“Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice.’” Matthew 9:13

Go and Learn

I’ve always been a “pull yourself up by your bootstraps” kind of person. This means that I take responsibility for myself; plan ahead to meet my needs; push through hard times; take whatever comes my way—and many other related “strong within myself” attributes. My parents raised me this way, and I see quite often that I expect others to live this way, too. It’s often a struggle for me to feel or show real pity for others.

I have had to learn some very hard lessons about depending upon God, and not leaning on my own understanding, and acknowledging His sovereign decisions in all things. But recently, my heart has been confronted by His Word about His desire for mercy.

When Jesus quoted Hosea 6:6 in today’s passage, He was talking to the religious leaders—the teachers. He was telling them to go learn for themselves what they were so bent on teaching others. They were attempting to “keep the law”, but ignoring the attribute of mercy—which Jesus called “one of the weightier matters of the law” (Matthew 23:23).

When I began to learn what “mercy” means, I found four words for mercy used in Scripture.

Chesed: unfailing love; kindness; tenderness

Eleas: outward expression of pity

Racham: to show compassion, pity or love

Eleeo: an active desire to remove distress

Thus…

Mercy is unfailing: foundational; always present; embedded in us.

Mercy is outward: it shows; it is obvious.

Mercy is expressive: given away; used; spoken; shown.

Mercy is active: offered; in use; energetic.

In order to test whether I am in the faith, I must ask myself a few questions: Have I learned what this means? Do I show mercy? Is it active in my life? Is it unfailing—or is it conditional upon whether people are living as I think they should? Am I kind? Am I tender? (Sadly, I must answer “no” too often.) Do others believe I am merciful? In what ways do I show compassion? When was the last time I removed someone’s distress? Have I given mercy its proper place as one of the weightier matters in life? And when I do show mercy, do I do it with all my heart, energetically—or do I act like “I’m making a big sacrifice and I sure hope you appreciate it”?

I have much to learn about mercy, the first step being to fully appreciate the mercy God has given me. Mercy is not a feeling—it’s a doing.

“Father, Your mercy is unfailing, outward, expressive, and active. Teach us, Lord. We desire to go and learn what this means. Amen.”