Mercy
Definition:
What “Mercy” Means in Christianity
In both the Old and New Testaments, mercy is a translation of the Hebrew word “hesed” (חֶסֶד) and the Greek word “eleos” (ἔλεος).
Hesed means steadfast love, covenantal faithfulness, and compassionate loyalty.
Eleos means compassion in action — love that reaches down to relieve suffering.
So, mercy is not merely an emotion — it is love responding to need, forgiveness meeting guilt, and compassion answering human frailty.
In essence, mercy is:
“Love that sees misery and moves to relieve it.”
2. Biblical Foundations
Old Testament
“The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.” — Psalm 103:8
“His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning.” — Lamentations 3:22–23
Mercy in the Old Testament is often linked to God’s covenant love — His faithful commitment to His people even when they fail.
New Testament
“Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.” — Luke 6:36
“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.” — Matthew 5:7
The supreme act of mercy is the cross: God’s forgiveness offered through Jesus Christ.
In Christ, mercy is made visible — it takes the form of a person, not just an attribute.
3. Mercy According to Influential Christians and Theologians
St. Augustine (354–430 AD)
“God’s mercy is greater than all the sins which creatures can commit.”
Augustine emphasized that mercy is the infinite compassion of God who stoops down to heal the brokenness of humanity. It is God’s glory to show mercy, not wrath.
Thomas Aquinas (1225–1274)
“Mercy is the greatest of all the virtues because all the others revolve around it.” (Summa Theologica, II-II, Q.30, A.4)
For Aquinas, mercy is God’s love in motion. Justice gives what is due; mercy goes beyond justice — it restores, heals, and elevates.
John Calvin (1509–1564)
“There is not one blade of grass, there is no coloUr in this world that is not intended to make us rejoice — and to remind us of God’s mercy.”
Calvin viewed mercy as the constant thread of God’s providence in the natural and moral order. Everything good we experience is mercy in disguise.
C.S. Lewis (1898–1963)
“To be a Christian means to forgive the inexcusable because God has forgiven the inexcusable in you.” (The Weight of Glory)
For Lewis, mercy is inseparable from forgiveness — an invitation to imitate divine compassion in human relationships.
Mother Teresa (1910–1997)
“If you judge people, you have no time to love them.”
“Mercy is love that seeks to heal and to help and to save at any cost.”
Her life embodied mercy as love in action — touching the suffering with compassion rather than condemnation.
Pope Francis
“The name of God is mercy.” (Misericordiae Vultus, 2015)
He emphasizes mercy as the core of God’s revelation — not a side note, but the essence of His relationship with humankind.
John Piper (Contemporary Theologian)
“Grace gives us what we don’t deserve; mercy withholds what we do deserve.”
Piper draws a distinction: grace bestows blessings, while mercy restrains judgment — both springing from the same divine love.
Graham Cooke
“Mercy is the lens through which God sees us. He looks at us through mercy, not through judgment.”
Cooke’s teaching focuses on mercy as God’s perspective — He sees potential, not failure; identity, not guilt.
4. Mercy vs. Grace shown to us: Subtle but Important Difference
Grace
Giving something good we don’t deserve (e.g. salvation, strength, favour).
Positive generosity
God’s empowering love.
Mercy
Withholding something bad we do deserve (e.g. judgment, punishment).
Compassionate restraint.
God’s forgiving compassion.
Both are acts of divine love — but mercy bends toward forgiveness and restoration.
5. The Practical Dimension of Mercy
Christianity teaches that mercy is not just God’s attribute but a calling for believers:
To forgive others (Matthew 18:21–35).
To show compassion to the poor, sick, and marginalized (Luke 10:25–37).
To live without judgment, embodying empathy (James 2:13 — “Mercy triumphs over judgment.”)
Mercy becomes the ethic of Christlikeness — a way of seeing and acting toward the world as God does.
6. The Heart of Mercy
The English word mercy comes from the Latin merces (“price” or “wages”), later evolving to mean pity, reward, or forgiveness. In Christianity, that “price” is embodied in the cross — God’s mercy is costly, not sentimental.
“Mercy is not soft — it is the strongest force in the world because it absorbs pain without passing it on.” — Philip Yancey, What’s So Amazing About Grace?
7. Summary
Mercy is God’s compassionate action toward human suffering and sin.
It is not passive pity, but active love that restores and heals.
It is seen most clearly in Jesus Christ — who reveals a God who forgives, embraces, and transforms.
Mercy is also a mandate: “Be merciful, as your Father is merciful” (Luke 6:36).
It is justice transformed by love, and the highest revelation of divine character.
In short:
“Mercy is God’s heart drawn toward our failures, lifting us up with a love that costs Him everything.” Nathan Haddock
Biblical Imagery & Metaphors:
• A judge who sets the guilty free.
• A parent lifting a fallen child.
• A light that pierces fog.
In Daily Faith:
Mercy changes the heart — both the one who receives and the one who gives. It breaks the cycle of revenge.
In Daily Life: Living Out Mercy as a Reflection of God's Heart
Mercy is not a passive emotion, but an active force that transforms lives. As believers, we are called to live out mercy—not just as a concept, but as a daily practice that reflects God's own compassion for us.
