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Reflection of God's Mercy in Human Forgiveness

The concept of mercy in God is foundational to understanding human forgiveness, as divine mercy provides both the pattern and the motivation for believers to forgive others [4, 5]. Mercy, in its broadest sense, is compassion for the miserable, with its object being misery itself [4]. God's mercy is a perfection of His character, exercised towards His creatures, and when directed towards the miseries of His creatures, it manifests as pity and compassion [8]. In the context of impenitent sinners, it is expressed as long-suffering patience, and when communicating favor to the unworthy, it is grace [8].

The Bible frequently highlights God's mercy. Psalm 51:1 appeals to God's "loving kindness" and "multitude of tender mercies" to blot out transgressions [3]. The prophet Sirach also speaks of the "great mercy of the Lord, and his forgiveness to them that turn to him" [7]. This divine mercy is not a fleeting emotion but is described as being "from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him" [12]. It is the spring and origin of pardon, taking its rise from God's free grace and abundant mercy, though it is channeled through the blood and sacrifice of Christ [9, 11].

God's forgiveness of sin is a central aspect of His mercy. It involves absolving the sinner from the condemnation of the law and removing the guilt of sin, thereby freeing the sinner from liability to eternal wrath [1]. This act of grace is offered freely to all in the Gospel [1]. Ephesians 1:7 states that "in whom we have our redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace" [2]. This redemption, achieved through Christ's blood, is the price paid for salvation and is a manifestation of God's abundant benevolence [15]. The atoning sacrifice of Christ opens the way for God to exercise mercy in harmony with truth and righteousness [4, 6].

Human forgiveness is presented as a reflection of this divine mercy. Jesus' teachings emphasize the importance of forgiving others, even commanding it [5]. The Lord's Prayer, for instance, includes the petition, "as we have forgiven" [14]. This implies that forgiving others is a characteristic of a repentant heart that has experienced God's forgiveness [14]. Those who have received God's mercy are expected to extend mercy to others [5]. As one commentary notes, "God has shown Himself 'kind, tender-hearted, and forgiving to you'; it is but just that you in turn shall be so to your fellow men" [13]. The degree to which one has erred against God far surpasses any offense committed by a fellow human [13].

The command to forgive is unlimited, as seen in Matthew 18:22 and Luke 17:4 [5]. This forgiveness should be accompanied by forbearance, kindness, blessing, and prayer [5]. Conversely, Jesus implies that those unwilling to forgive have not truly perceived God's mercy and may not have genuinely repented [14]. The absence of forgiveness towards others can hinder one's own forgiveness from God, as highlighted in Matthew 6:15 and James 2:13 [5]. Adam Clarke further elaborates that mercy inclines believers not to condemn others unmercifully, but to lessen, conceal, and excuse their faults without prejudice to truth and justice [10]. The motivation for human forgiveness is rooted in God's mercy, our own need for forgiveness, and the forgiveness we have received through Christ [5].

