Empathy and Compassion in the Bible
Unfortunately, this is not how people always treat one another. After mediating hundreds of
conflicts, I’ve noticed that a lack of empathy is often a key contributor to family, church, and
employment breakdowns. For example …
In failing marriages I often heard wives say, “We have no emotional connection whatsoever.
He’s simply oblivious to my feelings and concerns. I just can’t take it anymore; I need someone
who can actually relate to me.”
When teens withdrew or rebelled, they would often say, “My parents just don’t get me. I try and
try to share my thoughts and struggles, but all they ever do is ignore me or lecture me.”
When pastors lost the hearts of their congregations, members would frequently tell me, “He
knows what to say from the pulpit, but he’s not a shepherd. He rarely senses when people are
hurting, and when he does, he just doesn’t know how to show real compassion.”
And in many employment disputes, I encountered a deep discouragement in employees who
complained that their supervisors showed little concern for them as people and simply kept
pushing the company’s productivity goals.
Of course, I’ve heard similar statements in reverse from husbands, parents, pastors, and
supervisors who were grieved by a similar lack of empathy in the people they led. But because
leaders’ strengths and weaknesses are magnified by their authority, their lack of empathy usually
stood out more vividly and caused a greater amount of damage to a relationship.
Regardless of where this deficiency rested, I’ve heard far too many people in broken
relationships echo the words of Psalm 69:20: “I looked for … comforters, but I found none.”
Three Related Concepts
Before we look at ways to improve empathy, allow me to define three closely related concepts:
Empathy is generally defined as the ability to discern and vicariously experience the
thoughts and feelings of another person, or more simply, to feel what others feel.
Compassion, which builds on empathy and literally means “to suffer together,” is a deep
concern for another person who is suffering, accompanied by a strong desire to alleviate
that suffering.
Consolation, which is an outworking of compassion and literally means “to be with the
lonely one,” involves action to alleviate or lessen grief, sorrow, or disappointment.
Since these terms are closely related, for the sake of brevity I’m going to roll them together
throughout this post and refer to them collectively as “empathy.”
Examples of Compassion in the Bible
Compassion in the Bible
The Bible contains phenomenal examples of various Bible characters acting with compassion.
Many Bible stories are filled with kindness, mercy and compassion, along with calls for God’s
people to follow the example of the heroes of the faith.
But going beyond the heroes and well-known stories discussed in Sunday School — David and
Goliath, Samson and Delilah, Jonah and the whale, Cain and Abel, Jacob and Esau, Zacchaeus,
Elisha, Gideon putting out a fleece for the Lord to make sure it was really God’s voice he was
hearing — there is a treasure trove of examples speaking to us of compassion.
For example, Joseph of Arimathea who prepared his personal tomb for his Messiah, or the
woman who washed Jesus’ feet with her hair. Through them, we learn that showing compassion
and kindness isn’t simply about being nice — it can be an act of worship of our Savior.
Galatians 5:22-23 says, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness,
goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” The
fruit of the Holy Spirit is what God desires our lives reflect and that includes kindness born of
compassion!
Examples of Compassionate Bible Characters in God's Word
When others keep a safe distance from suffering, a compassionate person acts. There are many
different ways to show compassion or be compassionate, and there are numerous examples in the
Old Testament and New Testament of compassionate biblical characters empathizing, showing
mercy to someone else or experiencing compassion themselves.
The true definition of compassion involves a tangible expression of love for those who are
suffering. Compassion is not just an awareness of another person’s suffering. It moves beyond a
simple desire to reduce suffering. A compassionate person recognizes the suffering of others and
then takes action to help.
Here are some Bible examples of how to show God’s kindness:
Ruth — Ruth loved her mother-in-law, Naomi, and had compassion for her. Naomi’s
husband and sons had died. In an act of selfless compassion and empathy, Ruth traveled
with Naomi back to Bethlehem and settled there with her.
If you’ve ever heard someone called "ruthless," it means that person is heartless or
without compassion. The biblical Ruth wasn’t ruthless. Instead, she is a beautiful
example of tenderness, caring and biblical compassion.
Boaz — In Ruth’s Bible story, Boaz also proved to be a compassionate Bible character.
He instructed the workers in his field to leave grain for Ruth to pick up. This provided
Ruth with the food she needed to survive. This is an example of compassion and sharing
acts of kindness with the needy.
The widow of Zarephath — In 1 Kings we learn the story of Elijah and an unnamed
widow. Even though the widow was in great need herself, she prepared a meal for Elijah.
The widow’s food supply was extended — a miracle from God.
