On seeing Benjamin after so many years, Joseph’s “inward emotions [plural of ra·hhamʹ] were excited” toward his younger brother and Joseph left the room and gave way to tears. Was this a case of showing “compassionate treatment to an offender or adversary”​—one of the meanings of mercy? No, for although Joseph’s half brothers were guilty of personal offense, Benjamin was not. Instead, Joseph’s act was one born of deep affection and merciful concern for this younger brother of his. What a richness this example gives to that Hebrew word that describes God’s mercy as well!​—Gen. 43:30;

JESUS SETS EXAMPLE IN MERCY

Prominent among those calling forth Jesus’ mercy were parents whose children were ill, the blind, the demon-possessed, the leprous. (Matt. 9:27-29; Luke 17:12-14) In response to their plea, “Have mercy on us,” Jesus performed miracles to relieve them. And he did so, not in a routine, apathetic or condescending way, but “moved with pity.”​—Matt. 20:33, 34.

We can appreciate Jesus’ strong feeling more by noting that, in this last phrase, the Gospel writer used a verb (form of splagʹkhnon) that literally means “to feel the bowels yearn.” Yes, God’s Son felt deeply moved inside on seeing the needs of others.

This same word describes Jesus’ feeling upon seeing the crowds who gathered to hear him, for they were “skinned and thrown about like sheep without a shepherd.” (Matt. 9:36; 14:14; Mark 6:34) And that same merciful feeling caused Jesus to provide those crowds with food so that they would not “give out on the road” on returning home. (Matt. 15:32) In all this depth of feeling for people in distress or need, resulting in acts of mercy, Jesus was but reflecting his Father’s wonderful qualities.​—Compare Jeremiah 31:20.

It is not enough to feel compassion; we must express it if we would be merciful. In Jesus’ parable of the neighborly Samaritan, the Samaritan found a traveler lying beside the road, robbed and beaten. He was not only “moved with pity,” but he also “acted mercifully toward him,” treating his wounds and caring for him. Again we may note that no forgiveness of wrongdoing or judicial proceedings were involved. It was a case of feeling “sympathy with the misery of another, and especially sympathy manifest in act”​—one of the definitions of the verb form of eʹle·os.​—Luke 10:33-37.

These few examples help us to appreciate how much is involved in being merciful. Must we wait until someone causes us some personal offense or until someone violates some rule or law to show mercy? By no means, but we can show it to any in need of help, to complete strangers as well as to friends and those we love. Mercy is indeed compassion in action.