Showing mercy

Summary:

It is written in the Bible that "SHOWING-MERCY" (Romans 12:8) is listed among the spiritual gifts.

You can find more details below:

Showing mercy:

It is written in the Bible that "SHOWING-MERCY" (Romans 12:8) is listed among the spiritual gifts

This is a spiritual gift among the list of other spiritual gifts available.

For more information:

List of spiritual gifts:
Click here

Paul wrote: "having different GIFTS according-to the grace having-been-given (to) us, (exercise them accordingly): whether prophecy, in-accordance-with the proportion (of your) faith; or [...] the (one) SHOWING-MERCY [eleeó 1653 in Greek], with cheerfulness" (Romans 12:6-8).

To SHOW MERCY can be illustrated in the parable given in Matthew 18 where a slave justly owed a lot of money to his master, and it was written about the master that: "having-felt-deep-feelings [of compassion], the master (of) that slave released him and forgave him the loan" (Matthew 18:27), which was then described by the master to the slave as having "SHOWED-MERCY [eleeó 1653 in Greek] on you" (Matthew 18:33). 

Showing mercy is therefore also not coming without a cost to the one showing it, which may be why it requires God's "grace" (Romans 12:6) to be able to practice it often. 

Yet because it is a demonstration of God's grace, it is written to practise it "with CHEERFULLNESS [hilarotés 2432 in Greek]" (Romans 12:8).

The Greek word for "CHEERFULLNESS" [hilarotés 2432 in Greek] used in Romans 12:8 comes from the Greek word for "cheerful" [hilaros 2431 in Greek]. 

Paul wrote: "Each (should give) just-as he-has-chosen-beforehand (in his) heart, not out-of grief or out-of compulsion. For God loves (a) cheerful [hilaros 2431 in Greek] giver" (2 Corinthians 9:7). 

Being cheerful, or by extension CHEERFULLNESS, is contrasted with doing something "out-of grief or out-of compulsion" (2 Corinthians 9:7). 

By extension, "SHOWING-MERCY, with CHEERFULLNESS" (Romans 12:8) would to show mercy without grieving (about the cost it takes to do so) or without compulsion (about feeling obligated to do it, but instead being moved by compassion and having willingness to grant it). 

Early Christian author:

Around the 4th century, a Christian author named Ambrosiaster wrote: "he who does acts of mercy according to his intention will do it with a cheerful heart and not as if somebody was twisting his arm to do it" (Commentary on Paul's epistles).

Examples of showing mercy:

There may be several examples in the Scriptures of the spiritual gift of "SHOWING-MERCY [eleeó 1653 in Greek]" (Romans 12:8). For example:

Matthew 20:

It is written that "two BLIND (MEN) sitting beside the road, having-heard that Jesus was-going-by, cried-out saying, “SHOW-MERCY [eleeó 1653 in Greek] (on) us, Master, Son (of) David!”" (Matthew 20:30) and as a result it is written about Jesus that "having-felt-deep-feelings [of compassion], Jesus touched their eyes. And they immediately saw-again" (Matthew 20:34). 

It is important to know that in the law of Moses, BLINDNESS could be a just curse as a result of disobedience, as it is written: "it shall be, if you will not heed the voice of your God, to take heed to do all His commandments and His statutes which I am commanding you today, even all these curses shall come on you" (Deuteronomy 28:15): "YHWH shall strike you [...] with BLINDNESS" (Deuteronomy 28:28). 

Mark 5:

It is written about Jesus that "(a) man with (an) unclean spirit met Him, out-of the tombs, who was-having (his) dwelling-place in the tombs" (Mark 5:2-3), and who "CONTINUALLY, (by) night and (by) day, in the tombs and in the mountains, HE-WAS CRYING-OUT and cutting himself (with) stones" (Mark 5:5) as he was NOT "BEING-SOUND-MINDED" (Mark 5:15) and as a result it is written abiut Jesus that "He-was-saying (to) it, “Come-out of the man, unclean spirit”" (Mark 5:8) and after the man was delivered, Jesus "says (to) him, “Go to your house, to your (people), and report to them all-that the Lord has-done (for) you, and (that) He SHOWED-MERCY [eleeó 1653 in Greek] (on) you”. And he-departed and began to-proclaim in Decapolis all-that Jesus did (for) him" (Mark 5:19-20). 

It is important to know that in the law of Moses, MADNESS could be a just curse as a result of disobedience, as it is written: "it shall be, if you will not heed the voice of your God, to take heed to do all His commandments and His statutes which I am commanding you today, even all these curses shall come on you" (Deuteronomy 28:15): "YHWH shall strike you with MADNESS" (Deuteronomy 28:28). 

Luke 17:

It is written that "ten LEPROUS MEN met Him, who stood at-a-distance. And they lifted (their) voice, saying, “Jesus, Master, SHOW-MERCY [eleeó 1653 in Greek] (on) us!”" (Luke 17:12-13) and as a result it is written about Jesus that "having-seen (them), He-said (to) them, “Having-gone, show yourselves (to) the priests”. And it-came-about during their going (that) they-were-cleansed" (Luke 17:14). 

It is important to know that in the law of Moses, SKIN ILLNESSES could be a just curse as a result of disobedience, as it is written: "it shall be, if you will not heed the voice of your God, to take heed to do all His commandments and His statutes which I am commanding you today, even all these curses shall come on you" (Deuteronomy 28:15): "YHWH shall strike you with an evil ULCER ON THE KNEES, AND ON THE LEGS" (Deuteronomy 28:28). 

↺ Click here to return to the Table of Contents.