How to Claim God’s Abundant Mercy

“Have mercy on me!” King David recorded this earnest plea in Psalm 51. He was crying out to God after realizing how far into sin he had fallen: Committing adultery with Bathsheba. Conspiring in the murder of her husband Uriah.

The next words of verse 1 state: “According to Your lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of Your tender mercies blot out my transgressions.”

Certainly, anytime we sin, we yearn for God’s multitude of tender mercies. With the case of David—and us!—He will pour out His lovingkindness and forgive our sins.

Psalm 86:5 confirms this: “For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon You.”

There is more to mercy than forgiveness, however. Forgiveness is one way to express mercy, but it is not the only way. In other words, all forgiveness involves mercy, but not all mercy involves forgiveness.

Look at Psalm 9. It shows that sometimes mercy is needed when going through trials.

Notice verse 13: “Have mercy upon me, O Lord; consider my trouble which I suffer of them that hate me, You that lift me up from the gates of death.”

There is no forgiveness needed here. Rather, the psalmist asked for God to be merciful and help ease persecution from enemies.

Christians need this form of mercy! Persecution and tribulation are a necessary part of conversion: “Yes, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution” (II Tim. 3:12).

Jesus stated in Matthew 5 that such persecution builds righteous character: “Blessed are you, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for My sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you” (vs. 11-12).

When these inevitable trials and tribulations strike, how can we ensure we receive mercy?

The simple answer is also found in Matthew 5: “Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy” (vs. 7). Do not overcomplicate this: If you are merciful, God will show you mercy.

But what is mercy? It does not need to be some esoteric or vague concept. Both in the Hebrew of the Old Testament and Greek in the new it means kindness and compassion.

Webster’s New World Dictionary defines mercy as “a refraining from harming or punishing offenders, enemies, persons in one’s power.” It also means “kindness in excess of what may be expected or demanded by fairness.”

It also means “a disposition to forgive, pity, or be kind” and “relief of suffering.”

Notice that mercy requires action. It means going above and beyond “what may be expected or demanded by fairness.” More than empathy—the ability to understand others’ feelings—mercy requires working to ease the suffering of others.

We all want this level of mercy from God! To ensure He can pour out His abundant mercy upon us requires a change in thinking.

Highest Standard

To know how much mercy we should show and what it should look like, we can continue in Matthew 5: “Be you therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect” (vs. 48).

What does perfection have to do with mercy? The context in the chapter provides the answer.

Start with verses 43-44: “You have heard that it has been said, You shall love your neighbor, and hate your enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.”

These actions go against human nature. We are to love—show genuine, outgoing concern for—our enemies. If this is how we are to treat our adversaries, it means we should also show love to all, everyone from close friends to strangers.

Verse 45 shows that such a merciful attitude is central to becoming “perfect” like the Father: “That you may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for He makes His sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.”

God looks down on the Earth. He sees those who are righteously living His Way and those who are wicked—and everything in between. Yet He makes sure the sun comes up and sets on everyone. He sees everyone as His potential children and has mercy on them.

Christians must do the same!

Just two verses later we are told to work to become “perfect” as the Father. While this scripture can apply to a great many characteristics, it specifically is tied to mercy. We must strive to become perfect in kindness and compassion.

A parallel account in Luke 6 summarizes these points: “Be you therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful. Judge not, and you shall not be judged: condemn not, and you shall not be condemned: forgive, and you shall be forgiven” (vs. 36-37).

Note again that the context is mercy. Verse 38 ties our actions to how much kindness and compassion God can show us: “Give [mercy], and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that you mete withal it shall be measured to you again.”

If we lead lives brimming with mercy, God will pour out the same on us to the point it is “running over”—more than we can receive!

Knowing that we must strive to match the Father’s mercy, what does it look like in practice?

In Action

Digging deeper into Luke 6 shows us what actions we can take to become more merciful.

“Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you” (vs. 27). Clearly, we should not set out to make enemies. Those who disagree with our beliefs and work against us make themselves our adversaries. As much as is in our power, we should be welcoming and show concern for such individuals.

“Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you” (vs. 28). The Greek term for “despitefully use” can mean to insult, falsely accuse and treat abusively. How often do we pray for these people? These prayers can include asking God to forgive them and asking Him to help you defuse the issues between you and the other party.

