In using the natural affection of pity for our own children, God revealed His pity toward us. When our children sin, at the first sign of repentance we want to comfort and assure them that they are forgiven. So does God! God feels pity as our Father much more perfectly than we can. “For a mere moment I have forsaken you, But with great mercies I will gather you. With a little wrath I hid My face from you for a moment; But with everlasting kindness I will have mercy on you, Says the lord, your Redeemer” (Isa.54:7-10 - See also the passages at the end of this article).
Paul also spoke of the vastness of God’s mercy. As a “blasphemer” “persecutor” and “violent aggressor,” he truly was the “chief of sinners!” He “obtained mercy” “as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life” (1Tim. 1:12-16). Thus Israel’s apostasy and Saul’s laying waste the church reveal that no one can exhaust the mercy of God. His “pity, empathy, and sympathy” are as limitless as “the heavens above the earth” to “those who fear Him!” No matter how evil we become or how far away we stray, God is always willing to build the bridge for us if we seek to return. “The Lord is my Shepherd I shall not want ... He restores my soul, ... surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life” (Ps 23:6).
Although God’s mercy is limitless, Jesus worded this passage so we would conclude that the mercy we show others will enhance or decrease the mercy we will obtain from God. This is the first of three times in this sermon that Jesus taught the conditional nature of mercy, forgiveness and judgment. The manner we give them to others will impact what we receive from God.
In our prayers for forgiveness we are told to verbalize this link when we say: “forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.” We are never to forget that God will forgive us exactly the same way and to the same degree (as) we forgive others. To remove all doubt, Jesus concluded: “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” Later, Jesus gave the parable of the forgiven servant who refused to forgive. “Should you not also have had mercy on your fellow slave, even as I had mercy on you?” Once again Jesus made the application: “So shall My heavenly Father also do to you, if each of you does not forgive his brother from your heart” (Mt.6:12-15; 18:23-35).
The more mercy we give the more mercy we will receive! If we measure out harsh judgment, refuse to forgive, and show no mercy to those seeking it, this is how God will measure it back to us when we stand before Him. If we measure out compassion and understanding instead of harsh judgment, showing great mercy and forgiveness to others in their need, then this is how God will deal with us. The passage is an incentive. We are blessed if we show mercy for we will obtain mercy. We are cursed if we do not show mercy for it will decrease God’s mercy.
Conclusion. What an amazing and wonderful opportunity! Just as we can “lay up treasures in heaven” by sacrificing our possessions, we can also store up for ourselves mercy in heaven by being merciful. As a dimmer switch controls the brightness of a bulb, our mercy controls the power of God’s mercy toward us. “With the merciful You will show Yourself merciful; With a blameless man You will show Yourself blameless; 26 With the pure You will show Yourself pure; And with the devious You will show Yourself shrewd. For You will save the humble people, But will bring down haughty looks.” (Ps. 18:25-27).