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Mungo & Augustinians


CIOCI ANN VISIT!!!!


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PLEASE STUDY THIS SINCERELY. DON'T JUST COPYPASTE. THIS IS VITAL TO OUR UNDERSTANDING OF GOD, AND TO HAVING A GENUINE RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM.


3627 (oikteirō): inner stirring of pity— used of God alone.
• 1653 (eleeō): active mercy— used of God and believers.
• 4698 (splagchnizomai): visceral compassion—frequent in the Gospels for Jesus’ response to human need.

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3628 oiktirmós – properly, compassion (pity), i.e. deep feeling about someone's difficulty or misfortune (TDNT, 1:159).
3628 /oiktirmós ("visceral compassions") is used of the deep feelings God has for all of us, and powerfully shows and shares in those following Him.

(Rachamim) ...the viscera, which were thought to be the seat of compassion, pity, mercy... bowels in which compassion resides, a heart of compassion... emotions, longings, manifestations of pity.
⭐⭐‼️‼️https://biblehub.com/interlinear/colossians/3-12.htm

⭐ "οἰκτιρμός" denotes the deep feeling of pity that moves one to relieve another’s misery. It is more than sentiment; it is an inward disposition that motivates concrete, self-giving action.

⭐⭐⭐‼️‼️‼️True Worship is Motivated By Mercy = “I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s compassion, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God— this is your spiritual service of worship”. Here compassion is the spring that propels worshipful obedience. The believer’s entire life becomes a liturgy offered back to the God who first pitied and saved.

⭐❓Paul appeals “by means of/ through the compassions of God” to urge believers to present their bodies as living sacrifices.
("of the instrument used to accomplish a thing, or of the instrumental cause" "to denote the manner in which a thing is done, or the formal cause" "the reason for which a thing is done" "the mental affection by which one is impelled to some act")
(“through” in the sense of agency or instrumentality; with the accusative it most often indicates reason, cause, or motive: "because of,” “for the sake of”)


⭐⭐Every act of consolation is grounded in God's own character. compassion is not an occasional impulse but an attribute intrinsic to God’s nature. Compassion flows from God’s loyal Love and Covenant Faithfulness toward His people.
⭐⭐⭐‼️The Gospels portray Jesus “moved with compassion” toward lepers, widows, and crowds “like sheep without a shepherd.” His miracles, teachings, and atoning death display God’s mercy in action... Believers can yield themselves wholly to God only when they have first grasped the magnitude of divine mercy revealed in Christ.
In Jesus, divine mercy takes flesh, acting sacrificially for sinners.
Evangelism highlights God's mercy by pointing to the cross as God’s supreme act of pity toward rebels.

‼️‼️❓❓"Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy (compassion) on the testimony of two or three witnesses. Just think how much worse the punishment will be for those who have trampled on the Son of God, and have treated the blood of the covenant, which made us holy, as if it were common and unholy, and have insulted and disdained the Holy Spirit who brings God’s mercy to us!" = this penalty highlights the gravity of despising the greater grace found in Christ Who IS mercy.
"He that despised Moses' law,.... By breaking it wilfully, and presumptuously, for which there was no sacrifice"
The writer employs the negative side of the term to underscore the terrible consequence of apostasy. Mercy spurned heightens judgment; thus divine compassion never nullifies divine justice, but magnifies it.
Final judgment will vindicate God’s mercy toward believers and His righteousness toward the impenitent.

Jewish writings between the Testaments use this term to describe God’s saving acts toward Israel in exile and restoration. 

⭐‼️Recipients of mercy become agents of mercy; the virtue is both indicative and imperative in our sanctification. Therefore all ministry is derivative— by drawing upon God’s inexhaustible mercy, pastors and fellow-believers mediate that same mercy to the afflicted. Ministry & Pastoral care that merely offers advice without heartfelt pity misrepresents the Father of compassion. Social action rooted in gospel compassion resists both cold indifference and works-based self-righteousness.