Moses — As a prominent Bible character in the Old Testament, Moses was chosen to
bring redemption to the Israelites as he led them in an exodus from captivity in Egypt to
salvation in the promised land. He stood before Pharaoh and watched God’s plan unfold,
and he learned that with God’s help, he could be a compassionate leader of his people.
Joseph — After being sold into slavery and then rising to power in Egypt, Joseph
showed compassion to his brothers when they came to Egypt looking for food. This
makes Joseph one of the greatest stories of compassion in the Bible.
Dorcas — In Acts, a woman is introduced as one known for her care of widows and her
provisions of clothing for the poor. She was much loved in Joppa. When she became very
ill and died, the townspeople called for Peter. He took Dorcas by the hand and brought
her back from the dead. What a fine example Dorcas is to us today. She met the needs of
those around her and when she was gone, her absence left a void.
Paul — Several of Paul’s letters in the New Testament speak of raising money for the
poor in Jerusalem. He compels the gentile church to join him in this endeavor. What a
heart of compassion!
Joses, also known as Barnabas — The New Testament depicts Barnabas as a man who
was delighted to see others exhibiting the grace of God in their lives, exhorting and
encouraging them to remain faithful. He is nicknamed “Son of Encouragement” because
of his inclination to serve others.
The Good Samaritan — Jesus told the parable of the Good Samaritan — a story of a
man traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho, and while on the way he is robbed of everything
he had and beaten. The good Samaritan came by and saw a person in dire need of help.
He gives the man medical attention and takes him to an inn. The good Samaritan cared
for his neighbor, a phenomenal act of compassion.
The Compassion of Our Heavenly Father
Our greatest example of compassion in the Bible is our Heavenly Father. Psalm 86:15 says, "But
you, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and
faithfulness."
Several times in God’s Word, we see the image of God protecting the Israelites in the shadow of
His wings, like a mother bird protecting her hatchlings. For example, Psalm 57:1 says, "Have
mercy on me, my God, have mercy on me, for in you I take refuge. I will take refuge in the
shadow of your wing until the disaster has passed." God’s compassion is infinite and eternal. In
fact, his compassions are new every morning. They never fail (Lamentations 3:22-23). God
comforts his people with compassion.
Jesus Christ, the Messiah, exemplified compassion during his ministry on earth. One of the most
poignant examples of compassion in the Bible is when Jesus showed compassion at the grave of
Lazarus. When Jesus saw Lazarus’ friends weeping, he wept alongside them (John 11:33-35).
Over and over, our Lord Jesus Christ felt compassion on people, healing them and comforting
them. He saw the large crowd as sheep without a shepherd and he came to give them purpose
and shelter.
As the Son of God, Jesus possessed more than we can ever imagine. Even so, he gave up
everything, voluntarily and selflessly sacrificing himself for us so that we can have eternal life.
In that sacrifice, we see the greatest example of compassion in the Bible!
Responding to the Compassion in the Bible
The stories of compassion in the Bible should motivate us to put compassion into action.
The religious leaders of Jesus’ day asked Jesus, "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in
the Law?" Jesus replied: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and
with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love
your neighbor as yourself'" (Matthew 22:36-39).
This means that compassion is not just an attribute of God, but also a quality of his people.
1 John 3:17 says, "If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has
no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person?" This means that love is not in
words or speech. It is displayed in actions and in truth. He says that love is active, not just felt,
thought or spoken.
When others may keep their distance from those who are suffering, godly compassion prompts
us to act on the behalf of the hurting. When we see people who are poor, lacking basic
necessities, or are fatherless, we are called to show mercy through compassionate action. As we
consider the compassion God has shown to us, we can respond with compassion to those around
us.
"Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave
you." — Ephesians 4:32. 1 Peter 3:8 is one of the most well-known Bible verses about
compassion: "Be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble."
We can practice compassion in everyday life.
How to Act Compassionately
Every day, millions of children in poverty around the world experience compassion from God’s
family as they participate in our Child Sponsorship Program.
At the child development centers run by our frontline church partners, children in poverty
receive health care, food and clean water, learn income-generating skills, and most importantly
hear the gospel and have the opportunity to give their lives to Christ. When you sponsor a child,
you are personally connected with a boy or girl who will know your name, cherish the thought
that you care for them, and benefit from your compassion. Through your prayers, financial
support and letters, you can show a child in poverty how valuable he or she is and how much
God cares.
The Compassion and Empathy of Jesus
In the Old Testament, God is described as having compassion more than a dozen times, and in
the Gospels, Jesus is said to feel compassion six times. A story in Luke 13:10-17, the healing of
the bent-over woman, illustrates Jesus’ compassion in action, and also gives a window into the
empathetic understanding that contributed to that compassion.
