5 Bible Verses on God’s Mercy

“If you had known what these words mean, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the innocent.” (Matthew 12:7-8, NIV). With this rebuke, Jesus corrected the Pharisees who accused His disciples of breaking the Sabbath. He continues in verse 11: “If any of you has a sheep and it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will you not take hold of it and lift it out?” From this, we learn that being merciful means coming to the aid of others without stopping to judge them. Practicing mercy means forgiving, understanding another’s distress and their motivations. Let’s explore together through 5 Scripture passages how great God’s forgiveness is and how we should apply it.

5 Scriptures to Develop a Compassionate Heart

Jesus is Compassionate; He Understands Our Weaknesses

“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” (Hebrews 4:15-16)

Mercy, or the Art of Not Judging

“and said to Jesus, ‘Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. (...) When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, ‘Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.’” (John 8:4-7)

Mercy Forgives Past Mistakes

“So he got up and went to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.’” (Luke 15:20-22)

Compassion Moves Us to Action

“Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight and followed him.” (Matthew 20:34)

Being Compassionate Means Opening Your Heart to Others

“Jesus called his disciples to him and said, ‘I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. I do not want to send them away hungry, or they may collapse on the way.’” (Matthew 15:32)