Paul appeals to “affection and compassion” to foster unity. Compassion softens hearts, disarms rivalry, and undergirds the mind of Christ that regards others as more important than oneself. Without compassion, doctrinal orthodoxy will surely become harsh, and will not reflect God's true character. With compassion, the Truth is both upheld and adorned by Love, which God IS.
Church discipline, though sometimes severe, must always be administered with tears, reflecting God’s own compassionate heart.
(RELIGIOUS LEADERS VS JESUS CHRIST)

Tenderheartedness is the first garment in the ethical wardrobe of the new creation man. The directive assumes a corporate setting: compassion must be visible, habitual, and perceptible within the Christian congregation.

⭐⭐❤Strong’s Greek 3628 portrays the tender mercies of God that initiate salvation, sustain the afflicted, and shape communal and personal ethics. Flowing from the Heart of the Father, embodied in the Son, and applied by the Spirit, compassion becomes both the ground and the goal of Christian life and ministry.

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"For GOD says to Moses, “I WILL HAVE MERCY (ἐλεέω( ON WHOMEVER I HAVE MERCY, AND I WILL SHOW COMPASSION (οἰκτίρω) TO WHOMEVER I SHOW COMPASSION.”"
⭐“I will cause all My goodness to pass (covenant language!) before you,” the LORD replied, “and I will proclaim My name—the LORD—in your presence. I will be gracious (chanan/"pitch my tent with") to whom i will be gracious, and I will have compassion (racham/"womb tenderness") on whom I have compassion.”
⭐⭐This phrasing does NOT posit "capriciousness" in God, but rather magnifies sovereign compassion that overrides human merit.

Strong’s Greek 3627, οἰκτίρω, conveys the idea of heartfelt compassion that moves one to action. It springs from an emotional response to the misery of another and, in Scripture, is directed exclusively to God’s own disposition toward people. Unlike the more frequently used 1653 (eleeó), which accents benevolent favor, 3627 stresses the inward stirring of pity that precedes merciful intervention.
οἰκτείρω denotes the inward feeling of compassion which abides in the heart.
"to respond with deep sensitivity & sympathy"

The rarity of 3627 heightens its impact: while believers are exhorted to express mercy, this particular word reserves ultimate, decisive compassion for the LORD.

⭐⭐⭐ Divine pity is not a sentimental impulse, but a sovereign act grounded in God’s character and covenant fidelity.
Salvation rests not on human desire or effort, but on God who freely shows mercy. The verb therefore anchors the doctrine that divine compassion is neither earned nor arbitrary, but flows from God’s purposeful will... Believers can rest assured in a salvation rooted in God’s compassion, not in our personal "merit", while the humbling recognition that mercy is only bestowed freely curbs ambitious pride.
⭐‼️God’s compassion is self-determined; no external claim can obligate Him. His Compassion is exercised within His Promises, by His Covenant Faithfulness. The passage follows Israel’s golden-calf rebellion, highlighting grace after grave sin.
God's mercy toward individuals has a redemptive purpose: it advances God’s plan to bless all nations... salvation history pivots on divine compassion. Because divine compassion encompasses Jew and Gentile alike, it propels the Church toward cross-cultural evangelism and holistic care. Awareness that God alone initiates salvation fuels confidence in preaching (as it rests in God's compassion, not human efforts) while inspiring works of charity that mirror His heart for the suffering.

⭐‼️Prayerful intercession appeals to God’s compassionate nature... Liturgical prayers invoke the Lord’s pity for forgiveness and healing, aligning corporate worship with the biblical pattern of pleading for mercy before proclaiming grace.

⭐⭐‼️Those who have received divine pity are prompted to extend tangible mercy to others.
Let every act of service flow from remembered mercy.
Extend forgiveness and practical help in relationships, reflecting the Master’s Heart.

Strong’s Greek 3627 encapsulates a profound biblical truth: the LORD’s sovereign, covenantal pity initiates and sustains redemption... it spotlights the foundation of gospel hope— God’s free and purposeful compassion toward the undeserving.

