Meaning
Negatively, "mercy" is something withheld, restricted, or restrained; not giving what is deserved. Positively, "mercy" is God’s active compassion to the needy; the outpouring of pity and kindness; God’s goodness toward those in distress. God’s tenderness of heart toward the needy.

Biblical Words for Mercy
-- Greek, eleos
-- Hebrew, hesed

Biblical Teaching
God’s mercy is that quality of compassion and pity aroused by the physical, spiritual, or psychological suffering or misfortune of another (2 Sam. 24:14; Ps. 56:1; Mt. 9:27-29; 2 Cor. 1:3; Phil. 2:27; Heb. 4:16; Jm. 5:11).

God’s saving mercy:

• Is exercised freely toward whomever he pleases (Rom. 9:15-18, 23)
• Makes room for His gracious provision of Christ (Eph. 2:4-5; 1 Tim. 1:13-16; Tit. 3:5; 1 Pt. 1:3)
• Motivates us to live sanctified lives in service to him (Rom. 12:1)
• Is the only hope for a defiant human race (Rom. 11:30-32)

Also, God’s mercy:

• Restrains his anger toward us when we do sin (Deut. 13:17; Ps. 78:38; Dan. 9:9)
• Is an essential characteristic of being Jesus’ disciple (Mt. 5:7)
• Gives religious practices substance and meaning (Mt. 12:1-2, 7; Jm. 1:27)
• Is the basis upon which we extend mercy to others (Mt. 18:21-35; Jm. 2:13)
• Never-ends; the end of one mercy is the beginning of another (Lam. 3:22-23; Ps. 119:132)

Biblical Words for Grace
-- Greek, charis
-- Hebrew, hen

God's grace means the stronger helping the weaker; favor bestowed, or granted; giving what is not deserved; unmerited blessing; enablement, power, gift.

Biblical Teaching

God is gracious in the Old Testament, as well as the New (Gen. 21:1; Ex. 34:6; Ps. 145:8; Joel 2:13; Jonah 4:2).

Since grace is the opposite of human merit and effort (Rom. 3:23-24; 11:6, then faith is the only appropriate response to grace, Rom. 4:14, 16; Eph. 2:8).

God’s grace:

• Redeems and forgives (Eph. 1:7)
• Empowers for Christian service (Acts 6:8; Rom. 12:6; 1 Cor. 15:10; Eph. 4:7; 1 Pt. 4:10)
• Gives relief from trials, not by removing them, but by enabling us to endure them so Christ is exalted in our weaknesses (2 Cor. 12:7-10)
• Is the source of success in ministry (Acts 14:26-27)
• Makes living godly lives possible (Tit. 2:11-12)
• Is ever-present to help in our need (Heb. 4:16; 1 Pt. 5:10)

To Consider: Mercy is not giving us what we do deserve, while grace is giving us what we do not deserve. Both are necessary in God’s plan for our salvation and sanctification.

Practical Implications
Prayerfully consider the following:

• Who among those I know could I show special care and mercy toward this week?
• Am I gracious to my brothers and sisters in Christ by allowing them the time and space they need to grow? Or do I expect them to conform immediately to my way of thinking or behaving?
• Do I show mercy or disdain for the immature believer?
• Am I compassionate and gentle with non-Christians, or impatient and repulsed?
• Who among those I know could I be a blessing to so that I might enable them in their service to God?
• Am I merciful in my attitude toward my friends or family when I don’t agree with them, or am I judgmental?