When we read the Gospel accounts of Jesus’ life, something that immediately stands out is that Jesus showed compassion and kindness to people from all walks of life and taught that His followers should do the same. We see this in the parables He taught, such as the story of the Good Samaritan who showed compassion to a stranger who had been beaten by nursing his wounds, taking him to an inn to be cared for, and paying the expenses out of his own pocket 1.
In the parable of the lost son, a young man demanded his inheritance from his father, which in the context of his day would be the equivalent of saying, “I wish you were dead,” and then he left home only to squander his entire inheritance. Upon his return home, the story tells us that “his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him” 2.
Throughout Jesus’ ministry, He often saw situations where people were in need, and He was moved with compassion and took action to help them 3. The miracle of the loaves and fishes is a prime example of this, as told in the Gospel of Matthew:
“Jesus called his disciples to him and said, ‘I have compassion on the crowd because they have been with me now three days and have nothing to eat. And I am unwilling to send them away hungry, lest they faint on the way.’”
When His disciples asked Him, “Where are we to get enough bread in such a desolate place to feed so great a crowd?” Jesus told them to gather up what they had—seven loaves of bread and a few small fish. He then miraculously multiplied them so that over four thousand people ate and were satisfied 4.
In another instance, in the Gospel of Luke, we read of Jesus reaching out to a grief-stricken widow whose only son had just died and was being taken for burial. “And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her and said to her, ‘Do not weep.’” Jesus then proceeded to tell the young man to arise, and He gave him back to his mother 5.
During His time on Earth, Jesus was a living example of His Father’s attributes, one of which is compassion. Throughout the Old Testament we read of God’s compassion: “As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him” 6.
“The Lord has comforted his people and will have compassion on them in their suffering” 7.
The words compassion and empathy are used a lot these days, but how exactly is compassion defined? Dictionaries define it as “a feeling of deep sympathy and sorrow for someone who is in some kind of distress, combined with the desire to do something to alleviate it.”
One of the Hebrew words in the Old Testament that is translated as compassion is related to the Hebrew word for “womb” and expresses a parent’s protective compassion for a helpless child—a deep emotion which translates into acts of selfless service. This word is generally used in reference to God’s compassion, such as in the book of Exodus, where we read: “The Lord, the Lord God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth” 8.
In the New Testament, one of the words used most often for compassion is related to the Greek word for “inward parts,” referring to the seat of human emotions. The term conveys the idea of being moved in the core of one’s inner feelings, leading to acts of kindness and mercy. Another word, sumpathes, conveys the meaning of “to suffer with” or “to suffer alongside of.”
Compassion is having a strong feeling about someone else’s situation or state, and doing something to change it. It’s about making things better for someone in need. It’s not compassion if there isn’t some action taken, whether a kind word or deed, a prayer, supporting someone in their grief, and conveying your sorrow or concern.
It can also mean taking action to change the situation or circumstances. It might mean protesting to change unjust laws and bring about social justice. It can mean putting in time and effort to feed the hungry, help orphans, visit the sick and those in mourning, or sharing the gospel with others, or providing assistance of some kind to those in need.
Compassion is closely aligned with empathy—the ability to identify with and share the feelings of another, and to put yourself in their shoes so that you understand what they are going through from their perspective. In short, compassion is part of love.
The Bible tells us to “put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, [and] kindness” 9. But how do we cultivate this aspect of love? A good starting place is to reflect on Jesus’ instruction: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself” 10. When we learn to walk in others’ shoes, being kind and compassionate comes more easily.
It also helps to ponder Jesus’ ministry. He saw people in need—the blind, the hungry, the mourning, the sick, the social outcasts—and instead of looking the other way and passing by, He noticed, stopped, and took action. It’s easy in our busy lives to not notice others who are struggling and in need, and to be preoccupied with our own problems, needs, and concerns to where we don’t truly see the people around us.
Something else that can help us be more compassionate is increasing our awareness of the Lord’s love for us—remembering that though we are undeserving, full of faults, and sinful, God took action on our behalf, even at a huge cost. God sacrificed His beloved Son so that He could rescue us in our time of need. God has shown us costly compassion, and as we reflect on this and praise and thank Him for doing so, we will be compelled to respond to others with His love and compassion 11.
Jesus had compassion for the suffering, the outcasts, the poor and needy, and He taught His followers to do the same. He said that every time we feed the hungry, or show a stranger hospitality, or visit the sick or those in prison, we are doing it to Him 12.
We may find ourselves thinking that our efforts to help others will be feeble in comparison, since Jesus was God and could perform mighty miracles. But showing compassion to others can feel like a miracle to someone in need. A small act of kindness can make a major difference in their lives and give them the courage to keep on.
Receiving Jesus in our hearts and being filled with God’s Spirit is the key to having that kind of compassion for others. Experiencing His love through close communion and fellowship with Him, and reflecting on His grace and goodness to us in our everyday lives, helps us to live in the awareness of His love for us personally. When we experience His mercy, generosity, and unconditional love, we are better able to embody His compassion and kindness, and let His love flow through us to others.
Jesus compassionately served others, and as His followers we are called to do the same.