July 29, 2025 • 15 mins
Welcome to today's episode of The Heartbeat of Faith Podcast with Dr. Andrew Farley. In our ongoing journey to understand the essence of Scripture, the heart of God, and the pursuit of righteousness, we find the very pulse of our faith, keeping us alive in Christ. In our previous episode, we delved into the concept of divine judgment, recognizing that God's judgments are always righteous and driven by redemption. Today, we embark on a profound exploration of mercy and its inseparable connection with God's judgment. While it's simple to define mercy as God withholding the punishment we rightfully deserve, its true significance is best understood when we explore the narrative of Scripture.
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Jesus, through his compassion and wisdom, emphasizes the importance of humility before God, transcending self-righteousness. As we reflect on these narratives, we're reminded that God alone wields judgment, and when we embrace mercy, we can draw out the best in ourselves and others. Join us in discovering how mercy triumphs over judgment and how we are called to live out this mercy in our own lives, leaving a legacy of compassion and grace.
Download the Pray.com app today to experience the vivid revelation of God's divine presence through cinematic storytelling, guided by the influence of the Holy Spirit.
For more encouragement in God's grace visit AndrewFarley.org.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Dear God, for I desire mercy and not sacrifice, and
the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings. Hoseiah chapter six,
verse six. Dear Lord, I want to thank you for
keeping my focus on the most important thing, the knowledge
of You. I know that more than anything, you want
(00:24):
my life to be attuned to Your life in me.
Inspire me to be merciful as you are, merciful, patient
as you are patient, and understanding as you are understanding
in and through me. I want the mercy and forgiveness
you have shown me to be displayed in my life
so that others praise your name. Thank you for giving
(00:45):
me anew, forgiving heart like yours, and thank you that
your mercy and loving kindness have been poured out in
me through your Holy Spirit. I rest in your finished
work to day in Jesus name, Amen. Thank you for
praying with me today. Now discover the profound intricacies of
(01:05):
scripture through prey dot COM's podcast The Heartbeat of Faith
with doctor Andrew Farley. Stay tuned after this quick word
from our sponsors. Does your money stretch as far as
it used to? Most likely know? Here's why it took
two hundred years for the US to print its first
five trillion dollars today Washington has done that in just
(01:28):
three years. The problem every new dollar makes each of
your dollars worth less. Our sponsor, Birch Gold Group, has
helped tens of thousands of Americans protect their iras or
four oh one k's from the dollar's loss in value
with physical gold and silver. Now you can too get
a free info kit on gold right now by texting
(01:49):
the word heartbeat to nine eight nine eight nine eight
with an A plus rating with the BBB. You're in
good hands with Birch Gold, so get you no cost,
no obligation infoKit now by texting Heartbeat to the number
nine eight nine eight ninety eight.
Speaker 2 (02:14):
Hello, I'm doctor Andrew Farley. With today's episode of the
Heartbeat of Faith podcast. We want to understand the story
of Scripture, the heart of God, and how to freely
obtain righteousness. These truths make up the heartbeat of our faith,
leading us to new life in Christ. In the last episode,
(02:37):
we took a deeper look at the judgment of God.
We saw God's judgment is always just and always has
ultimate redemption in mind. Today, we'll explore the idea of
mercy and how it works in tandem with God's judgment.
Mercy can be explained as God with holding the punishment
(03:01):
we deserve, but it's better understood through the story of Scripture.
When Jesus approached and called out to Matthew the tax collector,
many people laughed at him. Tax Collectors were considered traders
betrayers of the Jews. To a devoted religious Jew in
(03:22):
the ancient world, a tax collector was one of the
worst things you could be. Listen to Jesus's interaction with them.
Speaker 3 (03:34):
To his right, Jesus saw a man named Matthew. He
was a tax collector and hated among his Jewish kin.
Tax collectors were considered Jewish traders. They hoared themselves to
the Roman government and used corruption for their own gain. Matthew, however,
felt the weight of his sins. He sat at his
booth with his head held low, ashamed of who he
(03:57):
had become. Jesus approached the booth. Matthew had grown accustomed
to men and women coming to the tax booth to
spit on him and ridicule him. However, Jesus simply smiled
and said two simple words that would change Matthew's life forever,
follow me, Jesus said plainly. Then he began to walk off.
