Love, Mercy and Forgiveness
The Harmony of Instruction · His own commandments: one another · Christ, the apostles, the parables, Proverbs and the Psalms
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The new commandment and what follows from it: mercy, forgiveness, service, and care for the least.
Each section follows one order: the word of Christ; the apostles who hand it on; the parables; the wisdom of Proverbs; the Psalms; and the Law, the Prophets and the rest of Scripture. Verses of Proverbs and the Psalms are quoted in full from the Saints Translation; everything else is linked to the place where it is given in full. Psalms are numbered as in the Greek, with the Hebrew number in parentheses. The selection is an editor’s gathering: a doorway into the text, not an addition to it.
On this page: The New Commandment · Judging and Forgiving · Serving · The Little Ones and the Poor
The New Commandment
The new commandment is the old one given a measure: as I have loved you. Its ground is the name the Lord proclaimed to Moses, compassionate and merciful, and its reach is the newcomer and the enemy.
The word of Christ
46. A new commandment: to love one another as He has loved you. John 13:34–35
I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I loved you, you also are to love one another. By this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you have love among one another.”
John 13:34–35
47. To be merciful, as your Father is merciful. Luke 6:36
Become merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
Luke 6:36
48. To love your enemies, do good, and lend expecting nothing back. Luke 6:35
49. Go, and do likewise: to show mercy as the Samaritan did. Luke 10:36–37
The apostles hand it on
8. To remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, It is more blessed to give than to receive. Acts 20:35
In everything I showed you that by working in this way we must support the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”
Acts 20:35
12. This is His commandment: to believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ and to love one another, just as He commanded us. 1 John 3:23
15. Not to love in word or tongue but in deed and truth: whoever sees his brother in need and closes his heart, how does the love of God remain in him?. 1 John 3:17–18
16. Love is patient and kind; it bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 1 Corinthians 13:4–7
23. Judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment. James 2:13
117. If your enemy is hungry, feed him; for by doing this you will heap burning coals upon his head. Romans 12:20
In parable
The Good Samaritan. The neighbor is the one who showed mercy. Go, and do likewise.
The Two Debtors. The one who is forgiven much loves much.
The wisdom of Proverbs
Hatred raises strife,
Proverbs 10:12
but friendship covers all who do not love strife.
Let a friend be yours at every time,
Proverbs 17:17
and let brothers be useful in necessities;
for this is why they are born.
Do not let acts of mercy and faithfulness fail you. Fasten them around your neck, and you will find favor.
Proverbs 3:3
One who dishonors the needy sins,
Proverbs 14:21
but one who has mercy on the poor is blessed.
In the Psalms
Look, what is good or what is delightful
Psalm 132 (133):1
except for brothers to dwell together?
The Lord is compassionate and merciful,
Psalm 102 (103):8
patient and abundant in mercy.
As a father has compassion on children,
Psalm 102 (103):13
the Lord had compassion on those who fear Him,
The Law, the Prophets and the rest of Scripture
In the commandments of the Law: 13. To love your neighbor as yourself · 11. To walk in His ways · 526. To lend to the poor among the people
Your enemy’s ox Exodus 23:4–5
The Lord, compassionate and merciful Exodus 34:6–7
Love the newcomer as yourself Leviticus 19:34
He loves the newcomer Deuteronomy 10:18–19
Elisha feeds the enemy 2 Kings 6:21–23
Mercy and compassion, each to his brother Zechariah 7:9–10
Judging and Forgiving
Judge not; forgive; and if your brother sins, go to him. Lamech boasted of vengeance seventy times seven, and the Lord turns the number into forgiveness. The psalmist knows why: if You closely watch lawless deeds, Lord, who will withstand?
The word of Christ
50. Not to judge, so that you are not judged; first to take the beam out of your own eye. Matthew 7:1–5
Do not judge, so that you may not be judged. For with the judgment you use, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Why do you see the splinter in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the beam in your own eye? Or how will you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the splinter from your eye,’ when behold, the beam is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the beam from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the splinter from your brother’s eye.
Matthew 7:1–5
51. To forgive, so that your Father may forgive you. Matthew 6:14–15
52. To forgive your brother not seven times but seventy times seven. Matthew 18:21–22
Then Peter came and said to Him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not tell you up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.
Matthew 18:21–22
53. If your brother sins, to show him his fault between you and him alone; then with one or two others; then to tell it to the church. Matthew 18:15–17
The apostles hand it on
19. To forgive one another, just as the Lord forgave you. Colossians 3:12–13
Therefore put on, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, tender compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another if anyone has a complaint against someone. Just as the Lord forgave you, so also must you.
Colossians 3:12–13
21. To restore in a spirit of gentleness the one caught in a trespass, and to bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. Galatians 6:1–2
22. Not to judge your brother or despise him, for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of God. Romans 14:10–13
23. Judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment. James 2:13
85. Every matter is to be established by the mouth of two or three witnesses. 2 Corinthians 13:1
In parable
The Unforgiving Slave. The one forgiven ten thousand talents would not forgive a hundred denarii: so My heavenly Father will do to you, unless each of you forgives his brother from the heart.
