Mercy, Charity
Archimandrite Nikifor’s Biblical Encyclopedia
(Matt. 5:7)—one of the most important Christian virtues, exercised by means of works of corporal and spiritual mercy. “Manifold is the form of mercy, and broad is this commandment,” says St. John Chrysostom. The works of corporal mercy are the following: to feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, clothe the naked or one lacking suitable and necessary clothing, visit one who is in prison, visit the sick, receive and give rest to the stranger, and bury the dead who die in poverty.
The works of spiritual mercy are the following: to turn a sinner from the error of his way by admonition, to teach the ignorant truth and goodness, to give a neighbor good and timely counsel in a difficulty or danger not perceived by him, to pray to God for him, to comfort the sorrowful, not to repay evil for the evil that others have done to us, and to forgive offenses from the heart. The Lord promises the merciful that they shall obtain mercy—that they shall be shown mercy from eternal condemnation for sin at the Judgment of God.