(04:19):
Matthew paused for a moment and looked at the pile
of coins and paper at his desk. Was he truly
willing to sacrifice wealth and favor with Rome to follow Jesus?
Was Jesus worth it? Matthew looked at Jesus walking away. Yes,
it is worth everything, he thought to himself. Matthew stood
to his feet and ran after Jesus. The two of
(04:40):
them connected, and Matthew hosted Jesus and his followers at
his home. They laughed and shared stories. However, not all
were amused. The Pharisees stood outside the house with their
arms crossed. They stopped one of his disciples and said,
look how he dines with tax collectors and sinners. Aren't
you ashamed to follow him? The disciple paused, unsure how
(05:02):
he should answer. Before he could say anything, Jesus stepped
outside and approached them. His eyes were piercing, filled with
deep wisdom. Tell me, Jesus said, who needs a doctor?
Moore the sick or the healthy. I have not come
to sit at the table of the righteous, but to
help sinners in need. Jesus left with his disciple back inside.
(05:25):
As he left, he gestured for the Pharisees to join him.
They sneered and left.
Speaker 2 (05:33):
After this, Jesus would tell the Pharisees to go and
learn that God desires mercy over sacrifice. James tells Us
that mercy triumphs over judgment. What does that mean? Does
mercy triumph over judgment? For Matthew, the mercy Jesus showed
(05:54):
him accomplished far more than the judgment the Pharisees threw
his way. The Pharisees looked down on Matthew for his
lifestyle and poor choices. Jesus, however, chose to see Matthew
in light of his potential, not his sins. Here's another
moment Jesus had involving tax collectors and Pharisees that illustrates
(06:19):
the same point.
Speaker 3 (06:24):
The next day, Jesus and his disciples were walking in
the city streets of Galilee. The city was busy and
many tax collectors were set up on the cross streets
to collect what was owed to Rome. Pharisees and other
Jews scoffed and spied the men collecting taxes in the courtyard.
They looked at them with complete disdain. They saw them
as rats and betrayers of Israel because they worked for
(06:46):
the Romans. Jesus watched from a distance as the pharisees
stuck their noses high in the air. Moved by the spirit,
Jesus rose up and elevated his voice. Two men went
to the temple to pray.
Speaker 1 (07:00):
Pray, he yelled.
Speaker 3 (07:01):
Jesus had a voice that drew attention. Everyone stopped to listen.
Two men entered the temple. One of them was a pharisee,
the other was a tax collector. The pharisee prayed standing.
He held his arms high in the air and yelled,
Oh God, I thank you that I am not like
other men. I thank you that I am not like
(07:23):
these thieves, adulterers, liars and tax collectors. I fast every week,
I tithe all I earn, and I know your law
inside and out. Jesus walked over to the desk of
the tax collectors. He looked at them with compassion and
gave a gentle smile. Still projecting his voice, he said
(07:43):
the other man, the tax collector, was on his knees
and face. He could barely look to heaven. Knowing his
heart was wicked, he beat his chest and whispered to God,
have mercy on me. I am a sinner. Jesus pointed
to the Pharisees and gave them, I'm a long glaring
stare know this. The tax collector went home justified, not
(08:06):
the Pharisee. He who exalts himself will be humbled, but
he who humbles himself will be exalted. With those words,
the Pharisees left to conspire against.
Speaker 2 (08:18):
Him, God alone is just. Therefore judgment is God's alone
to wield. When we lord our so called morality over
others were like the Pharisees to the tax collectors, Jesus,
through mercy, was able to see the potential in people.
(08:41):
Even though the tax collectors deserved God's judgment, Jesus found
a way to bring them to repentance. He connected with
their broken hearts, forgave them and called them upward toward
new life in him. One of the most profound examples
of jesus tender mercy was with a woman caught in
(09:04):
adultery who was scorned by religious leaders. She was caught
red handed sinning. The law said she should be stoned
for her sins. But what did Jesus do?
