After his sin with Bathsheba, David does not appeal to his works but to mercy:
“Have mercy upon me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness (ḥesed)” (Psalm 51:1).
Exile and Return: Though Israel is judged and exiled, God promises restoration:
“For a mere moment I have forsaken you, but with great mercies I will gather you” (Isaiah 54:7).
2.4 The Prophets and the Priority of Mercy
The prophets continually reveal that God desires mercy more than ritual:
“For I desire mercy (ḥesed) and not sacrifice, and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings” (Hosea 6:6).
Micah sums up God’s requirement:
“To do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8).
Mercy is not a side issue; it is central to God’s covenant dealings with His people.
3. The Fulfillment of Mercy in Christ
Jesus is the embodiment of God’s mercy. Everything the Old Testament hinted at, He fulfills.
3.1 Jesus’ Mission: Mercy to Sinners
Jesus states His mission:
“For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10).
“I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance” (Matthew 9:13).
He quotes Hosea 6:6:
“I desire mercy and not sacrifice” (Matthew 9:13; 12:7).
He positions Himself as the Mercy of God in person, seeking the lost and restoring the broken.
3.2 Mercy in Jesus’ Ministry
Repeatedly, people cry out to Him, “Have mercy on me!”
Blind men: “Have mercy on us, O Lord, Son of David!” (Matthew 9:27; 20:30–34). Jesus heals them.
Canaanite woman: “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! My daughter is severely demon-possessed” (Matthew 15:22). Jesus delivers her daughter.
Father of the epileptic boy: “Lord, have mercy on my son” (Matthew 17:15). Jesus rebukes the demon and heals him.
Notice:
Mercy is not just forgiveness; it includes healing and deliverance.
Mercy is power in action to remove the misery caused by sin and Satan.
3.3 The Cross: The Ultimate Mercy Seat
Romans 3:25 says God set forth Jesus as a “propitiation” (Greek: hilastērion)—the same word used in the Greek Old Testament for “mercy seat.”
Jesus is the true Mercy Seat where God’s wrath against sin is satisfied and His mercy is released.
At the cross, justice and mercy meet (Psalm 85:10).
Justice: Sin is fully punished in Christ.
Mercy: Sinners who believe are fully forgiven and justified (Romans 3:26).
In Christ, God does not ignore our sin; He judges it in His Son so He can show us unlimited mercy without violating His holiness.
3.4 The Resurrection and Exalted Mercy
After the cross, mercy doesn’t end; it is enthroned:
God is now “rich in mercy” toward us in Christ (Ephesians 2:4–5).
We are invited to come to “the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16).
The throne from which Jesus rules is a throne of grace, dispensing mercy to those who draw near in faith.
4. The Power of Mercy for Today (By the Holy Spirit)
This is not just theology; mercy is a living, supernatural reality applied to us by the Holy Spirit.
4.1 The Holy Spirit Applies Christ’s Mercy
Jesus accomplished mercy at the cross; the Holy Spirit applies that mercy to our lives:
Conviction of Sin
“He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment” (John 16:8).
Conviction is mercy, not cruelty. The Spirit shows us our sin so we can run to Christ and be forgiven.
New Birth
“According to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit” (Titus 3:5).
The Spirit regenerates us—gives us a new heart. Mercy is not only God not giving us what we deserve; it is God giving us a new nature we do not deserve.
Assurance of Sonship
“You received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, ‘Abba, Father’” (Romans 8:15).
The Spirit assures us that we are children of mercy, not objects of wrath (Ephesians 2:3–5).
4.2 Mercy as Deliverance and Healing Today
Mercy is not limited to legal forgiveness; it includes deliverance from demonic oppression and healing of sickness.
Jesus often healed and delivered because He was “moved with compassion” (Matthew 14:14; 20:34; Mark 1:41).
That same Jesus now works by His Spirit through His body, the Church.
As continuationists, we affirm:
The gifts of the Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:8–10) are expressions of mercy:
Gifts of healings: mercy to the sick.
Working of miracles: mercy to the oppressed and bound.
Word of knowledge and prophecy: mercy revealing God’s heart and direction.
When you lay hands on the sick, when you cast out demons in Jesus’ name, you are releasing the mercy of God into a person’s life.
4.3 Mercy and the Authority of the Believer
Because of Christ’s finished work, believers are:
“Seated… in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:6).
Given authority “over all the power of the enemy” (Luke 10:19).
This authority is not for self-exaltation; it is for ministering mercy:
You have authority to announce forgiveness to the repentant (John 20:23).
You have authority to rebuke sickness and demons as acts of mercy in Jesus’ name (Mark 16:17–18).
We must expect God to move mercifully and powerfully when we pray:
“Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy” (Hebrews 4:16).
Boldness is not arrogance; it is confidence in the blood of Jesus and the heart of the Father.
4.4 Mercy Fuels Faith
Understanding God’s mercy strengthens faith:
When you know God is rich in mercy (Ephesians 2:4), you stop expecting rejection and start expecting help.
When you grasp that His mercies are “new every morning” (Lamentations 3:22–23), you approach Him daily with fresh expectation.
