10 For whoever keeps the entire law, and yet stumbles at one point is guilty of breaking it all.

11 For he who said, “Do not commit adultery” also said, “Do not murder”. So, if you do not commit adultery but you murder, you are a law breaker.

12 Speak and act as those who are to be judged by the law of freedom.

13 Judgment is without mercy, to those who have not shown mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

We are all guilty of breaking the law. From the time evil was unleashed on this earth, sending Adam and Eve out of the Garden of Eden, humanity has been breaking God’s law. We are incapable of living a perfectly pure and sin-free life.

Now wait! There’s good news!

Because we are so helpless on our own, God sent help. He knew that in our sinful state, we could not fulfill the requirements of His law. So, with great compassion and love for us, He sent His Son, Jesus. With Jesus came the perfect law of freedom…mercy and grace.

The law required a sacrifice for the atonement of sin. This sacrifice was a male lamb without blemish or flaw. The lamb served as a substitute for the one offering it, with its blood atoning for the sin. “…without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.” (Hebrews 9:22) This sacrifice had to be made repeatedly for the sins of the people.

Then Jesus, the perfect, unblemished, pure lamb of God came and offered Himself for the ultimate atonement for our sins. No more was required. It was finished. God raised Jesus from death on the third day and He sits at the right hand of God, having conquered sin and death once, for all.

That is the mercy we have been shown and from that mercy, we must show mercy to others. Mercy triumphs over judgment.