(And obey Allah) in all that He has commanded you and forbidden you from, so it is not a repetition of the previous command for piety. (And the Messenger) that is, the one who legislated the religion for you and conveyed the message to you, for his obedience is the obedience of Allah, the Exalted.
(That you may receive mercy) meaning, so that you may attain the mercy of Allah, the Exalted, or hoping for His mercy. He followed the warning with a promise to intimidate against disobedience and to encourage obedience. Muhammad ibn Ishaq said: This verse is a rebuke to those who disobeyed the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) when he commanded them what he commanded at Uhud, and they were perhaps the archers who left their station.
