Sensitive
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In the context of biblical teachings, the concept of being "sensitive" can be understood as possessing a heightened awareness and responsiveness to the spiritual, emotional, and moral dimensions of life. This sensitivity is often seen as a virtue, enabling individuals to discern God's will, empathize with others, and respond appropriately to the needs and circumstances around them.

Spiritual Sensitivity

Spiritual sensitivity involves being attuned to the voice and guidance of the Holy Spirit. In the New Testament, believers are encouraged to be led by the Spirit, which requires a sensitivity to His promptings. Romans 8:14 states, "For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God." This sensitivity is cultivated through prayer, meditation on Scripture, and a life of obedience and submission to God's will.

The Apostle Paul exemplifies spiritual sensitivity in Acts 16:6-7 , where he and his companions were "kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia" and later "the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them" to enter Bithynia. This demonstrates a keen awareness and responsiveness to divine direction.

Emotional Sensitivity

Emotional sensitivity is the ability to perceive and respond to the feelings and needs of others. This is closely related to the biblical call to love one's neighbor as oneself (Mark 12:31). Jesus Himself displayed profound emotional sensitivity, as seen in John 11:35 , "Jesus wept," showing His empathy and compassion for the grieving.

The Apostle Paul also encourages believers to "Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep" (Romans 12:15), highlighting the importance of sharing in the emotional experiences of others. This sensitivity fosters community, understanding, and support within the body of Christ.

Moral Sensitivity

Moral sensitivity involves an acute awareness of right and wrong, guided by a conscience informed by Scripture. Hebrews 5:14 speaks of mature believers who "by constant use have trained their senses to distinguish good from evil." This moral discernment is essential for living a life that honors God and upholds His commandments.

The Bible warns against the hardening of the heart, which diminishes moral sensitivity. Ephesians 4:18-19 describes those who are "darkened in their understanding" and have "lost all sensitivity," leading to a life of impurity. In contrast, believers are called to maintain a tender heart, responsive to God's moral standards.

Cultivating Sensitivity

Cultivating sensitivity in these areas requires intentional effort and reliance on God's grace. Regular engagement with Scripture, prayer, and fellowship with other believers are vital practices. James 1:19 advises, "Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger," underscoring the importance of a receptive and patient spirit.

Ultimately, sensitivity is a reflection of the character of Christ, who perfectly balanced spiritual, emotional, and moral awareness. Believers are called to emulate His example, growing in sensitivity as they mature in their faith and relationship with God.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (a.) Having sense of feeling; possessing or exhibiting the capacity of receiving impressions from external objects; as, a sensitive soul.

2. (a.) Having quick and acute sensibility, either to the action of external objects, or to impressions upon the mind and feelings; highly susceptible; easily and acutely affected.

3. (a.) Having a capacity of being easily affected or moved; as, a sensitive thermometer; sensitive scales.

4. (a.) Readily affected or changed by certain appropriate agents; as, silver chloride or bromide, when in contact with certain organic substances, is extremely sensitive to actinic rays.

5. (a.) Serving to affect the sense; sensible.

6. (a.) of or pertaining to sensation; depending on sensation; as, sensitive motions; sensitive muscular motions excited by irritation.

Greek
5591. psuchikos -- natural, of the soul or mind
... From psuche; sensitive, ie Animate (in distinction on the one hand from pneumatikos,
which is the higher or renovated nature; and on the other from phusikos ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5591.htm - 8k

5424. phren -- midriff, heart, mind, thought
... in or curb; compare phrasso); the midrif (as a partition of the body), ie (figuratively
and by implication, of sympathy) the feelings (or sensitive nature; by ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5424.htm - 7k

Strong's Hebrew
4187. Mushi -- "sensitive," a Levite
... 4186, 4187. Mushi or Mushshi. 4188 . "sensitive," a Levite. Transliteration:
Mushi or Mushshi Phonetic Spelling: (moo-shee') Short Definition: Mushi. ...
/hebrew/4187.htm - 6k
Library

Whether the Will is Moved by the Sensitive Appetite?
... OF THAT WHICH MOVES THE WILL (SIX ARTICLES) Whether the will is moved by the sensitive
appetite? ... Therefore the sensitive appetite does not move the will. ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether the will is moved 3.htm

Whether the Act of the Sensitive Appetite is Commanded?
... OF THE ACTS COMMANDED BY THE WILL (NINE ARTICLES) Whether the act of the sensitive
appetite is commanded? ... But to lust is an act of the sensitive appetite. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether the act of the 3.htm

Whether the Sensitive Powers of Apprehension are the Subject of ...
... OF THE SUBJECT OF VIRTUE (SIX ARTICLES) Whether the sensitive powers of
apprehension are the subject of virtue? Objection 1: It ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether the sensitive powers of.htm

Whether the Sensitive Soul is Transmitted with the Semen?
... OF THE PRODUCTION OF MAN FROM MAN AS TO THE SOUL (THREE ARTICLES) Whether
the sensitive soul is transmitted with the semen? Objection ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether the sensitive soul is.htm

