Topical Encyclopedia
The concept of what is "deserved" in the Bible often revolves around the themes of justice, mercy, and grace. In Scripture, the idea of deserving is frequently tied to human actions and God's righteous judgment. However, it is also contrasted with the grace and mercy that God extends to humanity, which is not based on what is deserved but on His love and compassion.
Justice and DeservingThe Bible presents God as a just judge who rewards and punishes according to what is deserved. In the Old Testament, the principle of retributive justice is evident. For example, in
Deuteronomy 25:1-3, the law prescribes that judges should ensure that the guilty receive punishment in proportion to their crime: "If there is a dispute between men and they go to court, and the judges decide their case, and they justify the righteous and condemn the wicked, then it shall be, if the wicked man deserves to be beaten, the judge shall make him lie down and be beaten in his presence with the number of stripes according to his guilt."
Similarly,
Proverbs 24:12 emphasizes God's role as a just judge: "If you say, 'Behold, we did not know this,' does not He who weighs the hearts consider it? Does not He who guards your soul know it? And will He not repay a man according to his deeds?"
Mercy and GraceWhile justice is a significant theme, the Bible also highlights God's mercy and grace, which transcend what is deserved. In the New Testament, the concept of grace is central to the message of the Gospel.
Romans 6:23 contrasts what is deserved with what is given by grace: "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."
Ephesians 2:8-9 further underscores that salvation is not based on human merit: "For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast." This passage highlights that, although humanity deserves judgment due to sin, God offers salvation as a free gift through faith in Jesus Christ.
Human Deserving and Divine CompassionThe Bible also addresses the human tendency to judge others based on what they deserve, often calling believers to reflect God's compassion instead. In the parable of the unmerciful servant (
Matthew 18:21-35), Jesus teaches about the importance of forgiving others as God has forgiven us, emphasizing that mercy should triumph over strict justice.
Moreover, Jesus' teaching in the Sermon on the Mount challenges the conventional understanding of deserving. In
Matthew 5:44-45, He instructs, "But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous." This passage illustrates that God's love and provision extend beyond what is deserved, serving as a model for believers.
ConclusionThe biblical perspective on what is deserved is multifaceted, encompassing God's justice, human sinfulness, and the profound grace and mercy offered through Jesus Christ. While justice ensures that deeds are repaid, God's grace provides what is undeserved, offering redemption and eternal life to all who believe.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
(
imp. & p. p.) of Deserve.
Greek
618. apolambano -- to receive from, receive as one's due... Spelling: (ap-ol-am-ban'-o) Short Definition: I get back, receive back Definition:
(a) I get back, receive back, (b) I get (receive) as due (
deserved), (c) mid
...Strong's Hebrew
1576. gemul -- a dealing, recompense, benefit... Word Origin from gamal Definition a dealing, recompense, benefit NASB Word Usage
benefit (1), benefits (1), dealings (1), deeds (1),
deserved* (1), good deed (1
...3027. yad -- hand
... 3), consecrate* (3), consecrated* (4), control (1), courage* (1), creditor* (1),
custody (4), debt (1), defiantly* (1), delivered (1),deserved* (1), direction...
Library
victor's Erroneous Opinion, that the SoulDeserved to Become...
... A Treatise on the soul and its origin, Chapter 8 [VIII.]"Victor's Erroneous
Opinion, that the SoulDeserved to Become Sinful....
Victor Utterly Unable to Explain How the Sinless SoulDeserved to...
... A Treatise on the soul and its origin, Chapter 9."Victor Utterly Unable
to Explain How the Sinless SoulDeserved to Be Made Sinful....
Another Error Out of his Second Book, to the Effect, that the Soul...
... A Treatise on the soul and its origin, Chapter 6 [VI.]"Another Error Out of His
Second Book, to the Effect, that the SoulDeserved to Be Polluted by the Body...
But Indeed, Some one Will Say, HeDeserved Our Hatred Because He...
... Book II. 2 But indeed, some one will say, Hedeserved our hatred because
He has driven religion? But indeed, some one will say...
Our Lord Shows St. Teresa the Place which She had by Her Sins...
... Chapter XXXII. Our Lord Shows St. Teresa the Place Which She Had by Her SinsDeserved
in Hell. The Torments There. How the Monastery of St. Joseph Was Founded....
Gods, those which were Confessedly Elevated to the Divine...
... I will take Hercules himself for raising the gist of a reply [1042] (to the
question) whether hedeserved heaven and divine honours?...
The Penitent Thief
... He was crucified; publicly executed, by the most shameful, painful, and lingering
torture; and confessed that it was no more than hedeserved....
Sermons on the Card.
... mean man, of a simple degree and birth, not born to any possession; whom the king's
grace favoureth, not because this person hath of himselfdeserved any such...
Sermon for Ash Wednesday
... and are hanging on the cross of continual exercises and outward austerities which
they have bound themselves to practise; they have well-deserved this cross...
The Justice of God
... He gives a reward, not because we havedeserved it, but because he has promised
it. [2] He is just in punishing offenders. He is just....
Thesaurus
Deserved (11 Occurrences)...Deserved (11 Occurrences). Luke 12:48 But he who had not been told it and yet
did what
deserved the scourge, will receive but few lashes.
...Deserve (40 Occurrences)
... Deuteronomy 25:2 And it shall be if the wicked man havedeserved to be beaten, that
the judge shall cause him to lie down, and be beaten before his face...
Deserves (25 Occurrences)
Undue (1 Occurrence)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (a.) Not right; notdeserved or legal; improper;
as, undue attention. 2. (a.) Not due; not yet owing...
Jerubba'al (11 Occurrences)
... faith and honor when you made Abim'elech king, and if you have dealt well with
Jerubba'al and his house, and have done to him as his deedsdeserved-- (DBY RSV)....
Lashes (6 Occurrences)
... lashes. (WEY NAS). Luke 12:48 But he who had not been told it and yet did
whatdeserved the scourge, will receive but few lashes. To...
Larger (23 Occurrences)
... RSV). Luke 12:48 But he who had not been told it and yet did whatdeserved
the scourge, will receive but few lashes. To whomsoever...
Three (5005 Occurrences)
... offered by Azarias) opens with words of adoration followed by an acknowledgment
that the sufferings of the nation in Babylon were whollydeserved, and an...
Tribute (67 Occurrences)
... 2. (n.) A personal contribution, as of money, praise, service, etc., made in token
of services rendered, or as that which is due ordeserved; as, a tribute of...
Recompense (79 Occurrences)
... 3. (vt) To give in return; to pay back; to pay, as something earned ordeserved.
4. (vi) To give recompense; to make amends or requital....
Resources
What does it mean that Christ was wounded for our transgressions (Isaiah 53:5)? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is the love of Christ? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is the substitutionary atonement? | GotQuestions.orgDeserved: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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