Biblical mercy is not just a characteristic of the individual but a socio-political characteristic of the kingdom. The religious leaders in the Good Samaritan parable chose ritual purity over compassion, and the parable exposes their folly. In the kingdom of God, compassion is more important than purity. The parable prompts readers to ask about the “purity codes” in the world around us. Do groups of people, nations or neighborhoods count as “unclean” or “impure” because of illness or disability, income or color, sexual orientation or workplace? What are the unwritten purity codes in our own time that curb our own exercise of biblical mercy?
Biblical mercy regards everyone as neighbor. Here mercy is not a quality that signals a situation of wrong-doing, describing something a victim might offer – or withhold from – an offender. Nor does biblical mercy signal a power imbalance, describing something the more powerful may design to offer someone less powerful. For a Christian, all the world’s a neighbor, and “neighboring” one another is the only way to live in the neighborhood.
Copyright © 2025 Women of the ELCA. Inquiries for permission to reproduce should be directed to [email protected]. If you enjoy this resource, Donate Now.