People First Mercy

In my previous blog post, I introduced the idea of Biblical mercy. I talked about how God wants us to practice his mercy in our lives. He calls us to be merciful to others just as he has been merciful to us. You can read that post here.
Today, I want to explore the first of seven ways to show mercy to others; people-first mercy. He wants us to value people and our human relationships over rules and regulations.

Prioritizing Love: The Heart of God’s Commandments

God wants us to follow the laws. However, he also wants us to understand the importance of loving Him and each other first. If God wanted only strict adherence to laws and rules he could have just taken away our free will. Instead, he created us with emotions and feelings and told us that love is the greatest of all of them. We serve a compassionate God. Our God loved us enough to send his only son as a sacrifice for our sins. So when we talk about how to show Godly mercy to others, valuing peoples’ needs over rules is really important.

We know this is important to God because we see him reference it several times in scripture. Jesus mentioned loving others as being important far more often than he preached strict rules to follow. One such instance is in Matthew 22: 37-40 where it says, “ Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” This was Jesus’ reply to the question, which is the greatest of all the commandments? His answer? Love; above all else, love.

People-First Mercy Over Legalism: Why Rules Alone Fall Short

While rules and laws serve important functions in guiding our behavior, they often fall short of fully addressing the complexities of human interactions and relationships. At their core, rules are designed to establish boundaries and maintain order. However, they can sometimes overlook the nuanced needs and emotions of individuals. In our pursuit of righteousness, it’s crucial to recognize that rigid adherence to rules alone can lead to a lack of empathy for our fellow human beings. Let’s explore why prioritizing humanity over legalism is essential in embodying the love and compassion that God calls us to demonstrate.

However, rules and laws don’t always leave room for compassion. I’m sure you have all heard the question about stealing before. If you’re stealing bread to feed your family, is it still stealing? We can agree that technically, yes, that would still be stealing and against the law. But the compassion that Jesus has asked of us would mean that the bakery owner could give the bread away to the hungry rather than call the cops.
How many homeless people do you pass on the street corners each day on your way to and from work? Did you know most cities have ordinances against people begging, or panhandling, on the streets? Jesus’ people-first mercy would call you to help clothe or feed those people, rather than reporting their panhandling.

Compassion Over Law: Lessons from Jesus’ Teachings in Matthew and Luke

In Matthew 12:1-14 Jesus and his disciples are criticized by the Pharisees for picking grain on the Sabbath, which was considered unlawful. Jesus responds by emphasizing the importance of mercy and compassion over strict adherence to the law. He states, “If you had known what these words mean, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the innocent.”

Again, we are shown how humanity should come before lawfulness in the story of the Good Samaritan. In this story, a Samaritan man helps a Jewish man who has been beaten and left on the side of the road. Their cultural and religious differences would have normally kept them apart. Jesus uses this parable to teach about the importance of showing kindness to others, regardless of their social status. (Luke 10:25-37)

These passages, among others, illustrate the biblical principle that love, mercy, and compassion should take precedence over rigid adherence to legalistic interpretations of the law. Jesus consistently demonstrated this principle throughout his teachings and actions, emphasizing the importance of caring for others above all else.

The Prodigal Son: A Message on Mercy

The parable of the Prodigal Son, found in Luke 15:11-32, is a profound illustration of people-first mercy, emphasizing compassion and forgiveness over strict adherence to rules and societal expectations.

The father in the parable represents God’s unconditional love and readiness to forgive. Despite the younger son’s reckless behavior and squandering of his inheritance, the father welcomes him back with open arms. This act of mercy underscores the value of the son as a person, not his past mistakes.

Restoration Over Retribution

Upon the son’s return, the father does not chastise or punish him. Instead, he restores the son’s status by giving him a robe, a ring, and sandals, and by throwing a celebratory feast. This highlights the importance of restoring relationships and dignity over seeking retribution or adhering to punitive measures.

Compassion Over Judgment

The father’s actions contrast sharply with the elder son’s response, who represents a more legalistic viewpoint. The elder son focuses on the fairness and justice of the situation, feeling resentment for his brother’s welcome. The father gently reminds him that mercy and compassion are more important than strict justice, encouraging a perspective that values people and relationships above rigid rule-following.

Joy in Repentance and Reconciliation

The parable emphasizes the joy and celebration that come with repentance and reconciliation. The father’s joy in seeing his lost son return highlights the Christian message that God rejoices more over one sinner who repents than over those who have no need of repentance (Luke 15:7). This joy underscores the people-first approach, valuing the restoration of a person over maintaining a record of wrongs.

The father’s mercy demonstrates that everyone is deserving of a second chance. By welcoming his wayward son back without hesitation, the father shows that inclusivity and offering new beginnings are central to living out mercy. This reflects the broader Christian call to love and accept others, regardless of their past.

The parable of the Prodigal Son teaches that true mercy prioritizes people over strict adherence to rules. It encourages a heart of compassion, forgiveness, and unconditional love, embodying the core of Christian teachings on how to treat others.

People-First Mercy = Community Outreach

One of the most important concepts of Christianity is community outreach. People taking advantage of others in the temples of Jerusalem is what made Jesus so angry he flipped the tables and drove everyone out (Mark 11:15)! Helping the poor is one of the most referenced topics throughout the Bible. Jesus even tells us in Matthew 25:45 “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.'”. If we aren’t helping the poor, we aren’t effectively following Jesus.

In James 2:15-16 James reminds us that just meaning well or being nice to the poor isn’t enough. He wrote, “¹⁵ Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. ¹⁶ If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it?”. Jesus implores us to help even the least of those in our communities. It is the cornerstone of people-first mercy in action.

Embracing the Heart of Christianity: People-First Mercy in Action

It wasn’t long ago that I found myself as a young, single mom needing help making ends meet. I struggled to put food on the table at one time and relied on local food banks at times. Now that God has delivered me out of that struggle I make it a priority to help out at our local food bank often. If you are feeling led to help in community outreach in your area food banks or your local Salvation Army are good places to start.

Embracing people-first mercy over legalism isn’t just a theological concept; it’s a transformative way of living out our faith. As we navigate the complexities of human interactions and societal structures, we’re reminded of God’s ultimate commandment: to love one another as He loves us. By prioritizing compassion over rigid adherence to rules, we mirror the heart of God. From the teachings of Jesus to the timeless wisdom found in scripture, the message is clear: our faith is expressed most authentically through acts of kindness, empathy, and genuine care for those around us.

As we engage in community outreach and extend a helping hand to the marginalized and vulnerable, we fulfill our Christian duty and experience the profound joy of serving others with a spirit of love. In the end, people-first mercy isn’t just a moral imperative. It’s the very essence of what it means to follow in the footsteps of Christ.

Resources for getting involved in community outreach

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