MERCY ｜ 怜悯

ENMERCY. Infrequently applied to the beneficences of God to men as dependent and needy; its chief and specific reference is to men as sinners under God's frown and the Law's condemnation. In this reference it expresses God's favor to the ill-deserving—the guilty and condemned. That this, and nothing less than this, is its radical and vital meaning in all the great texts of both Testaments, will appear from a thoughtful reading of a few of these texts: Ex. 20:6; 34:7. Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin. Ps. 100:5. His mercy is everlasting. Ps. 103:11, 17. As the heaven is high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward them that fear Him. The mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting. Ps. 51:1. Have mercy upon me, O God, according to Thy lovingkindness. Ps. 85:10. Mercy and truth are met together. Ps. 101:1. I will sing of mercy and judgment. Ps. 130:7. With the Lord there is mercy, and with Him is plenteous redemption. Ps. 145:8. The Lord is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy. Eph. 2:4. God, who is rich in mercy. Titus 3:5. According to His mercy He saved us. Jude 21. Looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.

BSBPsalm 103:11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His loving devotion for those who fear Him.

中怜悯。此词偶尔也用于神向依赖他、有缺乏之人所施的恩惠；但其主要而特定的指向，是那些在神震怒之下、在律法定罪之下的罪人。在这一指向上，它表达神向亏欠之人——有罪而被定罪之人——所施的恩宠。以下略举数节，细读便知：在新旧两约一切要紧经文中，这一含义（不多不少正是这一含义）就是它根本而攸关的意思：出埃及记 20:6；34:7 —— 为千万人存留慈爱，赦免罪孽、过犯和罪恶。诗篇 100:5 —— 因为耶和华本为善，他的慈爱存到永远。103:11, 17 —— 天离地何等的高，他的慈爱向敬畏他的人也是何等的大。耶和华的慈爱归于敬畏他的人，从亘古到永远。51:1 —— 神啊，求你按你的慈爱怜恤我。85:10 —— 慈爱和诚实彼此相遇。101:1 —— 我要歌唱慈爱和公平。130:7 —— 因他有慈爱，有丰盛的救恩。145:8 —— 耶和华有恩惠，有怜悯，不轻易发怒，大有慈爱。以弗所书 2:4 —— 神既有丰富的怜悯。提多书 3:5 —— 乃是照他的怜悯……便救了我们。犹大书 21 —— 仰望我们主耶稣基督的怜悯，直到永生。

ENThus defined as favor to the ill-deserving, Mercy includes two specific acts of God as Lawgiver and Father. 1. Pardon, or remission of the penalty of sin—that is, of the punishment pronounced against the transgressor—together with restoration to an accepted standing before the Law. 2. Forgiveness, whereby the Father's disapproval and displeasure are replaced by His approval and favor. With these constituent elements of mercy the texts will be found in harmony: Neh. 9:17. A God ready to pardon, gracious and merciful. Micah 7:18. Who is a God like unto Thee, that pardoneth iniquity? Isa. 55:7. He will abundantly pardon. Ps. 25:11. For Thy name's sake, O Lord, pardon mine iniquity. Ps. 32:1, 5. I acknowledged my sin unto Thee . . . and Thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Ps. 86:5. Thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive. Ps. 103:3. Who forgiveth all thine iniquities. Ps. 130:4. There is forgiveness with Thee, that Thou mayest be feared. Acts 13:38. Through this Man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins. Eph. 4:32. Forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you. 1 John 1:9. He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins. Mercy and power: Ps. 62:11, 12. Power belongeth unto God. Also unto Thee, O Lord, belongeth mercy. Mercy and judgment: Ps. 101:1. I will sing of mercy and judgment—two sides of God's character and dealing. In every life is a blending of the mercy and the judgment of a just and gracious God.

BSBPsalm 130:4 But with You there is forgiveness, so that You may be feared.

中既这样界定为『向亏欠者所施的恩宠』，怜悯便包含神作为立法者与父的两项具体作为。1. 赦免（pardon），即免去罪的刑罚——就是向犯法者宣告的那刑罚——同时使他恢复在律法面前蒙悦纳的地位。2. 饶恕（forgiveness），凭此，父的不悦与不喜被他的悦纳与恩宠所取代。这些经文与怜悯的这两项构成元素完全相合：尼希米记 9:17 —— 你是乐意饶恕人、有恩典、有怜悯……的神。弥迦书 7:18 —— 神啊，有何神像你，赦免罪孽？以赛亚书 55:7 —— 因为他必广行赦免。诗篇 25:11 —— 耶和华啊，求你因你的名赦免我的罪。32:1, 5 —— 我向你陈明我的罪……你就赦免我的罪恶。86:5 —— 主啊，你本为良善，乐意饶恕人。103:3 —— 他赦免你的一切罪孽。130:4 —— 但在你有赦免之恩，要叫人敬畏你。使徒行传 13:38 —— 赦罪的道是由这人传给你们的。以弗所书 4:32 —— 并要以恩慈相待……正如神在基督里饶恕了你们一样。约翰一书 1:9 —— 他是信实的，是公义的，必要赦免我们的罪。怜悯与权能：诗篇 62:11-12 —— 能力都属乎神。主啊，慈爱也是属乎你。怜悯与审判：诗篇 101:1 —— 我要歌唱慈爱和公平——这是神品格与作为的两面。在每一个人的一生里，都交织着这位公义而施恩之神的怜悯与审判。