The answer
The Bible depicts a God who is merciful and compassionate towards humanity; who, in His love and compassion, shows no partiality towards anyone. Yet He is also just, and in His justice, He opens the doors of His mercies to all without favoritism. Thus, for example, Ruth the gentile excelled over many of the people of God; and through repentance, the harlot enjoyed that which Simon the Pharisee did not.
St. Basil the Great says, “Everywhere Scripture joins justice with the mercy of God, teaching us that neither the mercy of God is without judgement, nor His judgement without mercy. Even while He pities, He measures out His mercies judiciously to the worthy; and while judging, He brings forth the judgement having regard to our weakness, repaying us with kindness rather than with equal reciprocal measurement. ‘And our God shows mercy,’ mercy being an emotion experienced towards those who have been reduced beyond their desert …”133
Fr. Tadros Yacoub Malaty
Notes
133 St. Basil of Caesarea, Homilies on the Psalms, Homily 22: On Psalm 114 (FOTC 46:355).