Mercy: Mercy Isn't Fair

“But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either. Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.

If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.” -Luke 6:27-36

Is mercy fair? Nope. Take a look above at what Jesus said. If someone slaps you in the face, you’re supposed to let them slap the other side of your face too. He encourages giving someone all your clothes if they try to steal your coat. He advocates giving money to people even if you don’t think they’ll pay you back. Oh, and there’s that whole thing about loving people who hate you. Does any of that sound fair to you? I didn’t think so.

But it’s what God has done.

Humanity has all but slapped the face of God by choosing sin over him and he keeps coming after us. We have taken the blessings of God and squandered them, and he’s given us more. We have made ourselves enemies of God and he still loves us. Most of all, we have the great debt of sin that needs to be paid (Romans 6:23), and God sent his son Jesus to pay the debt for us, knowing that we could never pay him back.

When we become more like God, we will be more inclined toward this kind of mercy. Mercy trumps fairness every time.