Mercy and Grace

by Perry Hall

Are mercy and grace the same? As with many things, metonymy can combine multiple things under a single word (i.e., faith often includes obedience and being saved by grace). Even with that example, faith and works are distinguishable. Faith is inward first (like mercy), being trust, and then demonstrated outwardly second (like grace), showing obedience. In this example, as obedience follows trust, so does grace follow mercy.

A Thought Exercise to show the difference:

Hebrews 4:14-16 shows the true fulfillment of the holy of holies.

1. Instead of Aaron and his descendants being high priests, we have the great high priest.
2. Instead of passing through a curtain, the heavens are passed through.
3. Instead of the sons of Aaron, we have the Son of God.
4. Instead of a high priest who has sinned, we have one without sin.
5. Instead of the high priest entering into the presence of God, all can draw near to God.
6. Instead of a mercy seat, there is a throne of grace.

That last point might not be as powerful today as the first-century Jewish mind.

1. The seat is now called a throne. The ark of the covenant was topped with the mercy seat, which was considered the meeting place of Yahweh with His people (Numbers 7:89). Jesus is both king and priest. Jesus is Yahweh.
2. The seat of mercy is now the throne of grace. Never in the Old Testament is the word "grace" (chen) connected to the ark of the covenant. It is always the "mercy seat" (kapporet 26 times). Surprisingly, the word "mercy" (tahinna) is not even found until the book of Joshua (Joshua 11:20).

Why did the Aaronic high priest enter into the holy of holies? To offer an atonement sacrifice.

Why was an atonement sacrifice needed? For sins of the people and himself.

This is why Jesus was tempted yet without sin. We sin. He did not.

All this makes the distinction between mercy and grace more poignant.

1. Israel went to the mercy seat to receive mercy, which meant not receiving what they deserved - destruction. That was the emphasis. Atonement is a covering of sin.
2. Believers go to the throne of grace to receive both mercy and grace, but now the emphasis is on receiving what we do not deserve. Atonement now is full forgiveness.

Now compare Hebrews 2:17-18 with Hebrews 4:14-16. The emphasis is not just on withstanding temptation but deeper - when we don't withstand temptation. That is why Jesus is the high priest (Hebrews 2:17; 4:14-15) and the atonement sacrifice (Hebrews 2:17), and the mercy seat is now the throne of grace (Hebrews 4:16).

If these Hebraic believers do not accept Jesus, they are missing the fulfillment. They are missing the great high priest. They are missing the divine king. They are missing grace in their time of need. Jesus didn’t let His sufferings stop Him in our time of need. Will these Hebraic believers allow their sufferings to stop them in their time of need?