Speaker 3 (09:21):
Teacher? One of the pharisees shouted, this woman has been
caught in adultery. According to the law of Moses, she
should be stoned. The woman wondered who the pharisees were
talking to, so she opened her eyes and looked. There
standing in front of the crowd was Jesus. The pharisees
had brought her to him, trying to trap him into
(09:43):
forgiving a woman who was clearly guilty. One of the
pharisees grabbed the woman by the hair and shouted, so
what do you say now, Jesus, what should be done
to her? Will you obey the law of Moses. Tears
streamed down the woman's face as she looked at Jesus.
His eyes were filled with concern and comfort. Yet underneath
(10:04):
Jesus's expression was a rumbling of anger. Not anger towards her,
but the men who would treat her like an animal.
To prove a point, the religious leaders loomed over her,
waiting for Jesus to speak. Instead of replying, Jesus took
two steps forward and crouched down into the dirt. He
began to write words in the dust with his finger.
(10:26):
There was a silence as the Pharisees read what Jesus
was writing. The woman could not see what Jesus was
carving into the dirt, but she did notice that it
made the religious leaders uncomfortable. Jesus stood to his feet
and looked at them. He picked up a stone off
the floor and walked towards them. The woman's heart raced.
Would Jesus give them permission to stone her? Would Jesus
(10:49):
be the one to throw the stone first. Jesus extended
the stone towards the Pharisees and said, if any among
you is without sin, let him throw the first stone.
Jesus dropped the stone in front of the woman and pharisees.
It fell to the floor with a thud. Everyone was silent.
(11:09):
Jesus knelt down again and continued writing in the dirt.
The men looked at his words written in the dust,
and one by one they began to leave, Each man,
beginning with the oldest, departed in a hurry. The woman
watched as the men grumbled. Their faces were filled with worry.
Perhaps they did not want anyone to read what Jesus
(11:30):
was writing. Perhaps it was about them. The Pharisees left
in a hurry, and the crowds left when they realized
nobody was going to be stoned. All that remained was
Jesus and the woman. She was still sitting on the floor.
Her knees were bleeding and her eyes were red. Her
scalp was sore from being drug out by her hair,
(11:50):
and she was still embarrassed by her nakedness. Jesus walked
over to her and knelt on to the floor. He
took the robe off his back and draped it over
the world woman's shoulders. He looked at the woman and
then looked around the empty courtyard, My child, He said,
who is left to condemn you? The woman looked around.
(12:11):
Her heart was filled with shame and gladness. She wept.
Her tears fell into the dirt before Jesus. She shook
her head and answered, there is no one left to
condemn me. Lord Jesus propped up her chin so her
eyes met his. Then, neither do I condemn you. Then
Jesus helped the woman to her feet, go and sin
(12:33):
no more so the woman departed, feeling the full weight
of forgiveness.
Speaker 2 (12:41):
In the bustling streets of Jerusalem, an event took place
that forever etched the magnanimity of Jesus's mercy into the
annals of history. The woman caught in the act of
adultery was thrust at his feet, her life hanging by
a thread, awaiting the stones of judgment. But in that moment,
(13:05):
surrounded by the clamor of accusers, Jesus etched a revolutionary
message on the ground. Rather than pointing fingers, he ushered
in a divine mercy, saying, he without sin can cast
the first stone. As the crowd dwindled, Jesus turned to her,
(13:26):
not with condemnation, but with compassion, saying, go and sin
no more. Here was the Master, not merely bypassing the law,
but fulfilling it with unmatched mercy. And isn't this very
scene of vivid portrayal of our own lives as believers today?
(13:49):
We two were once at the feet of judgment, deserving
the weight of our misdeeds. But in Christ we have
found an overwhelming mercy that declares there is therefore now
no condemnation for those who are in Christ. Jesus. However,
(14:11):
it doesn't end there. Just as the woman was given
a fresh start, we two are graced with a way forward.