Sources

  1. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Forgiveness of sin — One of the constituent parts of justification. In pardoning sin, God absolves the sinner from the condemnation of the law, and that on account of the work of Christ, i.e., he removes the guilt of sin, or the sinner's actual liability to eternal wrath on account of it. All sins are forgiven freely (Acts 5:31; 13:38; 1 John 1:6-9). The sinner is by this act of grace for ever freed from the guilt and penalty of his sins. This is the peculiar prerogative of God (Ps. 130:4; Mark 2:5). It is offered to all in the gospel. (See [219]JUSTIFICATION.)”
  2. Ephesians “in whom we have our redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, -- Ephesians 1:7”
  3. Psalms “Have mercy on me, God, according to your loving kindness. According to the multitude of your tender mercies, blot out my transgressions. -- Psalms 51:1”
  4. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Mercy — Compassion for the miserable. Its object is misery. By the atoning sacrifice of Christ a way is open for the exercise of mercy towards the sons of men, in harmony with the demands of truth and righteousness (Gen. 19:19; Ex. 20:6; 34:6, 7; Ps. 85:10; 86:15, 16). In Christ mercy and truth meet together. Mercy is also a Christian grace (Matt. 5:7; 18:33-35).”
  5. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Forgiveness of Injuries — Christ set an example of -- Lu 23:34. Commanded -- Mr 11:25; Ro 12:19. To be unlimited -- Mt 18:22; Lu 17:4. A characteristic of saints -- Ps 7:4. Motives to The mercy of God. -- Lu 6:36. Our need of forgiveness. -- Mr 11:25. God's forgiveness of us. -- Eph 4:32. Christ's forgiveness of us. -- Col 3:13. A glory to saints -- Pr 19:11. Should be accompanied by Forbearance. -- Col 3:13. Kindness. -- Ge 45:5-11; Ro 12:20. Blessing and prayer. -- Mt 5:44. Promises to -- Mt 6:14; Lu 6:37. No forgiveness without -- Mt 6:15; Jas 2:13. Illustrated --”
  6. Romans “whom God sent to be an atoning sacrifice, through faith in his blood, for a demonstration of his righteousness through the passing over of prior sins, in God’s forbearance; -- Romans 3:25”
  7. Sirach “Sirach 17:28 (DRC) — How great is the mercy of the Lord, and his forgiveness to them that turn to him !”
  8. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Goodness of God — A perfection of his character which he exercises towards his creatures according to their various circumstances and relations (Ps. 145:8, 9; 103:8; 1 John 4:8). Viewed generally, it is benevolence; as exercised with respect to the miseries of his creatures it is mercy, pity, compassion, and in the case of impenitent sinners, long-suffering patience; as exercised in communicating favour on the unworthy it is grace. "Goodness and justice are the several aspects of one unchangeable, infinitely wise, and sovereign moral perfection. God is not sometimes ”
  9. Hebrews (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Hebrews 8:12: For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness,.... That is, sin; for all unrighteousness is sin, being contrary to the justice of God, and his righteous law: and the phrase is expressive of God's forgiveness of it, which is a very considerable article of the covenant of grace; mercy is the spring and original of pardon; it is what God delights in, and therefore he pardons freely; it is large and abundant, and hence he pardons fully; and this lays a foundation for hope in sensible sinners: and the way and means, in and by which God pardons, is the propitiatory sacri”
  10. Luke (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Luke 6:37: Judge not - See on Mat 7:1 (note). "How great is the goodness of God, in being so willing to put our judgment into our own hands as to engage himself not to enter into judgment with us, provided we do not usurp the right which belongs solely to him in reference to others!" Condemn not - "Mercy will ever incline us not to condemn those unmercifully whose faults are certain and visible; to lessen, conceal, and excuse them as much as we can without prejudice to truth and justice; and to be far from aggravating, divulging, or even desiring them to be punished." Forgive - ”
  11. Luke (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Luke 1:78: Through the tender mercy of our God,.... or "bowels of mercy", to which the forgiveness of sin is owing; the source and spring of pardon, is the free grace and abundant mercy of God; it takes its rise from thence, though it is channelled in the blood and sacrifice of Christ; and which no way derogates from, but rather heightens the riches of God's grace and mercy: for it was mercy that moved God to enter into a covenant with his Son, in which forgiveness of sin is promised; and it was mercy to set forth his Son, in his eternal purposes and decrees; and to send him forth”
  12. Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 103:15: But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him,.... In opposition to the frailty of man, the stability and duration of the mercy of God is observed. This reaches from one eternity to another; it is from everlasting in the heart of God: it appeared in the choice of the vessels of mercy; in the covenant of grace, which is founded upon it, and filled with it; every blessing of which flows from it, and therefore are called the "sure mercies of David". And it appears in time in the regeneration of God's elect, which is according to h”
  13. Ephesians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Ephesians 4:32: (Luk 7:42; Col 3:12). even as--God hath shown Himself "kind, tender-hearted, and forgiving to you"; it is but just that you in turn shall be so to your fellow men, who have not erred against you in the degree that you have erred against God (Mat 18:33). God for Christ's sake--rather as Greek, "God in Christ" (Co2 5:19). It is in Christ that God vouchsafes forgiveness to us. It cost God the death of His Son, as man, to forgive us. It costs us nothing to forgive our fellow man. hath forgiven--rather as Greek, "forgave you." God has, once for all”
  14. Matthew (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Matthew 6:12: 6:12 as we have forgiven (see also 6:14-15; 18:21-35): Forgiving others is a reflection of a repentant, regenerate heart, which makes our own forgiveness possible. Those who have experienced God’s forgiveness will forgive. Jesus implies that those who are unwilling to forgive have not perceived God’s mercy, and perhaps have never truly repented.”
  15. Ephesians (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Ephesians 1:7: In whom we have redemption - God has glorified his grace by giving us redemption by the blood of his Son, and this redemption consists in forgiving and delivering us from our sins; so then Christ's blood was the redemption price paid down for our salvation: and this was according to the riches of his grace; as his grace is rich or abundant in benevolence, so it was manifested in beneficence to mankind, in their redemption by the sacrifice of Christ, the measure of redeeming grace being the measure of God's own eternal goodness. It may not be useless to remark that”
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