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ἐλεέω = TYPICALLY AS THE PLEA "[JESUS] HAVE MERCY ON ME" OR AS "GOD HAS SHOWN / WILL SHOW MERCY"

Strong’s Greek 1653, ἐλεέω, expresses the active bestowal of mercy— an outward movement of compassion that alleviates misery. Its thirty-two New Testament occurrences cluster around three spheres: (1) urgent human pleas for help, (2) the Lord Jesus Christ’s merciful interventions, and (3) apostolic reflection on salvation history. Each occurrence unveils God’s Heart toward the helpless and models the believer’s calling to reflect that Heart toward others.
"...to feel sympathy with the misery of another, especially such sympathy as manifests itself in act, less frequent in word"

⭐⭐⭐⭐‼️‼️1653 eleéō – to show mercy as God defines it, i.e. as it accords with His truth (covenant) which expresses "God's covenant-loyalty-mercy" (i.e. acting only on His terms)

absolutely to succor the afflicted, to bring help to the wretched... Specifically, of God granting even to the unworthy favor, benefits, opportunities, and particularly salvation by Christ.
ἐλεέω carries the weight of God’s steadfast commitment to rescue His people despite their unworthiness.

⭐⭐‼️A criminal begs ἔλεος of his judge; but hopeless suffering is often the object of οἰκτιρμός... οἰκτείρω and its derivatives are the stronger terms: ἐληω, the generic word for the feeling excited by another's misery; οἰκτείρω the same, especially when it calls (or is suited to call) out exclamations and tears.]

⭐⭐⭐‼️‼️‼️Blind men, lepers, a Canaanite mother, a demon-tormented father, and Bartimaeus all cry, “Have mercy on us, Son of David”. Their petitions teach:
⭐ Recognition of Jesus’ messianic authority (“Son of David”).
⭐ Confidence in His compassionate character.
‼️ The appropriateness of persistent, public appeal.
None are turned away; every plea is met with healing or deliverance, demonstrating that mercy is not merely sentiment but saving power.
We CAN Approach God confidently with our needs, echoing the blind men’s cry.

⭐Mercy authenticates the Gospel, moving recipients to witness. 
Share testimonies of received mercy as powerful gospel witness.

⭐⭐‼️‼️Those who pray for mercy must also practice it.

Paul traces his ministry to personal mercy:  “I was shown mercy, because I acted in ignorance and unbelief”... Paul is “one who has received mercy,” grounding his pastoral counsel in experienced grace. 

Mercy is placed at the center of kingdom ethics in the parable of the unforgiving servant... the forgiven are obligated to become forgivers.
Saint Jude requires believers to “have mercy on those who waver…save others, snatching them from the fire”. Evangelism and church discipline alike must be mercy-driven, guarding truth while rescuing the perishing.

Mercy is the divine resolution to universal guilt, harmonizing justice and grace. Israel and the Gentiles alike stand dependent on that mercy... Mercy sustains both sinner and saint, apostle and church.

⭐We should retain liturgical or spontaneous petitions for mercy during corporate worship, anchoring gatherings in humility and hope.


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"παράκλησις" embraces three overlapping ideas:
(1) comfort offered to those in distress,
(2) encouragement that strengthens resolve, and
(3) earnest appeal that calls for a response.
Each passage shades the sense according to setting, yet the underlying reality is the same—God comes alongside His people in distress, and works through them to come alongside others.

1. an imploration, entreaty (urgent request (for mercy or help))
2. an exhortation (urgent counsel, encouragement, admonition, or caution)
3. a comfort, solace, consolation
(Holy paradox of being BOTH the comfort AND the cry for it; of being BOTH the quieting solace and the stirring exhortation)

3874 paráklēsis – properly, a call (urging), done by someone "close beside," i.e. a personal exhortation that delivers the "evidence that stands up in God's court."
(Ties into COMPASSION because "if we are comforted IT IS FOR YOU"= the urgent call is TO ACT so virtuously?? Given BY the One WHO IS COMFORTING US. The evidence is of GRACE??? Not human ideas or proud will, but COMPASSION)

3874 /paráklēsis ("holy urging") is used of the Lord directly motivating and inspiring believers to carry out His plan, delivering His particular message to someone else. The core-meaning of 3874 /paráklēsis ("personal urging") is shaped by the individual context, so it can refer to: exhortation, warning, encouragement (comfort), etc.
("God of all "paraklesis" AND Father of compassion" therefore ties the two together?? We exhort & warn others THROUGH His merciful compassion, to save their souls: we encourage & comfort others in their sufferings & challenges because that message IS God's Heart towards them always. So "ALL" paráklēsis applies here TO compassion because GOD IS ALWAYS COMPASSIONATE; THAT IS HIS MESSAGE, AND HIS PLAN, EVEN IN HIS "HARSHER" ACTIONS & WORDS.)