Faith works by love (Galatians 5:6), and mercy is love in action toward the undeserving. The more you see His mercy, the more you can believe for:
Forgiveness after failure.
Restoration after backsliding.
Healing after long sickness.
Deliverance after deep bondage.
5. Practical Application: Walking in Mercy
Here are concrete steps to walk in the truth and power of God’s mercy.
Step 1: Receive Mercy Deeply and Continually
Do not treat mercy as a one-time event at conversion. Make it your daily foundation.
Confess your sins honestly (1 John 1:9).
Ask specifically for mercy: “God, be merciful to me, a sinner” (Luke 18:13).
Meditate on Scriptures about mercy (Psalm 103; Lamentations 3:22–23; Ephesians 2:4–5).
Prayer example:
“Father, I come not in my own righteousness but through the blood of Jesus. I receive Your mercy—full forgiveness, cleansing, and restoration. Holy Spirit, bear witness in my heart that I am a child of mercy.”
Step 2: Approach God Boldly in Every Need
Train yourself to run to God, not from Him, especially when you feel weak or unworthy.
When tempted: cry out for mercy and grace to help (Hebrews 4:16).
When sick or oppressed: ask for healing and deliverance as expressions of His mercy (Mark 10:47–52).
When interceding for others: plead God’s mercy over them (Daniel 9:18–19).
Make it a habit: “Lord, have mercy” is not a religious cliché; it is a powerful, biblical prayer.
Step 3: Extend Mercy to Others Intentionally
You cannot walk in the fullness of God’s mercy while refusing to show mercy.
Forgive those who have wronged you (Matthew 6:14–15; Ephesians 4:32).
Show practical compassion to the poor, the broken, and the marginalized (James 2:13–17).
Guard your heart from judgmentalism and harsh criticism (Luke 6:36–37).
Ask the Holy Spirit:
“Show me where I need to forgive. Show me whom I can show mercy to today.”
Then act—call, visit, give, pray, encourage.
Step 4: Minister Mercy in the Power of the Spirit
Expect the Holy Spirit to confirm the message of mercy with supernatural signs.
When you share the gospel, offer to pray for the sick or oppressed as a demonstration of God’s mercy (Mark 16:15–18).
Use the gifts of the Spirit as channels of mercy:
Word of knowledge to reveal hidden pain.
Gifts of healings to restore bodies.
Discerning of spirits to set captives free.
Pray:
“Holy Spirit, make me an instrument of Your mercy. Flow through me with gifts, power, and compassion to lift the burdens of others in Jesus’ name.”
Step 5: Guard Against Presuming on Mercy
Mercy is not a license to sin; it is power to live differently.
“Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not!” (Romans 6:1–2).
Mercy calls us to repentance and transformation (Titus 2:11–12).
Regularly examine your heart:
Am I using mercy as an excuse to remain in bondage?
Or am I allowing mercy to lead me into deeper obedience and holiness?
Yield to the Spirit’s conviction quickly. The same mercy that forgives also empowers you to overcome.
6. Key Scriptures on Mercy (With Brief Commentary)
1. Exodus 34:6–7
“The LORD, the LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth…”
This is God’s own description of Himself. Mercy is not a mood; it is His essential character.
2. Psalm 103:8–12
“The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in mercy… As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.”
Mercy here is forgiveness that fully removes sin. It reveals the depth and completeness of God’s pardoning mercy.
3. Lamentations 3:22–23
“Through the LORD’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.”
Mercy is ongoing and renewable. Every day is a fresh opportunity to receive and walk in God’s mercy.
4. Hosea 6:6 (cf. Matthew 9:13)
“For I desire mercy and not sacrifice, and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.”
God prioritizes heart-level mercy over external religious performance. Jesus reaffirms this, confronting religious hardness.
5. Ephesians 2:4–5
“But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us… made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved).”
Our salvation flows from God being “rich in mercy.” Mercy is the fountain; grace is the stream; salvation is the result.
6. Titus 3:5
“Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit.”
Salvation is entirely grounded in mercy, applied by the Holy Spirit through new birth and inner renewal.
7. Hebrews 4:16
“Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”
Because of Jesus our High Priest, we have bold access to a throne that dispenses mercy and practical help. This is a call to confident, expectant prayer.
8. James 2:13
“For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.”
Mercy is not only something we receive; it is something we must practice. As we show mercy, we align ourselves with God’s heart, and mercy “triumphs” in our relationships and communities.
Conclusion
Mercy is God’s covenant love in action—His compassionate decision to withhold the judgment we deserve and to pour out forgiveness, healing, and restoration we could never earn. It is revealed in the Law and the Prophets, embodied and fulfilled in Christ, and applied to us today by the Holy Spirit with real power.
As you:
Receive mercy deeply,
Approach God boldly,
Extend mercy freely,
Minister mercy in the Spirit’s power,
And refuse to abuse mercy as a license to sin,
you will discover that mercy is not just a doctrine; it is a living stream flowing from the throne of grace, transforming your life and the lives of those around you.
May the Holy Spirit make you a vessel of God’s mercy—carrying forgiveness, healing, and deliverance in Jesus’ mighty name.