The spiritual gift of mercy is the God-given ability to feel genuine empathy and compassion for individuals who are hurting and to translate that compassion into cheerfully done deeds that reflect Christ’s love and alleviate suffering. Those with this gift are able to overlook offenses and cheerfully serve those who are often ungrateful or deliberately unkind in response.
The Greek word for mercy is eleeo. It means to have mercy or show kindness with compassion and sympathy for someone else’s misery. In the New Testament, the concept of mercy is connected to forgiveness, grace, and expressing God’s love to others. Those with the gift of mercy have a special ability to enter into another person’s pain and provide comfort, compassion, and care to help alleviate suffering.
Some key characteristics of those with the spiritual gift of mercy include:
- A desire to alleviate suffering even at personal cost
- Empathy and sensitivity to those who are suffering
- Ability to perceive genuine needs in others
- Willingness to set aside personal agenda to help someone in need
- Initiative in seeking out those who need comfort and tenderness
- Joy and fulfillment from relieving hurt and bringing healing
- Ability to make people feel better about themselves
Those with the gift of mercy are often drawn to positions of service where sensitivity and care are required like hospitals, crisis centers, or inner-city ministries. They make excellent counselors, social workers, nurses, caregivers, and ministers. Their non-judgmental, compassionate spirit causes them to avoid legalism and to focus on caring for the needs of the moment.
The spiritual gift of mercy is listed in Romans 12:8 in Paul’s teaching on spiritual gifts. Paul writes, “the one who does acts of mercy [should do so] with cheerfulness.” This indicates that those with this gift perform acts of compassion, kindness, and care with a joyful willingness that reflects Christ’s love.
Examples of the gift of mercy in the Bible include:
- The Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37) – When others passed by the wounded man, the Samaritan was “moved with pity” and acted to meet his urgent physical and financial needs.
- Dorcas (Acts 9:36-42) – She was “full of good works and acts of charity” and her merciful service left a void when she died.
- Epaphroditus (Philippians 2:25-27) – He ministered to Paul’s need even when it left him sick and depressed.
Those with the spiritual gift of mercy reflect the compassion of Christ. As Jesus said, “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy” (Matthew 5:7). God calls all Christians to show mercy and compassion, but some believers have a special measure of mercy that makes them quick to recognize pain, sympathize with it, and provide comfort and care to alleviate suffering. This spiritual gift is a beautiful reflection of God’s gracious mercy toward us.
There are several important considerations regarding the spiritual gift of mercy:
1. Mercy complements the gift of exhortation
The gifts of exhortation and mercy work hand-in-hand. Those with the gift of exhortation come alongside to counsel, confront, and encourage individuals toward obedience and spiritual growth. Those with mercy then provide comfort, tenderness, and compassion to bind up the wounds as needed.
2. Mercy is rooted in humility
A merciful spirit is characterized by humility and gentleness. True empathy requires setting aside your own interests to enter another’s pain. It is free of arrogance and condescension.
3. Mercy must be discerning
While mercy cares deeply, it must also be rooted in discernment. Actions should be based in wisdom, addressing the real needs not just the perceived ones. Mercy is thoughtful, not merely emotional. It carefully considers how to show meaningful, constructive compassion.
4. Mercy and justice can work together
At times mercy may need to confront and correct with love, not just comfort. Mercy stands against sin, but does so gently and kindly. Mercy must be balanced by justice and accountability.
5. Mercy is a model for all believers
While some have the spiritual gift of mercy, compassion should be a virtue cultivated by all Christians in how they relate to others inside and outside the Church. As we have received mercy, we must show mercy (Matthew 18:21-35).
The spiritual gift of mercy is a beautiful expression of God’s grace at work in His children. As Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 1:3-5:
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too.
May we seek to share the comfort we have received from Christ with others, that they too may taste of God’s mercy.
Additional Bible passages about mercy:
Matthew 9:13 But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.
Matthew 23:23 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others.
Luke 6:36 Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.
Romans 12:1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.
2 Corinthians 1:3-4 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
Galatians 6:2 Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
Ephesians 2:4-5 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved.
Philippians 2:1 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy…
Colossians 3:12 Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience…
1 Peter 3:8 Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind.
The spiritual gift of mercy is a beautiful reflection of God’s compassion and care. Though not all Christians have this specialized gifting, we are all called to clothe ourselves in mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience (Colossians 3:12). As we have freely received mercy from Christ, we must freely give mercy to others.