“And unto him that smites you on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that takes your cloak forbid not to take your coat also” (vs. 29). This verse is not literal. If someone violently strikes you, you should flee! When Jesus was struck in John 18:22-23, He did not “turn the other cheek” so it also could be hit. Rather, He followed the spirit of this command, as shown in I Peter 2: “For even hereunto were you called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps…who, when He was reviled, reviled not again; when He suffered, He threatened not” (vs. 21, 23).

Whenever we are treated wrongfully, we should never do the same. No matter what, we should strive to maintain a kind and generous attitude.

“Give to every man that asks of you; and of him that takes away your goods ask them not again” (Luke 6:30). This verse must be applied with wisdom. We must be good stewards of what God has given us. But when we do give, we should expect nothing in return.

Luke 3:11 adds to this: “He that has two coats, let him impart to him that has none; and he that has [food], let him do likewise.” Look for places where you have extra—and give!

All these points are summarized in Luke 6:35: “But love you your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and you shall be the children of the Highest: for He is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.”

Return to Matthew 5. It crystalizes what is a truly merciful attitude: “For if you love them which love you, what reward have you? Do not even the publicans the same? And if you salute your brethren only, what do you more than others? Do not even the publicans so?” (vs. 46-47).

It is easy to love those who love us back. Yet that itself is a reward. To receive more mercy from God, we must extend this attitude toward all men.

Notice that we are to “salute” everyone—whether friend, stranger or someone who has made themselves our adversary.

While walking the streets in first-century Judea, saluting was not just a wave or simple “hello.” Thayer’s Lexicon shows that it was generally done with a customary embrace or kiss and that this tradition often slowed a journey because it was done so frequently.

Clearly we should not hug everyone we see. However, the principle stands: For those with whom we naturally interact, we should show genuine interest in them, learn more about them, help them in any way we can. We should show them godly mercy.

Co-workers and neighbors most naturally fall into this category. As much as you are able, seek out ways you can salute others in your life. Give them vegetables from your garden, shovel the snow from a shared sidewalk and take an interest in their lives. Look for ways to give freely and out of compassion.

The Power of Mercy

We all desire mercy for forgiveness and to ease trials in our lives. Yet there is another reason mercy is important. Matthew 23:23 calls the trait one of “the weightier matters of the law,” alongside judgment and faith. All of God’s Law is important—but mercy should have a special focus.

Why? Mercy is used to build righteousness, to refine our character.

Read Proverbs 16:6: “By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the Lord men depart from evil.”

God’s mercy is intended to purge sin from our lives. He suffers long with us and gives us space to change so that we can obtain salvation.

Our mercy can help others in a similar way: “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven” (Matt. 5:16).

Christian examples may not result in others immediately glorifying the Father, but it could set them down that road. Or they may praise your actions and unknowingly be glorifying God.

Be Bold!

Christ set the ultimate example of mercy. Picture in your mind the scene of His crucifixion. He was “marred more than any man” (Isa. 52:14). His bones were out of joint—His flesh torn away to the point that He could count them (Psa. 22:17).

Blood. Gore. Carnage.

Jesus was suffocating while nailed to a stake with scoffers and mockers yelling out at Him.

Yet notice His attitude as he watched his executioners cast lots for His belongings: “Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34).

At the doors of death, our Savior asked God to forgive His murderers. Notice He stated that those present did not comprehend their actions and who they were torturing.

When faced with much lesser trials and tribulations, we must have the same attitude. We must remember that many of those with whom we interact “know not what they do.”

Philippians 2 states that if we have “bowels of mercies” (vs. 1)—compassion and kindness toward others—then we should take on Christ’s example: “Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus” (vs. 3-5). These verses and the ones that follow show us how to think and act like Christ.

Verses 6-8 continue by stating that a pre-incarnate Jesus, “being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: but made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: and being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.”

Let this sink in. Jesus was “in the form of God” and agreed to become a man and ultimately sacrifice Himself for all mankind. This is an incredible act of compassion and kindness.

The actions of Jesus Christ allow God to show us even more mercy. And if we build a habit of generous compassion, we can boldly claim His promises!

Notice Hebrews 4: “Seeing then that we have a great high priest”—Jesus Christ—“that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not a high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin” (vs. 14-15).

Jesus was tempted and tempered by a physical life. He understands what we are going through. For this reason, He and the Father can pour out even more lovingkindness.

Continue in verse 16: “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”

No matter if we have sinned or are suffering a trial or hardship, we can boldly ask God for mercy.

Yet remember the qualifier: “Blessed are the merciful”—those who copy the examples of the Father and Christ!—“for they shall obtain mercy.”