Mercy is God’s love in motion, and it is through mercy that we grow more like Christ.
Living mercifully is not just a response to others’ faults or mistakes; it is a way of being in the world, where compassion and forgiveness define how we engage with others and ourselves.
1. Mercy in Forgiveness— Extending Compassion Instead of Judgment
Mercy is best seen in how we forgive. Instead of holding grudges or seeking retribution, mercy calls us to forgive others as God has forgiven us. The act of forgiving is not about excusing wrongs, but about choosing to release others from the burden of judgment.
Matthew 18:21–22
“Then Peter came up and said to him, ‘Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?’ Jesus said to him, ‘I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.’”
Daily practice:
When hurt or wronged, choose to forgive and release any desire for revenge.
Reflect on God's mercy toward you—how He has forgiven you time and again—and allow that to fuel your forgiveness toward others.
Pray for the strength to forgive even in difficult situations, remembering that mercy triumphs over judgment (James 2:13).
2. Mercy in Relationships— Compassionate Presence in Times of Need
Mercy is not just about forgiving; it is about seeing others in their need and reaching out to help. It’s about offering compassion, a listening ear, and tangible support to those who are suffering. In our relationships, mercy means that we don’t turn away from the vulnerable, but rather, we engage with empathy and love.
Luke 6:36
“Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.”
Daily practice:
Look for opportunities to show mercy in your relationships—whether through practical help, encouragement, or emotional support.
Respond with compassion to those in pain, offering kindness and care, as God has shown to you.
Consider how you can be more present in others’ struggles, offering not just advice, but a merciful presence that brings comfort.
3. Mercy in Social Justice— Acting on Behalf of the Marginalized
Mercy is a call to act on behalf of those who are oppressed or marginalized in society. It is not enough to feel pity; mercy compels us to act in ways that bring justice and healing to those who suffer.
Luke 10:25–37 (The Parable of the Good Samaritan)
“But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion.”
Mercy compels us to see the suffering of others—whether it be poverty, injustice, or exclusion—and take action to help. This might mean advocating for the oppressed, offering financial support, or simply being present for those in need.
Daily practice:
Advocate for those who cannot speak for themselves—whether in your community or globally.
Volunteer time, resources, or expertise to support organizations that help the marginalized.
Be open to new opportunities to show mercy through acts of justice, compassion, and love.
4. Mercy in Everyday Challenges— Responding with Patience and Grace
Mercy also shows up in how we handle daily frustrations and challenges. Instead of responding with irritation or judgment, we are called to respond with mercy—choosing patience, grace, and understanding in the face of difficulty.
Micah 6:8
“He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?”
Mercy is linked to humility and kindness. In everyday life, it looks like choosing to respond with patience rather than frustration, understanding rather than condemnation.
Daily practice:
When faced with frustration (in traffic, at work, or with a loved one), pause and ask yourself how you can respond with mercy.
Take a moment to breathe, remember God's mercy toward you, and choose to extend that same mercy in your actions and words.
Practice humility by seeing the best in others and assuming the best, even in difficult situations.
5. Mercy in Self-Compassion— Extending Grace to Yourself
Mercy is not just for others; it’s also a vital part of how we treat ourselves. We often struggle with self-judgment and guilt, but mercy calls us to embrace God's forgiveness and grace for our own mistakes and failures.
Psalm 103:8–12
“The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love... as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us.”
God’s mercy toward us removes our guilt and shame. We are not to live under the weight of our mistakes, but to trust in God's mercy, which is sufficient to heal and restore us.
Daily practice:
When you make a mistake, remember God’s mercy is new every morning (Lamentations 3:22–23).
Forgive yourself as God has forgiven you, and resist the temptation to dwell on guilt.
Treat yourself with the same compassion that God shows you—acknowledge your weaknesses, but move forward in His grace.
6. Mercy in Community — Creating a Culture of Compassion
Mercy is a way of being in community. It’s about creating an environment where love, kindness, and forgiveness flow freely, not because people deserve it, but because God’s mercy is at the centre. A church, family, or group that embodies mercy is one that is marked by healing, unity, and support.
Matthew 5:7
“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.”
Mercy is a two-way street. When we show mercy, we invite others to do the same. It fosters an atmosphere of trust and mutual care that reflects God’s kingdom.
Daily practice:
Encourage mercy within your community by modelling it yourself—whether through your words, actions, or attitudes.
Support others in their struggles, offering grace and understanding.
Help create a safe space where people can confess, heal, and grow without fear of condemnation.
Encouragement to Grow in Mercy
Mercy is not a one-time act but a lifestyle that grows as we more deeply understand and experience God’s mercy. As we receive mercy from God, we are compelled to show mercy to others, and in doing so, we reflect His heart in the world.
Luke 6:36 calls us to be merciful as God is merciful. This is not a passive suggestion, but a command and an invitation. As we walk in mercy, we grow in Christlikeness, and we become conduits of God’s compassion and love in the world.
Scripture References:
Micah 6:8 (NIV)
“He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.
And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly with your God.”
Luke 6:36 (NIV)
“Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.”
Psalm 103:8–12 (NIV)
“The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love.
He will not always accuse, nor will he harbour his anger forever;
he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities.
For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him;
as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.”