God’s mercy is not measurable
But human mercy can be
God gives mercy to whom He chooses and when He chooses
For He saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy,
and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. Romans 9:15
Mercy cannot be purchased
Mercy cannot be stolen or demanded
Mercy is given
We can give mercy
Once we understand mercy and what it means, we can give it to others
If we have received it, we would be wise to give it
Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful. Luke 6:36
Mercy is a blending together or love, compassion, forgiveness, empathy
and many other acts of kindness, as many as can be present in great measure
The Parable of The Good Samaritan describes mercy,
so does The Parable of The Unforgiving Servant
Both of these parables give examples of mercy
The Parable of the Good Samaritan,
who extended mercy to a wounded person,
while others passed him by, ignoring him in his pain and state of suffering
Jesus told us all to be as the Good Samaritan,
not as the others who refused to help the injured man
The next Parable of The Unforgiving Servant tells about a man who owed much
and was forgiven or his debt, because his debtor forgave his debt
Then, that same man who was forgiven,
was given the opportunity to forgive a person who owed him money,
much less than the amount he had been forgiven, in fact,
not only did he not forgive him, but he threw him in jail until he paid all
That servant’s lord found out what he had done and revoked his forgiveness
Jesus warned us to forgive from the bottom of our hearts
lest we also be ashamed and naked before God not extending mercy to others
Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. Matthew 5:7
Scriptural References:
The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant
Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king,
which would take account of his servants.
And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him,
which owed him ten thousand talents.
But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold,
and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made.
The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying,
Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.
Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him,
and forgave him the debt.
But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants,
which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him,
and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest.
And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying,
Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.
And he would not: but went and cast him into prison,
till he should pay the debt.
So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry,
and came and told unto their lord all that was done.
Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him,
O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me:
Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant,
even as I had pity on thee?
And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors,
till he should pay all that was due unto him.
So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you,
if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.
Matthew 18:23-35
The Parable of the Good Samaritan
And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying,
Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?
He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou?
And he answering said,
Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul,
and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.
And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do,
and thou shalt live.
But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour?
And Jesus answering said,
A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho,
and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment,
and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead.
And by chance there came down a certain priest that way:
and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.
And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him,
and passed by on the other side.
But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed,
came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him,
And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine,
and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn,
and took care of him.
And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence,
and gave them to the host, and said unto him,
Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more,
when I come again, I will repay thee.
Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him
that fell among the thieves?
And he said, He that shewed mercy on him.
Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.
Luke 10:25-37