❓❓3874 (paráklēsis) is an "intimate call" that someone personally gives to deliver God's verdict, i.e. "the close-call" that reveals how the Lord weighs in the relevant facts (evidence).

⭐properly, a calling near, summons (especially for help)

God the author and bestower of comfort; solace or cheer which comes from a happy lot or a prosperous state of things... by metonymy, that which affords comfort or refreshment; thus of the Messianic salvation (so the rabbis call the Messiah the consoler, the comforter)

Universally, "persuasive discourse, stirring address — instructive; admonitory, consolatory; powerful hortatory discourse"... a man gifted in teaching, admonishing, consoling

Hebrews frames it as the character of the preached word; the Pastoral Epistles and Philemon place it within everyday ministry.


Luke 2:25 introduces Simeon “waiting for the consolation of Israel,” linking messianic hope to the promised comfort of Isaiah (66:13?) That promise blossoms in Acts: churches “were strengthened and encouraged by the Holy Spirit”... after synagogue readings the leaders invite, “Brothers, if you have a word of encouragement for the people, speak”. Luke thus depicts encouragement as both fulfillment of prophetic hope and engine of mission expansion.

⭐‼️“encouraging” is a Spirit-given gift... anchored in Scripture and in “the God who gives endurance and encouragement,” marrying objective revelation by the Word to personal divine activity by grace.
⭐‼️ Encouragement is connected to spiritual gifting and prophecy: “the one who prophesies speaks to men for their strengthening, encouragement and comfort.” The Spirit not only comforts directly, but equips believers to transmit that comfort. This ministry guards against isolation and fuels mutual edification.
⭐God comforts Paul, Paul comforts the church, the church comforts Titus, Titus returns to comfort Paul. The pattern exemplifies how divine grace multiplies through human channels.

Paul prays that the Lord Jesus Christ and God the Father “give us eternal encouragement and good hope by grace", tying present strengthening to eschatological promise.


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In a marvellous way God’s mercy arranged that the disbelieving disciple, in touching the wounds of his master’s body, should heal our wounds of disbelief. The disbelief of Thomas has done more for our faith than the faith of the other disciples... So the disciple who doubted, then felt Christ’s wounds, becomes a witness to the reality of the resurrection.

⭐⭐‼️Faith is the guarantee of things hoped for, the evidence of things unseen. It is clear, then, that faith is the proof of what cannot be seen. What is seen gives knowledge, not faith.

What follows is reason for great joy: Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed. There is here a particular reference to ourselves; we hold in our hearts one we have not seen in the flesh. We are included in these words, but only if we follow up our faith with good works. The true believer practises what he believes. But of those who pay only lip service to faith... they profess to know God, but they deny him in their works... Faith without works is dead.

Life has been made visible; we have seen it and testify to it, and we here declare to you the eternal life* which dwelt with the Father and was made visible to us.
℣. We have seen with our own eyes and touched with our hands the Word who is Life. What we have seen and heard we are telling you concerning that life* which dwelt with the Father and was made visible to us.

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JOURNAL ABOUT THIS =

Father, precious in your sight is the death of the saints, but precious above all is the love with which Christ suffered to redeem us. In this life we fill up in our own flesh what is still lacking in the sufferings of Christ; accept this as our sacrifice of praise, and we shall even now taste the joy of the new Jerusalem.


“Just as you are sharing in our sufferings, so also will you share our consolations” (2 Cor 1:7).


Lord, accept the prayers of your faithful people. Help us always to offer you a sacrifice of praise. Quickly break the bonds that hold your children down, and we will fulfil our vows and praise you every day.


When the Lord delivered Sion from bondage,
    it seemed like a dream.
Then was our mouth filled with laughter,
    on our lips there were songs...
Deliver us, O Lord, from our bondage
    as streams in dry land.
Those who are sowing in tears
    will sing when they reap.

Lord, you have raised us from the earth; may you let the seeds of justice, which we have sown in tears, grow and increase in your sight. May we reap in joy the harvest we hope for patiently.

Lord Jesus, our life and resurrection, the tears you sowed in the sorrow of Good Friday brought the earth to flower on Easter morning. May you renew the wonders of your power in the Church, that after the sorrows of our exile we may come home to you in gladness.