Our new identity in Christ furnishes us with a new heart,
new desires, and a fresh perspective that isn't shackled by
sins allure. It's not about adhering to a set of rules,
(14:34):
but living from the heart, a new heart given to
us by God's indwelling spirit. We're not merely pardoned prisoners,
but reborn saints, equipped with the presence of the Holy Spirit,
empowering us to genuinely go and sin no more. We're
(14:55):
not motivated by a fear of punishment, but by the
ca activating love and the transformative power of the one
who first showed us mercy. Thank you for listening to
today's episode of the Heartbeat of Faith podcast. Follow the
podcast so you can learn about the Bible in this
(15:17):
inspiring and entertaining way. Download Theprey dot com app, and
for more encouragement in God's grace, visit Andrewfarley dot org.
That's Andrew Farley dot org.
Dear God, for I desire mercy and not sacrifice, and
the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings. Hoseiah chapter six,
verse six. Dear Lord, I want to thank you for
keeping my focus on the most important thing, the knowledge
of You. I know that more than anything, you want
(00:24):
my life to be attuned to Your life in me.
Inspire me to be merciful as you are, merciful, patient
as you are patient, and understanding as you are understanding
in and through me. I want the mercy and forgiveness
you have shown me to be displayed in my life
so that others praise your name. Thank you for giving
(00:45):
me anew, forgiving heart like yours, and thank you that
your mercy and loving kindness have been poured out in
me through your Holy Spirit. I rest in your finished
work to day in Jesus name, Amen. Thank you for
praying with me today. Now discover the profound intricacies of
(01:05):
scripture through prey dot COM's podcast The Heartbeat of Faith
with doctor Andrew Farley. Stay tuned after this quick word
from our sponsors. Does your money stretch as far as
it used to? Most likely know? Here's why it took
two hundred years for the US to print its first
five trillion dollars today Washington has done that in just
(01:28):
three years. The problem every new dollar makes each of
your dollars worth less. Our sponsor, Birch Gold Group, has
helped tens of thousands of Americans protect their iras or
four oh one k's from the dollar's loss in value
with physical gold and silver. Now you can too get
a free info kit on gold right now by texting
(01:49):
the word heartbeat to nine eight nine eight nine eight
with an A plus rating with the BBB. You're in
good hands with Birch Gold, so get you no cost,
no obligation infoKit now by texting Heartbeat to the number
nine eight nine eight ninety eight.
Speaker 2 (02:14):
Hello, I'm doctor Andrew Farley. With today's episode of the
Heartbeat of Faith podcast. We want to understand the story
of Scripture, the heart of God, and how to freely
obtain righteousness. These truths make up the heartbeat of our faith,
leading us to new life in Christ. In the last episode,
(02:37):
we took a deeper look at the judgment of God.
We saw God's judgment is always just and always has
ultimate redemption in mind. Today, we'll explore the idea of
mercy and how it works in tandem with God's judgment.
Mercy can be explained as God with holding the punishment
(03:01):
we deserve, but it's better understood through the story of Scripture.
When Jesus approached and called out to Matthew the tax collector,
many people laughed at him. Tax Collectors were considered traders
betrayers of the Jews. To a devoted religious Jew in
(03:22):
the ancient world, a tax collector was one of the
worst things you could be. Listen to Jesus's interaction with them.
Speaker 3 (03:34):
To his right, Jesus saw a man named Matthew. He
was a tax collector and hated among his Jewish kin.
Tax collectors were considered Jewish traders. They hoared themselves to
the Roman government and used corruption for their own gain. Matthew, however,
felt the weight of his sins. He sat at his
booth with his head held low, ashamed of who he
(03:57):
had become. Jesus approached the booth. Matthew had grown accustomed
to men and women coming to the tax booth to
spit on him and ridicule him. However, Jesus simply smiled
and said two simple words that would change Matthew's life forever,
follow me, Jesus said plainly. Then he began to walk off.
(04:19):
Matthew paused for a moment and looked at the pile
of coins and paper at his desk. Was he truly
willing to sacrifice wealth and favor with Rome to follow Jesus?
