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Because mercy is the opposite of justice. Justice is giving to others what they deserve - reward for achievements, punishment for crimes. Mercy is whthholding p

• lebuffon 5y ago
  Just to show how language affects understanding, the word "charity" comes from the Latin caritas meaning something from the heart. The semitic word used where English uses charity means more like justice or "do the right thing". It also implies that the right thing may in fact involve giving to those who have too little ie: they "deserve" more because they were dealt a bad hand, not because of their achievements.