Go and Learn This: Mercy

Today something happened that brought these words of Jesus to mind: “But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice'” (Matthew 9:13).  When I got home, I then thought about this verse in connection with the first one and with my experience today – again in the words of Jesus: “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall be shown mercy” (Matthew 5:7). And finally, I thought of James 2:12,13 that I read last night: Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment. What do you take these to mean all together and how do you apply them to your circumstances – especially in “mercy triumphs over judgment”? I can understand what “judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful” means because of the parable of the unmerciful servant (Matthew 18:21-35). To whom do we choose not to extend mercy?

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