A SERIES OF DEVOTIONS BASED ON THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MATTHEW 

GOD’S MERCY CALLS YOU      

Matthew 12:10 “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?” (Matthew 12:9-14) 

To understand the context of today’s devotional verses, you need to first know who asks the question, “Is it lawful. . .?” It was the Pharisees who asked Jesus whether it was lawful to heal the infirmity of this man who was beyond human help. The questioners had just two verses earlier heard Jesus condemn them because they totally ignored another teaching of God’s holy words. 

Jesus had confronted the Pharisees in verse 7 with the fact that if They had known and remembered all of God’s Word and what it means they would not be asking their question. God not only said “remember the sabbath day.” He also taught, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’” (Hosea 6:6) The Pharisee’s chose to remember only the law, not the gospel, because they wanted to entrap Jesus and put Him to death for breaking the Old Testament law.   

The Old Testament had also prophesied that the Messiah would come into the world. They prophesied that one of the major characteristics of His ministry would be the compassion He would show. Jesus, in fulfillment of those prophecies did just that by healing those who had no other source to relieve them of their suffering due to blindness, being deaf, crippled, afflicted with incurable leprosy, etc. Compassion includes both having sorrow over the affliction of others and also alleviating the cause of their affliction.   

God is merciful. God said to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” (Romans 9:15) . . .” Because of God’s mercy and love He sent Jesus, His Son, to become the propitiation for sinners. (1 John 2:2) God’s mercy is always given because of God’s love.  

Prayer: Lord, teach me to be merciful even as you are merciful, through Jesus Christ Your Son, my Savior. Amen. 

Today Your mercy calls us To wash away our sin.  
However great our trespass, Whatever we have been,  
However long from mercy Our hearts have turned away,  
Your precious blood can wash us, And make us clean today. 

Today Your gate is open, And all who enter in  
Shall find a Father’s welcome And pardon for their sin.  
The past shall be forgotten, A present joy be giv’n.  
A future grace be promised, A glorious crown in heav’n. 

Today our Father calls us; His Holy Spirit waits;  
His blessed angels gather Around the heav’nly gates.  
No question will be asked us How often we have come;  
Although we oft have wandered, It is our Father’s home. 

O all embracing Mercy, O ever-open Door,  
What should we do without You When heart and eye run o’er?  
When all things seem against us, To drive us to despair,  
We know one gate is open, One ear will hear our prayer.  

Today Your Mercy Calls Us // LSB 915