Matthew 12:1-8— God “proclaimed the name of the LORD” when He revealed Himself to Moses on Mount Sinai (Exodus 34:5), disclosing to Moses the character of the God covenanting with him and the Israelites (Exodus 34:6-7). Because it contains His explanation of His identity, Exodus 34:6-7 plays a crucial role in understanding God’s character that anchors the Bible’s narrative. God foregrounds a pair of characteristics in His announcement (“merciful and gracious”), signaling their importance in understanding Him. Given the importance of mercy and grace in understanding God’s identity and given Jesus’ identity as God (cf. Colossians 2:9), this lesson will explore how mercy and grace express themselves in the gospels’ accounts of Jesus, and how those expressions help us better understand God’s identity.