The Lost Son. The father runs to the son who was dead and is alive again, and pleads with the elder brother.
The Pharisee and the Tax Collector. The one who humbled himself went down to his house justified rather than the other.
Nathan: The Poor Man’s Ewe Lamb. The rich man takes the poor man’s one lamb; David condemns him, and Nathan answers, You are the man.
The wisdom of Proverbs
If your enemy falls, do not rejoice over him,
Proverbs 24:17–18
and at his tripping do not lift yourself up,
for the Lord will see, and it will not please Him,
and He will turn His wrath away from him.
Do not reprove evil people, so that they may not hate you;
Proverbs 9:8
reprove a wise person, and he will love you.
Open rebukes are better than concealed friendship.
Proverbs 27:5–6
A friend’s wounds are more trustworthy
than an enemy’s willing kisses.
One who hides wrongdoings seeks friendship,
Proverbs 17:9
but one who hates hiding them separates friends and household members.
In the Psalms
If You closely watch lawless deeds, Lord,
Psalm 129 (130):3–4
Lord, who will withstand?
For with You is atonement.
He has not dealt with us according to our sins,
Psalm 102 (103):10–12
nor repaid us according to our lawless deeds,
for according to heaven’s height above the earth,
the Lord strengthened His mercy toward those who fear Him.
As far as the east is distant from the west,
He removed our lawless deeds from us.
A righteous man will discipline me in mercy and correct me,
Psalm 140 (141):5
but let a sinner’s oil not enrich my head,
for still my prayer is amid their good pleasures.
The Law, the Prophets and the rest of Scripture
In the commandments of the Law: 21. Not to bear a grudge · 16. To reprove your neighbor · 573. A single witness is not to stand against a man
Lamech’s seventy times seven Genesis 4:24
Joseph forgives his brothers Genesis 50:17–21
Two witnesses and three Deuteronomy 19:15
You are the man 2 Samuel 12:5–7
Sins whitened like snow Isaiah 1:18
I will certainly not remember Isaiah 43:25
Warn the lawless person Ezekiel 3:18–19
Sins thrown into the depths of the sea Micah 7:18–19
Serving
The great one is the servant, as the Son of Man came to serve: the Servant of Isaiah, and the king of Zechariah who comes gentle. The whole of Scripture stands behind His word that the one who exalts himself will be humbled.
The word of Christ
54. Whoever wishes to be great among you shall be your servant, as the Son of Man came to serve. Matthew 20:26–28
It shall not be so among you. Instead, whoever wishes to become great among you will be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you will be your slave, just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve and to give His life as a ransom in place of many.”
Matthew 20:26–28
55. To wash one another’s feet, as He has done. John 13:14–15
So if I, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, so that you also may do just as I did to you.
John 13:14–15
56. To take the last place, for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled. Luke 14:10–11
57. When you have done everything commanded, to say, We are unprofitable slaves. Luke 17:10
58. Not to be called Rabbi, father or guide, for you are all brothers. Matthew 23:8–10
The apostles hand it on
24. To have the mind of Christ Jesus, who emptied Himself, taking the form of a slave; to count others above yourselves. Philippians 2:3–8
doing nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility considering one another above yourselves, each looking not to your own interests, but each also to those of others. Have this mind among yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, existing in the form of God, did not regard being equal with God as something to exploit, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a slave, coming to be in the likeness of human beings; and being found in appearance as a human being, He humbled Himself, becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
Philippians 2:3–8
25. To clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, and to humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God. 1 Peter 5:5–6
26. Elders are to shepherd the flock of God willingly, not lording it over those in their charge but being examples. 1 Peter 5:1–4
28. To show no partiality: not to give the rich man the good seat and tell the poor man to stand. James 2:1–5
29. To receive the runaway slave no longer as a slave but as a beloved brother, as you would receive the apostle himself. Philemon 1:15–17
116. God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. James 4:6–7
In parable
The Unprofitable Slaves. When you have done all that was commanded, say, We have done what we ought to have done.
The Lowest Place at the Feast. Everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.
The Watchful Slaves. Blessed are those slaves whom the master finds awake: he will gird himself and serve them.
The wisdom of Proverbs
Insolence leads before ruin,
Proverbs 16:18–19
and evil-mindedness before a fall.
Better a gentle-tempered person with humility
than one who divides spoils with the insolent.
Insolence brings a man low,
Proverbs 29:23
but the Lord supports the humble-minded with glory.
Wherever insolence enters, dishonor is there too,
Proverbs 11:2
but the mouth of the humble meditates on wisdom.
The Lord opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.
Proverbs 3:34
In the Psalms
For the Lord is high and watches the lowly,
Psalm 137 (138):6
and the lofty He knows from afar.
Who is like the Lord our God,
Psalm 112 (113):5–8
who dwells in high places,
and looks upon lowly things
in heaven and on earth?
