Being Compassionate & Merciful Toward Our Neighbor

N18

N18

We are to be compassionate and merciful toward our neighbor.

Category: Neighbours & Brothers

Type: Positive

Form: Explicit

Source dataset: Old Testament

Uniqueness: Unique

Classical commandment: No

New Covenant Literal Application

Applies to Person Categories: Everyone

Literal Application: mandated

More explanation about New Covenant Literal Application

The New Covenant Literal Application Code (NCLA) is an interpretive guide used by the authors to indicate which person categories a mitzvah applies to, and at what level of literal compliance.

It combines person categories such as Jewish, K'rov Yisrael, and Gentile, together with male/female distinctions and an application level such as mandated, recommended, optional, or prohibited.

This code reflects the authors' interpretive opinion and is provided for prayerful consideration. On this page, the technical code is summarized into plain language to help new readers understand it more easily.

Read the full explanation from the source

Bible references

Key NT Scriptures

Colossians 3:12
Luke 6:36
Matthew 5:7
1 Peter 3:8

Supportive NT Scriptures

2 Corinthians 1:3
Ephesians 2:4
Galatians 6:2
Hebrews 8:11-12
James 5:11
1 John 3:17
Jude 1:21
Luke 1:49-50
Luke 5:30-32
Luke 7:13
Mark 3:1-5
Mark 5:19
Mark 6:34
Mark 9:41
Matthew 6:14-15
Matthew 7:12
Matthew 9:10-13
Matthew 9:36
Matthew 12:7
Matthew 14:14
Matthew 15:32
Matthew 18:33
1 Peter 1:3
1 Peter 2:10
Philippians 2:1-2
Philippians 2:27
Romans 9:15
Romans 12:8

Supportive OT Scriptures

2 Chronicles 30:9
Deuteronomy 4:31
Exodus 33:19
Exodus 34:6
Isaiah 30:18
Isaiah 49:10
Isaiah 49:13
Isaiah 54:10
Isaiah 63:7
Jeremiah 3:12
Joel 2:13
Jonah 4:2
Lamentations 3:32
Nehemiah 9:17
Psalms 18:26
Psalms 86:15
Psalms 103:4
Psalms 103:8
Psalms 103:13
Psalms 111:4
Psalms 112:4
Psalms 116:5
Psalms 119:156
Psalms 145:8-9

Bible verses copyright: PUBLIC DOMAIN except in the United Kingdom, where a Crown Copyright applies to printing the KJV. See http://www.cambridge.org/about-us/who-we-are/queens-printers-patent

Commentary

Rabbi Michael Rudolph

Mercy and compassion are often referred to in the same Scripture, and the various translations of the Bible sometimes do not agree on which of the words should be used in a given verse. Although they are related to loving our neighbor, mercy and compassion are not the same. Compassion is an empathetic identification with a person's trial or difficulty, whereas mercy is an action (or intentional inaction) of withholding harm from a person that one is empowered to impart. It is ideal when mercy is driven by compassion, but it is sometimes driven by other motivators as well, such as duty and considerations of practicality. Sympathy is also referred to in Scripture, but it is different in that it is more of a cognitive recognition of a person's difficulty, that is not necessarily accompanied by an emotional response. Mercy and compassion are attributes of God, that God wants to be our attributes as well. The reason that God can require them of us is that they are part of creation - part of His having created us in His image. Whereas, compassion comes upon us automatically, whether or not we extend mercy requires that we decide based upon circumstances, and there are times (e.g. when justice requires punishment) when it is right to withhold mercy even while feeling compassion. The Scriptures presented herein are clear that it is God's will that we have an attitude of mercy toward our neighbor, the reason being that God is merciful toward us. Indeed, mercy is an attribute of God, for we read in Exodus 34:6-7: ADONAI passed before him and proclaimed: "YUD-HEH-VAV-HEH!!! Yud-Heh-Vav-Heh [[ADONAI]] is God, merciful and compassionate, slow to anger, rich in grace and truth; showing grace to the thousandth generation, forgiving offenses, crimes and sins; yet not exonerating the guilty, but causing the negative effects of the parents' offenses to be experienced by their children and grandchildren, and even by the third and fourth generations. This is known within Judaism as the "Thirteen Attributes of Mercy" or " Shelosh-'Esreh Middot HaRakhamim ."

Classical commentators

This Mitzvah is not addressed by any of the classical commentators.

Drawings

Artist: Jenske Visser

Short Movies

Moving Works - Bettie Goes to Jail

At the of age 70, Bettie Kaufmann has a conversation with God. Little does she know that this one interaction will eventually send her to jail.

Impact video ministries - How to be a REAL friend?

International Justice Mission - IJM: Fighting to End Slavery. For Good.

Right now, more than 45 million people are enslaved worldwide. Children, women and men are trapped in forced labor or sexual slavery, where violence, deceit and abuse become their everyday. Learn what IJM is doing and how you can join the fight: http://bit.ly/1XuPkGu International Justice Mission is a global organization that fights slavery and protects the poor from violence in the developing world. Our global team includes hundreds of lawyers, investigators, social workers, community activists and other professionals at work in nearly 20 communities. Join IJM in the fight to end slavery. Give today: ijm.org/givetoday

Nick Vuijick - Motivational Minute #16: Be a Miracle

Songs

Casting Crowns - Does any body hear her

Josh Wilson - I refuse

Matthew West - The God Who Stays

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Source and License

Based on The Law of Messiah - Torah from a New Covenant Perspective by Michael Rudolph and Daniel C. Juster.

Volume 1 & 2 | Volume 3

License: CC BY-ND 4.0 (Attribution required, NoDerivatives). CC BY-ND 4.0

Disclaimer: the original content is authored by Rabbi Michael Rudolph and Rabbi Daniel Juster; additional notes or implementation details on this website are not part of their original work and do not represent their views.

Record source: The Law of Messiah - Torah from a New Covenant Perspective - Volume 1 & 2

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