Mercy is defined as compassion or forgiveness shown toward someone whom it is within one’s power to punish or harm. Mercy is choosing to forgive when you have every right to punish.

We can only be merciful when we have first received God’s mercy. In 1 Peter chapter 2, the apostle Peter expounds on Jesus’ 5th beatitude and instructed the believers scattered throughout Asia that since they had received God’s mercy for themselves they could now live His mercy out among the nations. We can understand how receiving God’s mercy empowers us to be merciful.