On Mercy // Luke 6:36

Luke 6:36 (NIV) | Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

The context of today’s verse is where Jesus taught about how to relate to people who consider you their enemy. Verse 35 reads as follows, “But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.” So how do we do this? One answer is with meekness, which is strength under control. The other answer is how Jesus told us to be merciful. Mercy is withholding the punishment that someone deserves. God does this for us and asks us to extend it to others. So, be merciful as your Father is merciful. This is living into the Golden Rule for sure.