Mat 5:7 Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
Mercy is a two fold ministry, compassion and forgiveness. Compassion is sympathetic pity and concern for the misfortunes of others. Compassion motivates people to go out of their way to help the physical, mental, or emotional pains of another and themselves. Compassion is often regarded as having sensitivity, which is an emotional aspect to suffering.
Forgiveness on the other hand is ceasing to feel resentment or anger and demanding punishment or restitution for a perceived offense (clearing one from guilt justified by a fault). It is releasing one from what you might somehow have a right to hold on to and demand restitution.
The parable of the Good Samaritan gives us a glimpse of mercy. Note the Samaritan’s motivation for helping a stranger, “…he had compassion” (Luk 10:33). We act when we are moved, but how often do our hearts become hard and rigid holding on to what we ought to give away? Mercy is rooted in love, it is love that overleaps all the hates, unforgiveness and distinctions. It risks its very life in order to render to forgive and help. We are blessed when we give away what is rightfully ours for the sake of others. True test of blessedness is seen by how we deal with compassion and forgiveness in the light of who we are in Christ. Psa 18:25 “With the merciful you show yourself merciful;”