Was Jesus worth it? Matthew looked at Jesus walking away. Yes,
it is worth everything, he thought to himself. Matthew stood
to his feet and ran after Jesus. The two of
(04:40):
them connected, and Matthew hosted Jesus and his followers at
his home. They laughed and shared stories. However, not all
were amused. The Pharisees stood outside the house with their
arms crossed. They stopped one of his disciples and said,
look how he dines with tax collectors and sinners. Aren't
you ashamed to follow him? The disciple paused, unsure how
(05:02):
he should answer. Before he could say anything, Jesus stepped
outside and approached them. His eyes were piercing, filled with
deep wisdom. Tell me, Jesus said, who needs a doctor?
Moore the sick or the healthy. I have not come
to sit at the table of the righteous, but to
help sinners in need. Jesus left with his disciple back inside.
(05:25):
As he left, he gestured for the Pharisees to join him.
They sneered and left.
Speaker 2 (05:33):
After this, Jesus would tell the Pharisees to go and
learn that God desires mercy over sacrifice. James tells Us
that mercy triumphs over judgment. What does that mean? Does
mercy triumph over judgment? For Matthew, the mercy Jesus showed
(05:54):
him accomplished far more than the judgment the Pharisees threw
his way. The Pharisees looked down on Matthew for his
lifestyle and poor choices. Jesus, however, chose to see Matthew
in light of his potential, not his sins. Here's another
moment Jesus had involving tax collectors and Pharisees that illustrates
(06:19):
the same point.
Speaker 3 (06:24):
The next day, Jesus and his disciples were walking in
the city streets of Galilee. The city was busy and
many tax collectors were set up on the cross streets
to collect what was owed to Rome. Pharisees and other
Jews scoffed and spied the men collecting taxes in the courtyard.
They looked at them with complete disdain. They saw them
as rats and betrayers of Israel because they worked for
(06:46):
the Romans. Jesus watched from a distance as the pharisees
stuck their noses high in the air. Moved by the spirit,
Jesus rose up and elevated his voice. Two men went
to the temple to pray.
Speaker 1 (07:00):
Pray, he yelled.
Speaker 3 (07:01):
Jesus had a voice that drew attention. Everyone stopped to listen.
Two men entered the temple. One of them was a pharisee,
the other was a tax collector. The pharisee prayed standing.
He held his arms high in the air and yelled,
Oh God, I thank you that I am not like
other men. I thank you that I am not like
(07:23):
these thieves, adulterers, liars and tax collectors. I fast every week,
I tithe all I earn, and I know your law
inside and out. Jesus walked over to the desk of
the tax collectors. He looked at them with compassion and
gave a gentle smile. Still projecting his voice, he said
(07:43):
the other man, the tax collector, was on his knees
and face. He could barely look to heaven. Knowing his
heart was wicked, he beat his chest and whispered to God,
have mercy on me. I am a sinner. Jesus pointed
to the Pharisees and gave them, I'm a long glaring
stare know this. The tax collector went home justified, not
(08:06):
the Pharisee. He who exalts himself will be humbled, but
he who humbles himself will be exalted. With those words,
the Pharisees left to conspire against.
Speaker 2 (08:18):
Him, God alone is just. Therefore judgment is God's alone
to wield. When we lord our so called morality over
others were like the Pharisees to the tax collectors, Jesus,
through mercy, was able to see the potential in people.
(08:41):
Even though the tax collectors deserved God's judgment, Jesus found
a way to bring them to repentance. He connected with
their broken hearts, forgave them and called them upward toward
new life in him. One of the most profound examples
of jesus tender mercy was with a woman caught in
(09:04):
adultery who was scorned by religious leaders. She was caught
red handed sinning. The law said she should be stoned
for her sins. But what did Jesus do?
Speaker 3 (09:21):
Teacher? One of the pharisees shouted, this woman has been
caught in adultery. According to the law of Moses, she
should be stoned. The woman wondered who the pharisees were
talking to, so she opened her eyes and looked. There
standing in front of the crowd was Jesus. The pharisees
had brought her to him, trying to trap him into
(09:43):
forgiving a woman who was clearly guilty. One of the
pharisees grabbed the woman by the hair and shouted, so
what do you say now, Jesus, what should be done
to her? Will you obey the law of Moses. Tears
streamed down the woman's face as she looked at Jesus.
