Being Human; Part 2: Compassion
Building on our theme from last week (where we learnt that humility leads to submission, and submission to obedience) another thing that we lack as modern, highly intelligent humans is compassion. Jesus tells us as the second of the two great commandments to love our neighbor as ourselves. But this is easier said than done. We live in times where people in general are getting more and more selfish and hurting others to get what they want. Our natural response is to dislike those people and to see revenge or justice when we are hard done by. What we will learn from Jesus today is how to love those who we struggle to, even those who hate us.
Scripture
Matthew 9:35-38 ESV 35 And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction. 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; 38 therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”
Bible Study Questions
Jesus’ way
When reading verse 36, what stands out for you today?
Matthew 9:36 ESV When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.
Mark 6:34 ESV When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And he began to teach them many things.
Lamentations 3:22-23 The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
The second commandment
Jesus was healing people who didn’t care little for who He was. They were just interested in what they could get from Jesus, even though there were those who did believe. This is incredible compassion, the model for it. Why is compassion so important, as part of the human character?
Matthew 9:36 ESV When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.
Matthew 22:34-40 ESV But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together. And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”
Matthew 7:12 ESV “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.
Why Jesus was compassionate
Jesus healed every disease and every affliction because He felt compassion for them. Why did He feel compassion for them?
Matthew 9:36 ESV When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.
Romans 6:6 ESV We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin.
John 8:34 ESV Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin.
Being compassionate
Jesus lived a life of being compassionate. Most people rejected Him and hated Him to the point of killing Him. In return, he loved them because of His compassion. What was His final and greatest act of compassion?
Matthew 9:36 ESV When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.
Luke 23:34 ESV And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments.
Our response
Since Jesus is the model of compassion and we are called to live a life as imitators of Christ, how can we practice compassion in our own lives? Why is this such a challenge for us in this day and age?
Matthew 9:36 ESV When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd
2 Timothy 3:16 ESV All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,
1 Corinthians 11:1 ESV Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.
The power of compassion
After Christ’s death, resurrection and ascension, the apostles were filled with the Holy Spirit and empowered to build Christ’s church in the most incredible ways. The church post the apostles grew by serving the needs of the communities. What can we learn from this and apply to our own lives?
Matthew 9:36 ESV When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.
Acts 9:31 ESV So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied.
Acts 2:47 ESV Praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.
Practical compassion
As hard as it is, we need to grow in compassion in order to live Christian lives. How can we do that practically?
Matthew 9:36 ESV When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.
John 3:30 ESV He must increase, but I must decrease.”
“Do not waste your time bothering whether you ’love’ your neighbor, act as if you did. As soon as we do this, we find one of the great secrets. When you are behaving as if you loved someone, you will presently come to love him.” C.S. Lewis