Day 279, Year 1
Have Mercy On Others
“The weightier provisions of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness.” (Matthew 23:23b NASB)
It is generally believed that the Old Testament law primarily regards rules that magnified fairness and righteousness. But Jesus’ words change our understanding regarding the Old Testament law. He pointed out that one of the weightier things of the Law was mercy. “Mercy,” eleos in Greek, or translated as “compassion,” particularly refers to “kindness or good will towards the miserable and the afflicted, joined with a desire to help them.” This word appears only three times in the Gospel of Matthew.
The first appearance of the word “mercy” is in Matthew chapter 9, verse 13. This verse mentions that Matthew was called by Jesus, which drew criticism. Jesus quoted Hosea chapter 6, verse 6, which states that God “desires mercy and not sacrifice.” Thus, He came into the world to call not the righteous but the sinners. In other words, the message of mercy in Hosea is the weightier provision of the Law. The second “mercy” appears in chapter 12, verse 7, where Jesus quoted the same verse to defend the disciples for picking grain to eat on the Sabbath. At first glance, both incidents of “mercy” are directly related to Matthew and appear to be a defense for his own interests. However, I believe that Matthew’s understanding of the law actually includes the Prophets, which reveals two vital points regarding “mercy.”
First, God’s mercy excludes no one; otherwise, no sinful career can be saved. However, it is up to Jesus to decide whether a saved person needs a career change. In Matthew’s experience, the Pharisees, etc., asserted that he could never enter God’s kingdom because of his profession. Yet, Jesus’ calling changed his life. So, Jesus brings true salvation and a change of life out of mercy to those who confess and are willing to turn away from sins.
Second, God’s mercy is to care for human survival needs, and He will not ask people to starve only to fulfill the interpretation of the law. The story in Matthew 12 demonstrates that the law Jesus valued was not merely the execution of a commandment. The different stories in the Old Testament reveal the more substantial spirit of the law: God cares for human needs. In other words, Jesus approached the law with an emphasis on how God interacted with people, especially helping those in need. This extends to how those who have received God’s merciful help can help others according to His guidance, and this is the essence of mercy in the law.
Reflection questions:
1) Only by recognizing our sins and responding to God’s calling can we have His mercy. What does this statement mean to you?
2) Do you feel that you have received God’s mercy? If so, are you willing to render merciful help to others according to His guidance?