Remember, Lord, Your great mercy and love, for they are from of old….Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your unfailing love. According to Your great compassion blot out my transgressions….Let Your mercy come to me, that I may live; for Your law is my delight. (Psalm 25:6, 51:1, 119:77)
John the Merciful
John of Alexandria (550-616 AD) was born into a wealthy clan. When his wife and children all died young, John devoted himself to Christian service. He and another Christian named Nicetas had a sharp disagreement and harsh words were spoken. Nicetas was wrong, but John remembered Christ’s command in Ephesians 4:26—“In your anger do not sin. Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry.” As evening approached, John sent a message to Nicetas. “Brother, the sun is setting. Let us be reconciled.” And they made peace. After John’s death he was known as “John the Merciful.” Would anyone give us that nickname?
Here are some more reasons from Scripture why we must forgive others.
This post builds on Show Mercy to Others (Part 1)
We Must Show Mercy Because Christ Commands Us
Micah 6:8 God has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
C. S. Lewis says: To be a Christian means to forgive the inexcusable in others because the Lord has forgiven the inexcusable in us. And then the Holy Spirit’s presence in Jesus’ followers enables us to turn away from hard-heartedness to obey Christ’s commands out of grateful love for Him.
The Lord is good and hates evil, and the Spirit enables us to imitate God’s character of righteousness and grace. Christ has made the final and complete sacrifice for us on the Cross. For Jesus’ sake, And God forgives us our sins and purifies us from all unrighteousness, so we must show mercy to others. Pastor Thomas Watson (1620–1686) said: We may go to Hell for not forgiving others as well as for not believing on Christ.
Micah 6:8 is a great summary of our Christian duty and lifestyle:
| The Lord’s greatest commandment | Loving God with our heart, mind, soul, and strength | Loving our neighbor as our self |
| God’s commands at Mt. Sinai | The first four commandments | The second six commandments |
| Micah 6:8 | Walking humbly with our God | Acting justly and loving mercy |
Even though trusting, obeying, and loving the Lord primary, it cannot be separated from treating others as we want them to treat us.1 Showing mercy is essential for Christians, not optional
We Will Need Mercy Ourselves in the Future
The Apostle James says: We all stumble in many ways. Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by God’s law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment. (2:12-13, 3:2)
Musician TobyMac says: “I’ll never be a non-stumbler. I’m a forgiven stumbler, but never a non-stumbler.” I feel the same. Yes, Christians must strive to keep Christ’s commands and do what pleases Him,2 but we still fail frequently. The Apostle Paul sums it up so well in Romans 7:24-25: “Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord.” All along the way to Heaven, Christians still need to pray: “O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner.”3
We need mercy from the Lord and other people everyday. So we need to be merciful to them. Soon we may be the offending one instead of the offended! Pastor Thomas Adams (1583–1652) said: “Whoever cannot forgive others breaks the bridge over which they need to cross.” Jesus says: “Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.”4
Showing Mercy Brings Us Spiritual and Physical Health
King Solomon says: The merciful, kind, and generous person benefits their soul [for their behavior returns to bless them]. But the person who is cruel and callous [to the needs of others] brings themself harm….Whoever despises their neighbor sins [against God and our fellow mortals]. But happy [blessed and favored by God] is the one who is gracious and merciful. (Proverbs 11:17, 14:21 AMP)
Being merciful to others is good for our physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual health. It makes us better and more Christ-like people. Resisting self-centeredness and loving neighbors softens our heart towards the needs and troubles of others. If they respond gratefully to our merciful behavior, that encourages our souls to see that God’s way works! And we may make a new friend or strengthen an existing bond. Even if they don’t respond well to our mercy, we have at least tried to be peacemakers and God is pleased.
Healthcare professionals say that resentment and bitterness can cause: increased stress levels; weakened immune system; elevated blood pressure; insomnia and sleep disorders; digestive issues; muscle tension and pain; and accelerated aging. One famous pastor stated that many hospital patients could be healed if they would forgive others. All the Scriptures teach us that the Lord gives joy and peace to those who trust and obey Him. This includes forgiving others.
Jesus Christ says: Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. (Luke 6:36-38)
Notes (various Bible translations): 1 Matt 7:12; Luke 6:31. 2 1 John 3:22. 3 Luke 11:13. 4 Matt 5:7.