Demonstrating Biblical Compassion to Those in Need
Biblical compassion involves actively demonstrating care and concern for those in need, stemming from an inward principle of pity and leading to outward acts of bounty and liberality [12]. This concept is deeply rooted in the character of God, who is described as merciful, compassionate, and filled with unfailing love [16]. The Psalms frequently highlight God's compassion for the poor and needy, promising that He will save their lives and rescue them from the wicked [6, 8]. God "considers" the trouble and grief of the afflicted, taking it into His hand to help the victim and the fatherless [5].
The Bible exhorts believers to emulate this divine compassion. Romans 12:15 instructs believers to "rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep," while Galatians 6:2 encourages bearing one another's burdens [2, 3]. Specific duties toward the afflicted include praying for them, sympathizing with them, pitying them, visiting them, comforting them, relieving them, and protecting them [3]. Sharing with saints in need and practicing hospitality are also emphasized [1].
Jesus Christ serves as the ultimate example of compassion. His compassion was manifested towards the weary, the weak in faith, the tempted, the afflicted, the diseased, the poor, and perishing sinners [4]. His priestly office necessitates His compassion, as He sympathizes with believers in every temptation, having been "in all points one with us as to manhood, sin only excepted" [4, 11]. This understanding encourages believers to approach God's "throne of grace" with boldness to receive mercy and find help in times of need [7].
Compassion is not merely an emotion but a Christian grace [9]. It is enjoined upon believers, to be engraved on the heart, and is characteristic of saints [10]. It should be shown cheerfully, to brethren, to those in distress, to the poor, and even to backsliders [10]. Matthew Henry notes that compassion is the "inward principle of charity in the heart," which must be accompanied by bounty and liberality [12]. The deeds of mercy, such as feeding the hungry or clothing the naked, are not performed to earn God's favor but arise from a love for Christ that naturally extends to others [13]. John Gill further explains that compassion should be shown to those who have gone astray through infirmity or temptation, by praying with them, instructing them meekly, and offering brotherly reproofs [14]. The demonstration of such compassion leads to glorifying God [15].
Sources
- Romans “Romans 12:13 (BSB) — Share with the saints who are in need. Practice hospitality.”
- 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”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Afflicted, Duty Toward The — To pray for them -- Ac 12:5; Php 1:16,19; Jas 5:14-16. To sympathise with them -- Ro 12:15; Ga 6:2. To pity them -- Job 6:14. To bear them in mind -- Heb 13:3. To visit them -- Jas 1:27. To comfort them -- Job 16:5; 29:25; 2Co 1:4; 1Th 4:18. To relieve them -- Job 31:19,20; Isa 58:10; Php 4:14; 1Ti 5:10. To protect them -- Ps 82:3; Pr 22:22; 31:5.”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Compassion and Sympathy of Christ, The — Necessary to his priestly office -- Heb 5:2,7. Manifested for the Weary and heavy-laden. -- Mt 11:28-30. Weak in faith. -- Isa 40:11; 42:3; Mt 12:20. Tempted. -- Heb 2:18. Afflicted. -- Lu 7:13; Joh 11:33,35. Diseased. -- Mt 14:14; Mr 1:41. Poor. -- Mr 8:2. Perishing sinners. -- Mt 9:36; Lu 19:41; Joh 3:16. An encouragement to prayer -- Heb 4:15.”
- Psalms “But you do see trouble and grief. You consider it to take it into your hand. You help the victim and the fatherless. -- Psalms 10:14”
- Psalms “Psalms 72:13 (NASB) — He will have compassion on the poor and needy, And the lives of the needy he will save.”
- Hebrews “Let us therefore draw near with boldness to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy, and may find grace for help in time of need. -- Hebrews 4:16”
- Psalms “Rescue the weak and needy. Deliver them out of the hand of the wicked.” -- Psalms 82:4”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Mercy — Compassion for the miserable. Its object is misery. By the atoning sacrifice of Christ a way is open for the exercise of mercy towards the sons of men, in harmony with the demands of truth and righteousness (Gen. 19:19; Ex. 20:6; 34:6, 7; Ps. 85:10; 86:15, 16). In Christ mercy and truth meet together. Mercy is also a Christian grace (Matt. 5:7; 18:33-35).”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Mercy — After the example of God -- Lu 6:36. Enjoined -- 2Ki 6:21-23; Ho 12:6; Ro 12:20,21; Col 3:12. To be engraved on the heart -- Pr 3:3. Characteristic of saints -- Ps 37:26; Isa 57:1. Should be shown With cheerfulness. -- Ro 12:8. To our brethren. -- Zec 7:9. to those that are in distress. -- Lu 10:37. To the poor. -- Pr 14:31; Da 4:27. To backsliders. -- Lu 15:18-20; 2Co 2:6-8. To animals. -- Pr 12:10. Upholds the throne of kings -- Pr 20:28. Beneficial to those who exercise -- Pr 11:17. Blessedness of showing -- Pr 14:21; Mt 5:7. Hypocrites devoid of -- Mt 23:”
- Hebrews (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Hebrews 4:15: For--the motive to "holding our profession" (Heb 4:14), namely the sympathy and help we may expect from our High Priest. Though "great" (Heb 4:14), He is not above caring for us; nay, as being in all points one with us as to manhood, sin only excepted, He sympathizes with us in every temptation. Though exalted to the highest heavens, He has changed His place, not His nature and office in relation to us, His condition, but not His affection. Compare Mat 26:38, "watch with me": showing His desire in the days of His flesh for the sympathy of those whom H”
- 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,”
- Matthew (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Matthew 25:35: 25:35-36 The deeds described here, often called “deeds of mercy,” were acts of compassion shown to the helpless (see Isa 58:1-12; Ezek 18:7; Jas 1:26-27). These good deeds are not attempts to merit God’s favor; rather, they arise from a love for Christ that results in compassion toward others (see 6:1-4).”
- Jude (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Jude 1:22: And of some have compassion,.... That is, of such who have gone astray, being drawn aside; who are simple and ignorant, and out of the way; who sin through infirmity, and the force of temptation; and who are tractable and open to conviction, and whose mistakes are in lesser matters of religion; as also such who are convicted and wounded in their consciences for their sins and mistakes: and to these compassion is to be shown, by praying with them, and for them, with ardency and affection; instructing them in meekness; giving friendly and brotherly reproofs to them; expre”
- 2 Corinthians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 2 Corinthians 9:13: Whiles by the experiment of this ministration,.... That is, the poor saints at Jerusalem having a specimen, a proof, an experience of the liberality of the Gentile churches ministered to them by the apostles, first, they glorify God; by giving thanks unto him, acknowledging him to be the author of all the grace and goodness which they, and others, were partakers of; particularly for your professed subjection to the Gospel of Christ. The Gospel of Christ is the doctrine of grace, life, and salvation by Christ, of which he is the author, as God, the subject m”
- Joel (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Joel 2:13: 2:13 One means of showing grief in the ancient world was to tear one’s clothing (Gen 37:34; 2 Sam 3:31; 2 Kgs 19:1). • tear your hearts: In Hebrew, the heart is the center of thought, faith, and will. God’s people were to go beyond external demonstrations of repentance to repent inwardly—to change their orientation, priorities, and attitudes. This could only happen if they would return to the Lord. • for he is merciful and compassionate . . . and filled with unfailing love: The people’s only hope was in the merciful character of the Lord (see also Exod 34:6-7; Num 1”