For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.
The converse of Matthew 5:7. 'The [hee] judgment (which is coming on all) shall be without mercy to him who showed no mercy.' "Mercy" here corresponds to "love," James 2:8.
Mercy rejoiceth against judgment. Mercy, so far from fearing judgment as to its followers, glorifieth against it, knowing that it cannot condemn them. Not that their mercy is the ground of their acquittal, but God's mercy in Christ toward them, producing mercy on their part toward their fellow men, makes them to triumph over judgment, which all otherwise deserves.