Compassion Reflecting God's Character in Scripture and Life
Compassion in Scripture
Compassion is a fundamental attribute of God's character in Scripture, reflecting His loving-kindness and mercy towards humanity. The biblical concept of compassion is rooted in the idea of deep emotional concern and empathy, often translated as "tender-heartedness" or "pity" [3]. In the Old Testament, God's compassion is described as a motivating factor for His actions towards His people, as seen in Psalms 103:13, where it is written, "As a father hath compassion on his children, so hath the Lord compassion on them that feare him" [2].
Biblical Expressions of Compassion
The Bible highlights various expressions of compassion, including kindness, forgiveness, and care for the afflicted. In Ephesians 4:32, believers are exhorted to "be kind to one another, tender hearted, forgiving each other, just as God also in Christ forgave you" [1]. This passage underscores the connection between God's compassion and the expected behavior of His followers. Torrey's Topical Textbook lists numerous biblical references that illustrate the exercise of compassion towards various groups, including the afflicted, the chastened, enemies, the poor, and the weak [3].
God's Compassionate Character
The character of God is replete with compassion, as described in various Psalms. Psalms 51:1 invokes God's compassion in seeking forgiveness, "Be gracious to me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness; According to the greatness of Your compassion blot out my transgressions" [4]. The goodness of God, which encompasses mercy, pity, and compassion, is a recurring theme in Scripture, as noted in Easton's Bible Dictionary [5]. God's compassion is not limited to His people but is also extended to the wicked, as seen in the long-suffering patience He exercises towards them [6].
Theological Interpretations
Theological interpretations of compassion vary across traditions. According to Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, God's perfections, including love, mercy, goodness, and truth, are manifested in pardoning sin [7]. In the view of John Gill, God's compassion is evident in His willingness to forgive and restore His people, as seen in Micah 7:19, where it is written, "He will turn again...and have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities" [11]. Matthew Henry emphasizes the importance of compassion as an inward principle of charity, highlighting the need for both pity and liberality towards the poor [10].
Reflections in Christian Life
The biblical emphasis on compassion is not limited to God's character but is also expected of believers. In Romans 15:5, the "God of patience and consolation" is invoked as a model for believers to be like-minded towards one another [8]. The exercise of compassion is seen as a vital aspect of Christian living, reflecting the character of God and demonstrating love to others. As seen in the biblical examples and theological interpretations, compassion remains a cornerstone of Christian doctrine and practice.
The biblical concept of compassion continues to shape Christian understanding of God's character and inform the lives of believers. As the one tradition notes, "The Lord compassionately cares for frail humans" [9]. This care is not limited to the faithful but is a hallmark of God's interaction with humanity, underscoring the depth of His loving-kindness and mercy.
Sources
- Ephesians “And be kind to one another, tender hearted, forgiving each other, just as God also in Christ forgave you. -- Ephesians 4:32”
- Psalms “Psalms 103:13 (Geneva1599) — As a father hath compassion on his children, so hath the Lord compassion on them that feare him.”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Communion With God — Christ set an example of -- Lu 19:41,42. Exhortation to -- Ro 12:15; 1Pe 3:8. Exercise towards The afflicted. -- Job 6:14; Heb 13:3. The chastened. -- Isa 22:4; Jer 9:1. Enemies. -- Ps 35:13. The poor. -- Pr 19:17. The weak. -- 2Co 11:29; Ga 6:2. Saints. -- 1Co 12:25,26. Inseparable from love to God -- 1Jo 3:17; Joh 4:20. Motives to The compassion of God. -- Mt 13:27,33. The sense of our infirmities. -- Heb 5:2. The wicked made to feel, for saints -- Ps 106:46. Promise to those who show -- Pr 19:17; Mt 10:42. Illustrated -- Lu 10:33; 15:20. Exemp”
- Psalms “Psalms 51:1 (NASB) — Be gracious to me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness; According to the greatness of Your compassion blot out my transgressions.”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Goodness of God — A perfection of his character which he exercises towards his creatures according to their various circumstances and relations (Ps. 145:8, 9; 103:8; 1 John 4:8). Viewed generally, it is benevolence; as exercised with respect to the miseries of his creatures it is mercy, pity, compassion, and in the case of impenitent sinners, long-suffering patience; as exercised in communicating favour on the unworthy it is grace. "Goodness and justice are the several aspects of one unchangeable, infinitely wise, and sovereign moral perfection. God is not sometimes ”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Long-Suffering of God, The — Is part of his character -- Ex 34:6; Nu 14:18; Ps 86:15. Salvation, the object of -- 2Pe 3:15. Through Christ's intercession -- Lu 13:8. Should lead to repentance -- Ro 2:4; 2Pe 3:9. An encouragement to repent -- Joe 2:13. Exhibited in forgiving sins -- Ro 3:25. Exercised toward His people. -- Isa 30:18; Eze 20:17. The wicked. -- Ro 9:22; 1Pe 3:20. Plead in prayer -- Jer 15:15. Limits set to -- Ge 6:3; Jer 44:22. The wicked Abuse. -- Ec 8:11; Mt 24:48,49. Despise. -- Ro 2:4. Punished for despising. -- Ne 9:30; Mt 24:48-51; Ro 2:5. Illustr”
- Psalms (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Psalms 25:11: God's perfections of love, mercy, goodness, and truth are manifested (his name, compare Psa 9:10) in pardoning sin, and the greatness of sin renders pardon more needed.”
- Romans (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Romans 15:5: Now the God of patience and consolation - May that God who endued them with patience, and gave them the consolation that supported them in all their trials and afflictions, grant you to be like-minded - give you the same mode of thinking, and the same power of acting towards each other, according to the example of Christ.”
- Psalms (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Psalms 103:14: 103:14-16 The Lord compassionately cares for frail humans (see 37:2; 90:5; 92:7; 102:4; Isa 40:6-8).”
- Proverbs (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Proverbs 19:17: Here is, I. The duty of charity described. It includes two things: - 1. Compassion, which is the inward principle of charity in the heart; it is to have pity on the poor. Those that have not a penny for the poor, yet may have pity for them, a charitable concern and sympathy; and, if a man give all his goods to feed the poor and have not this charity in his heart, it is nothing, Co1 13:3. We must draw out our souls to the hungry, Isa 58:10. 2. Bounty and liberality. We must not only pity the poor, but give, according to their necessity and our ability, Jam 2:15,”
- Micah (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Micah 7:19: He will turn again,.... From his anger, and show his face and favour; which is not inconsistent with his everlasting and unchangeable love; for anger is not opposite to love, and is only a displicency at sin, and not at the persons of his people; and, properly speaking, is not in God; is rather in appearance than in reality; when his people sin against him, he shows himself as if he was angry; he turns away from them, and withdraws his gracious presence and sensible communion from them; but when they are brought to a sense of sin, and acknowledgment of it, he returns t”