Topical Bible: Compassion and Sympathy: Illustrated

Bible > Topical > Compassion and Sympathy

◄ Compassion and Sympathy: Illustrated ►

Jump to: Torrey's • Library • Subtopics • Terms

Topical Encyclopedia

Compassion and sympathy are central themes throughout the Bible, reflecting God's nature and His expectations for human relationships. These attributes are not merely emotional responses but are deeply rooted in the character of God and the teachings of Jesus Christ. They are essential for fostering community, healing, and demonstrating the love of God to others.

Old Testament Foundations

The Old Testament lays the groundwork for understanding compassion and sympathy as divine attributes. In Exodus 34:6, God reveals Himself to Moses, proclaiming, "The LORD, the LORD God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion and truth." This self-revelation highlights compassion as a fundamental aspect of God's character. The Hebrew word for compassion, "racham," is often associated with a deep, tender love, akin to the love a parent has for a child.

The prophets frequently called the Israelites to emulate God's compassion. In Zechariah 7:9-10, the Lord commands, "Administer true justice. Show loving devotion and compassion to one another. Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the foreigner or the poor." Here, compassion is linked with justice and mercy, emphasizing action over mere sentiment.

New Testament Fulfillment

In the New Testament, Jesus Christ embodies compassion and sympathy, serving as the ultimate example for believers. The Gospels are replete with instances where Jesus is moved by compassion. In Matthew 9:36, it is written, "When He saw the crowds, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd." Jesus' compassion often led to action, whether through healing the sick, feeding the hungry, or teaching the lost.

The parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:30-37) is a profound illustration of compassion and sympathy in action. Jesus uses this account to redefine neighborly love, showing that true compassion transcends ethnic and social boundaries. The Samaritan's actions demonstrate that compassion involves personal sacrifice and a willingness to engage with those in need.

Apostolic Teachings

The apostles continued to emphasize the importance of compassion and sympathy in the early church. In Colossians 3:12, Paul exhorts believers, "Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with hearts of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience." Compassion is presented as a garment to be worn, signifying its integral role in the Christian life.

James, the brother of Jesus, also underscores the necessity of compassionate action. In James 2:15-16, he challenges believers, "If a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food and one of you says to them, 'Go in peace, keep warm and well fed,' but does nothing to meet their physical needs, what good is that?" Here, James highlights the futility of empty words without corresponding deeds.

Practical Implications

Compassion and sympathy are not passive emotions but active responses to the needs of others. They require believers to step beyond their comfort zones and engage with the suffering and marginalized. The biblical call to compassion is a call to reflect God's love in tangible ways, serving as His hands and feet in a broken world.

In the life of the church, compassion and sympathy foster unity and mutual care. As members of one body, Christians are called to "rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep" (Romans 12:15). This shared experience of life's joys and sorrows strengthens the bonds of fellowship and reflects the heart of Christ to the world.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Luke 10:33
But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him,
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Luke 15:20
And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Jesus as a Friend.
... are the qualities of a true friend as illustrated in the ... It was not thus, however,
that the sympathy of Jesus ... did not touch his heart and stir his compassion. ...
/.../miller/personal friendships of jesus/chapter xv jesus as a.htm

The Christian view of Sorrow
... Sorrow, as illustrated in Christ's life, and as interpreted in ... In the tenderness
of his compassion he soothed the ... of excellence, of wisdom, of sympathy, but it ...
/.../chapin/the crown of thorns/the christian view of sorrow.htm

First Impressions
... Its magnificence illustrated the altered fortunes of Christianity since Constantine
had ... ever act in the spirit of compassion, and, as ... help me by your sympathy! ...
/.../chapter xx first impressions.htm

B. The Second Stages. Chs. 13:22 to 17:10
... This he illustrated by referring to the folly of laying ... to share his joy must be
out of sympathy and fellowship ... love of God in depicting his compassion for the ...
/.../erdman/the gospel of luke an exposition/b the second stages chs.htm

Attributes of Love.
... of the sensibility"a yielding to a feeling of compassion. ... good enjoyed by others,
and of sympathy with the ... good of the greatest number, is illustrated by the ...
/.../finney/systematic theology/lecture xii attributes of love.htm

Letter xiii. Christian Activity.
... active exercise the feelings of Christian sympathy in your ... of redemption, manifests
itself in COMPASSION FOR SINNERS ... the spirit of Christ, is illustrated, in a ...
/.../letter xiii christian activity.htm

The Great Shepherd
... And the subject is more largely illustrated in the thirty ... feel an especial need of
His compassion, tenderness, and ... How much is felt in sympathy for the trials ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/newton/messiah vol 1/sermon xiii the great shepherd.htm

Soul Winning
... soul-winning lies in having bowels of compassion, in having ... blessing, and very much
by this sympathy, under God ... The gospel is something like an illustrated paper ...
//christianbookshelf.org/spurgeon/sermons on proverbs/soul winning.htm

The Struggle for the Life of Others
... Love with all its beautiful elements of sympathy, tenderness, pity, and compassion,
has come ... We have illustrated the point from plants, because this is the ...
/.../the lowell lectures on the ascent of man/chapter vii the struggle for.htm

Jesus the Scapegoat.
... fact persons with any depth of sympathy and spiritual ... person, filled with love and
compassion for all ... of our sins, magnified the law, illustrated and rendered ...
/.../the expositors bible the gospel of st john vol i/xxiv jesus the scapegoat.htm