Whether Passion is in the Sensitive Appetite Rather than in the ...
... TREATISE ON THE PASSIONS (QQ -48)OF THE SUBJECT OF THE SOUL'S PASSIONS (THREE ARTICLES)
Whether passion is in the sensitive appetite rather than in the ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether passion is in the 2.htm

Whether the Sensitive Appetite is Divided into the Irascible and ...
... OF THE POWER OF SENSUALITY (THREE ARTICLES) Whether the sensitive appetite is
divided into the irascible and concupiscible as distinct powers? ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether the sensitive appetite is.htm

Whether Concupiscence is in the Sensitive Appetite Only?
... OF CONCUPISCENCE (FOUR ARTICLES) Whether concupiscence is in the sensitive appetite
only? ... Therefore concupiscence is not only in the sensitive appetite. ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether concupiscence is in the.htm

Whether the Acts of the Sensitive Powers Remain in the Separated ...
... OF THE SOUL AFTER LEAVING THE BODY, AND OF THE PUNISHMENT INFLICTED ON IT BY MATERIAL
FIRE (THREE ARTICLES) Whether the acts of the sensitive powers remain in ...
//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether the acts of the 3.htm

Whether the vice of Curiosity is About Sensitive Knowledge?
... OF CURIOSITY (TWO ARTICLES) Whether the vice of curiosity is about sensitive
knowledge? Objection 1: It would seem that the vice ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether the vice of curiosity.htm

Whether Happiness is an Operation of the Sensitive Part, or of the ...
... WHAT IS HAPPINESS (EIGHT ARTICLES) Whether happiness is an operation of the
sensitive part, or of the intellective part only? Objection ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether happiness is an operation.htm

Thesaurus
Sensitive (2 Occurrences)
... 1. (a.) Having sense of feeling; possessing or exhibiting the capacity of receiving
impressions from external objects; as, a sensitive soul. ...
/s/sensitive.htm - 8k

Quick (49 Occurrences)
... 5. (superl.) Fresh; bracing; sharp; keen. 6. (superl.) Sensitive; perceptive in
a high degree; ready; as, a quick ear. 7. (superl.) Pregnant; with child. ...
/q/quick.htm - 24k

Sensitivity (1 Occurrence)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (n.) The quality or state of being sensitive; -- used
chiefly in science and the arts; as, the sensitivity of iodized silver. ...
/s/sensitivity.htm - 6k

Sensible (15 Occurrences)
... 3. (a.) Hence: Liable to impression from without; easily affected; having nice
perception or acute feeling; sensitive; also, readily moved or affected by ...
/s/sensible.htm - 11k

Sinlessness
... mere automatic or effortless condition. He is sensitive to temptation,
to a degree which makes it agony. His sinlessness, as to ...
/s/sinlessness.htm - 10k

Vision (106 Occurrences)
... by which colors and the physical qualities of external objects are appreciated as
a result of the stimulating action of light on the sensitive retina, an ...
/v/vision.htm - 45k

Nervous (1 Occurrence)
... easily agitated or annoyed. 5. (a.) Sensitive; excitable; timid. Multi-Version
Concordance Nervous (1 Occurrence). 2 Corinthians 7 ...
/n/nervous.htm - 7k

Gross (12 Occurrences)
... 2. (superl.) Coarse; rough; not fine or delicate. 3. (superl.) Not easily aroused
or excited; not sensitive in perception or feeling; dull; witless. ...
/g/gross.htm - 11k

Irritable (2 Occurrences)
... 4. (a.) Susceptible of irritation; unduly sensitive to irritants or stimuli. See
Irritation, n., 3. Multi-Version Concordance Irritable (2 Occurrences). ...
/i/irritable.htm - 7k

Insensitive (1 Occurrence)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (a.) Not sensitive; wanting sensation, or wanting acute
sensibility. Multi-Version Concordance Insensitive (1 Occurrence). ...
/i/insensitive.htm - 6k

Resources
Should a church be seeker sensitive? | GotQuestions.org

The needs of the world overwhelm me. Am I too sensitive? | GotQuestions.org

How can Christians be sensitive to Muslim/Islamic culture? | GotQuestions.org

Sensitive: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible ConcordanceBible DictionaryBible EncyclopediaTopical BibleBible Thesuarus
Concordance
Sensitive (2 Occurrences)

Deuteronomy 28:54
The man who is tender among you, and very delicate, his eye shall be evil toward his brother, and toward the wife of his bosom, and toward the remnant of his children whom he has remaining;
(See NIV)

Deuteronomy 28:56
The tender and delicate woman among you, who would not adventure to set the sole of her foot on the ground for delicateness and tenderness, her eye shall be evil toward the husband of her bosom, and toward her son, and toward her daughter,
(See NIV)

Subtopics

Sensitive

Related Terms

Sensual (8 Occurrences)

Sensitive (2 Occurrences)

Sensibly
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