The woman is described as “bent over” and “unable to stand up straight” (verse 11). On the
Sabbath, she comes into a synagogue where Jesus is teaching. When Jesus sees her, he calls her
over to him and heals her. We don’t know if he interrupted his verbal teaching to do this, but it
seems likely.
I feel a strong sense of identification with this woman. I don’t have osteoporosis, but I can
already see that as I age, my shoulders want to droop. I fear the form of osteoporosis that results
in being unable to stand up straight.
In addition, I often feel bent over with responsibilities and burdened with sadness about things
going on in the lives of family members and friends. I also feel bowed down with the weight of
all the things that go wrong in the world and the fact that people on opposite sides of the political
spectrum see the problems so differently. All too often, I am unable to stand up straight in my
soul.
When Jesus heals the woman, he uses the words, “Woman, you are set free from your ailment”
(verse 13). How I long to be set free from the feelings of anxiety and pressure that weigh me
down. How grateful I am that God has given me joy and freedom so many times in the decades I
have been a follower of Jesus.
When Jesus calls the woman to him as she enters the synagogue and then heals her, Jesus shows
great compassion. He sees that she is bent over, and he is moved by her situation and takes action
to make it better. This combination of being moved internally and then acting in response is the
essence of compassion.
Because this event took place on the Sabbath, the ruler of the synagogue is not pleased with
Jesus’ action. Over the centuries leading up to Jesus’ birth, Jewish leaders had codified the
Sabbath, and they used 39 verbs – including healing – to describe actions that were prohibited on
the Sabbath.
Jesus’ healing of this woman, one of several of his healings on the Sabbath, shows Jesus’
compassion not only for the woman but for all Jewish people. The Sabbath was intended as a day
of rest, joy, and celebration with families. Jewish leaders had turned it into an onerous
obligation, and Jesus reframed it as a day of freedom and compassion. I am so happy Christians
today are re-discovering the gift of the Sabbath as God intended it.
After being criticized by the ruler of the synagogue, Jesus notes that Jews believed it was
appropriate on the Sabbath to free an animal in order to bring it to water (verse 15). He
continues, “And ought not this woman, a daughter of Abraham whom Satan bound for eighteen
long years, be set free from this bondage on the sabbath day?” (verse 16).
The phrase “eighteen long years” is a key indicator of the empathetic understanding that
contributed to Jesus’ compassion. We don’t know how Jesus found out that the women had
suffered for 18 years. Did she tell him, after he healed her? Did he know supernaturally? Either
way, he engages his imagination to enter into what it must have been like to have a curved back
for 18 years.
When Jesus uses the word “long,” he indicates that he understands how interminable those years
felt for this woman. Two communication scholars, Kathleen Verderber and Rudolph Verderber,
define empathy as “the cognitive process of identifying with or vicariously experiencing the
feelings, thoughts, or attitudes of another.” [1] That’s what Jesus does.
Because empathy is a cognitive process, we can choose whether or not to engage in it, and we
can tease apart the process to consider steps involved. These scholars note, “When we
empathize, we are attempting to understand and/or experience what another person understands
and/or experiences.” [2] They suggest specific actions as a pathway to nurture empathy:
Make an effort to understand your conversation partners.
Treat your conversation partners as persons with value, not as objects.
Pay serious attention to what they are saying.
Pay serious attention to what they feel about what they’re saying.
Be observant and try to “read” non-verbal behavior.
As yourself two questions: “What emotions do I believe the person is experiencing right
now?” and “What are the cues the person is giving that I am using to draw this
conclusion?” [3]
Jesus clearly makes an effort to understand the woman’s situation, and he treats her as a person
with value. He pays attention to what her body says about her life. His use of the word “long”
shows that he picks up cues about the woman’s emotions and experiences.
In the story of the healing of the bent-over woman, Jesus demonstrates the kind of empathetic
understanding that undergirds compassion. He is moved by her suffering, and he takes initiative
to relieve it. May we all grow in empathy and compassion after the model of Jesus, guided and
empowered by God’s spirit.
Questions for reflection
1. In what ways can you relate to the bent-over woman? In what ways has Jesus freed you
from being weighed down? In what ways would you like him to free you?
2. Ponder the bullet point list of ways to develop empathy. Which actions on the list come
easiest for you? Which ones would you like to grow into?
3. Look back on your life. Who has demonstrated empathy and compassion to you? In what
ways? Spend some time thanking God for people who have showed care to you.
4. With whom do you find it easiest to show empathy and compassion? With whom do you
find it hardest? What might be some of the reasons for these patterns? Write a prayer for
yourself as a person who wants to grow in empathy and compassion.