His eyes were filled with concern and comfort. Yet underneath
(10:04):
Jesus's expression was a rumbling of anger. Not anger towards her,
but the men who would treat her like an animal.
To prove a point, the religious leaders loomed over her,
waiting for Jesus to speak. Instead of replying, Jesus took
two steps forward and crouched down into the dirt. He
began to write words in the dust with his finger.
(10:26):
There was a silence as the Pharisees read what Jesus
was writing. The woman could not see what Jesus was
carving into the dirt, but she did notice that it
made the religious leaders uncomfortable. Jesus stood to his feet
and looked at them. He picked up a stone off
the floor and walked towards them. The woman's heart raced.
Would Jesus give them permission to stone her? Would Jesus
(10:49):
be the one to throw the stone first. Jesus extended
the stone towards the Pharisees and said, if any among
you is without sin, let him throw the first stone.
Jesus dropped the stone in front of the woman and pharisees.
It fell to the floor with a thud. Everyone was silent.
(11:09):
Jesus knelt down again and continued writing in the dirt.
The men looked at his words written in the dust,
and one by one they began to leave, Each man,
beginning with the oldest, departed in a hurry. The woman
watched as the men grumbled. Their faces were filled with worry.
Perhaps they did not want anyone to read what Jesus
(11:30):
was writing. Perhaps it was about them. The Pharisees left
in a hurry, and the crowds left when they realized
nobody was going to be stoned. All that remained was
Jesus and the woman. She was still sitting on the floor.
Her knees were bleeding and her eyes were red. Her
scalp was sore from being drug out by her hair,
(11:50):
and she was still embarrassed by her nakedness. Jesus walked
over to her and knelt on to the floor. He
took the robe off his back and draped it over
the world woman's shoulders. He looked at the woman and
then looked around the empty courtyard, My child, He said,
who is left to condemn you? The woman looked around.
(12:11):
Her heart was filled with shame and gladness. She wept.
Her tears fell into the dirt before Jesus. She shook
her head and answered, there is no one left to
condemn me. Lord Jesus propped up her chin so her
eyes met his. Then, neither do I condemn you. Then
Jesus helped the woman to her feet, go and sin
(12:33):
no more so the woman departed, feeling the full weight
of forgiveness.
Speaker 2 (12:41):
In the bustling streets of Jerusalem, an event took place
that forever etched the magnanimity of Jesus's mercy into the
annals of history. The woman caught in the act of
adultery was thrust at his feet, her life hanging by
a thread, awaiting the stones of judgment. But in that moment,
(13:05):
surrounded by the clamor of accusers, Jesus etched a revolutionary
message on the ground. Rather than pointing fingers, he ushered
in a divine mercy, saying, he without sin can cast
the first stone. As the crowd dwindled, Jesus turned to her,
(13:26):
not with condemnation, but with compassion, saying, go and sin
no more. Here was the Master, not merely bypassing the law,
but fulfilling it with unmatched mercy. And isn't this very
scene of vivid portrayal of our own lives as believers today?
(13:49):
We two were once at the feet of judgment, deserving
the weight of our misdeeds. But in Christ we have
found an overwhelming mercy that declares there is therefore now
no condemnation for those who are in Christ. Jesus. However,
(14:11):
it doesn't end there. Just as the woman was given
a fresh start, we two are graced with a way forward.
Our new identity in Christ furnishes us with a new heart,
new desires, and a fresh perspective that isn't shackled by
sins allure. It's not about adhering to a set of rules,
(14:34):
but living from the heart, a new heart given to
us by God's indwelling spirit. We're not merely pardoned prisoners,
but reborn saints, equipped with the presence of the Holy Spirit,
empowering us to genuinely go and sin no more. We're
(14:55):
not motivated by a fear of punishment, but by the
ca activating love and the transformative power of the one
who first showed us mercy. Thank you for listening to
today's episode of the Heartbeat of Faith podcast. Follow the
podcast so you can learn about the Bible in this
(15:17):
inspiring and entertaining way. Download Theprey dot com app, and
for more encouragement in God's grace, visit Andrewfarley dot org.
That's Andrew Farley dot org.
Host
Andrew Farley
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