There is nothing new in these verses, but they are certainly ones we need to reflect upon often. Jesus would not keep repeating these reminders so often, if they were not important.
What is mercy? We are asked to work for justice, but mercy goes beyond justice. Mercy shows compassion and forgiveness, and does not ask for innocence!
Condemnation and judgment are not our business, only God's.
Sometimes we are asked to judge as on a jury, and it is a very difficult task. I remember being on a jury at one time and I was grateful that it was not a criminal case!
I tried very carefully to listen to both sides of the argument so as to render a fair and just verdict. I was very happy that we could all come to the same decision that there had not been any negligence on the part of the defendant.
But I know that in certain criminal cases I would have to be excused because I could never vote for the death penalty as I believe that no life should be ended prematurely.
We should never take freedom for granted, and if we can free a person from guilt or fear then we should take that opportunity and do it. Wouldn't we want the same?
If we want to be loved, then we need to love. If we want to be forgiven, we need to forgive. Both love and forgiveness need to be given without strings attached.
I will love you if; I will forgive you if! These are not the measures of God and shouldn't be our way of measuring either.
If we want God to be merciful, to judge with leniency, to not condemn us and to measure us with generosity, then we must act the same.
