Mt. 9:9-13, Words of Compassion: eleeo (2)

eleos: mercy, compassion, pity

·       Mt.9:13: learn what it means, "I'll have mercy & not sacrifice" (Mk.12:7)

·       Mt.23:23: Pharisees do law but omit weightier parts: judgment, mercy, faith

·       Lk.1:50,54: Mary's song: "His mercy on generation after generation," God has helped Israel in remembrance of his mercy

·       Lk.1:58: Mary's neighbors heard of God's mercy to her

·       Lk.1:72,78: Zechariah's song: God gave Jesus "to show mercy" to fathers & "because of his tender mercy"

·       Lk.10:37: man who loves = one who showed mercy to victim in Good Sam. "Go & do the same", Jesus says.

·       Rom.9:23: God endures vessels of wrath so he can put glory on vessels of mercy

·       Rom.11:31: Jews disobedient so they can see mercy on Gentiles & then be shown mercy

·       Rom.15:9: Christ served Jews so Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy

·       Gal.6:16: peace, mercy on those who follow rule concerning circumcision

·       Eph.2:4: God who is rich in mercy has made us alive

·       I Tim.1:2: Grace, mercy, peace fr. God & Christ (2 Tim.1:2; 3 Jn.3)

·       Tit.3:5: not by works but acc. to his mercy God saved us

·       Hb.4:16: come boldly to throne of grace, find mercy to help in time of need

·       Jas.2:13: he'll be judged w/o mercy who has shown no mercy

·       Js.3:17: wisdom from above is … full of mercy.

·       I Pet.1:3: God, acc to his mercy, caused us to be born again to bring hope through resurrection

·       Jude 2: may mercy, peace & love be justified

·       Jude 21: keep in God's love, waiting anxiously for mercy of Christ to eternal life.

This “mercy” is one of the 7 spiritual gifts (Rom. 12:6-8).  That speaks of how important this is to life in the Body of Christ.  Nevertheless, I hear frequently of church divisions.  It seems we often do not have compassion on each other but are in competition with each other (1 Cor. 1-4)!  The sins of those around us (as well as our own sins) are just evidence of their pitiable situation.  They need mercy, not judgment.  If we are no merciful we will not receive mercy (Mt. 5:7). 

We also see the continuing emphasis: we must receive mercy from God and then we can show mercy to those around us.  Further, God does not want our sacrifices; He wants mercy (Mt. 9:13).  All we have in Christ has come to us by the mercy of God.  We deserved none of it!  May we be merciful as God is merciful!