He raises the poor from the ground
and lifts the needy from the dung heap,
to seat him with rulers,
with the rulers of His people.
He will guide the meek in judgment;
Psalm 24 (25):9
He will teach the meek His ways.
The Law, the Prophets and the rest of Scripture
Water for their feet Genesis 18:4
Moses, very gentle Numbers 12:3
He humbles and raises high 1 Samuel 2:7–8
A maid to wash the feet of your servants 1 Samuel 25:41
My servant Isaiah 42:1–4
He bore the sins of many Isaiah 53:12
Life to the brokenhearted Isaiah 57:15
Your king comes, gentle Zechariah 9:9
One Father of you all Malachi 2:10
The Little Ones and the Poor
What is done to the least is done to Him. Proverbs had said it of the Maker: whoever has mercy on the poor lends to God, and whoever extorts from the needy provokes the One who made him.
The word of Christ
59. To let the children come to Him and not hinder them. Mark 10:14
When Jesus saw it, He was indignant and said to them, “Let the children come to Me; do not stop them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.
Mark 10:14
60. Not to despise one of these little ones, nor cause one of them to stumble. Matthew 18:10
61. When you give a feast, to invite the poor, the crippled, the lame and the blind. Luke 14:12–14
62. What you did to one of the least of these His brothers, you did to Him. Matthew 25:40
The King will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, insofar as you did it to one of the least of these My brothers, you did it to Me.’
Matthew 25:40
63. To have salt in yourselves and be at peace with one another. Mark 9:50
The apostles hand it on
15. Not to love in word or tongue but in deed and truth: whoever sees his brother in need and closes his heart, how does the love of God remain in him?. 1 John 3:17–18
But whoever has this world’s means of living and sees his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or with the tongue, but in deed and truth.
1 John 3:17–18
27. Not to put a stumbling block in a brother’s way; not to destroy by your food the one for whom Christ died. Romans 14:13–15
28. To show no partiality: not to give the rich man the good seat and tell the poor man to stand. James 2:1–5
67. Pure and undefiled religion: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world. James 1:27
68. To let brotherly love continue, not to neglect hospitality, and to remember the prisoners as though in prison with them. Hebrews 13:1–3
84. That there may be equality: the one who gathered much had nothing over. 2 Corinthians 8:13–15
126. The fast the Lord has chosen: to loose the bonds of injustice and break your bread for the hungry. Barnabas 3:1–5
136. The Way of the Black One: idolatry, arrogance, hypocrisy, adultery, murder; those who do not attend to the widow and the orphan. Barnabas 20:1–2
In parable
The Sheep and the Goats. Insofar as you did it to one of the least of these My brothers, you did it to Me.
The Great Supper. Those first invited made excuses; the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame are brought in.
The Rich Man and Lazarus. If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be persuaded if someone rises from the dead.
The Lost Sheep. There is joy in heaven over one sinner who repents.
2. The Elm and the Vine. The vine bears fruit only when it climbs the elm: the rich man supports the poor, and the poor man’s prayer supports the rich.
The wisdom of Proverbs
One who extorts from the needy provokes the One who made him,
Proverbs 14:31
but one who honors Him has mercy on the poor.
One who has mercy on the poor lends to God,
Proverbs 19:17
and He will repay him according to his gift.
One who blocks his ears from hearing the weak
Proverbs 21:13
will himself also call, and there will be no one listening.
One who has mercy on the poor will himself be nourished,
Proverbs 22:9
for he gave of his own loaves to the poor.
Open your mouth for God’s word,
Proverbs 31:8–9
and judge everyone soundly.
Open your mouth and judge justly,
and decide the case of the poor and weak.
In the Psalms
Blessed is the one who understands the poor and needy;
Psalm 40 (41):2
in an evil day the Lord will rescue him.
From the mouth of infants and nursing children You prepared praise,
Psalm 8:3
because of Your enemies,
to bring down the enemy and the avenger.
Judge for the fatherless and the poor;
Psalm 81 (82):3–4
vindicate the lowly and the needy.
Deliver the needy and the poor;
rescue them from the hand of a sinner.”
the Father of orphans and judge of widows,
Psalm 67 (68):6
God in His holy place.
The Law, the Prophets and the rest of Scripture
In the commandments of the Law: 495. Not to put a stumbling block before the blind · 250. To open your hand to the poor
The salt of the covenant Leviticus 2:13
Leave them for the poor Leviticus 19:9–10
Open your hands to your brother Deuteronomy 15:7–8
An eye for the blind Job 29:12–16
Break your bread for the hungry Isaiah 58:6–7
The sin of Sodom Ezekiel 16:49
Redeem your injustices through almsgiving Daniel 4:27
Boys and girls playing in her squares Zechariah 8:4–5
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Saints Translation · The Harmony of Instruction · an editor’s gathering; statements and summaries in our own words; passages quoted from the Saints Translation with His words in red · working draft awaiting specialist review.