Compassion: Commandments Keepers

Compassion

(Psalms 145:8) "The LORD is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy." Compassion means - A deep awareness of and sympathy for another's suffering.

When we show compassion to others we express Jesus love towards one another. As affluent Americans, we tend to give of our substance generously to the poor and needy, and that's highly commendable, but we tend to neglect the other compassion's Jesus commands of us. Jesus has given us examples of His compassion for others in the Holy Scriptures.

(Matthew 9:36) "But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd."

In this quote from Matthew, The multitudes that followed Jesus were those that were taught by the Pharisees. The Pharisees thought of themselves as knowledgeable in the law and superior to others, looking down upon the "common people" whom they taught. In the Gospel of John, the Pharisees even say the layman is cursed. (John 7:49) "But this people who knoweth not the law are cursed."

Jesus said that the Pharisees would teach the law to others but would not follow their own teachings. (Matthew 23:3-4) "All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not. For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers." Can you imagine how confusing that would be to those whom they taught? Like sheep with no shepherd, always wondering, each going different ways, fainting as they try to find the green pastures.

Jesus continues in Matthew 9:37, teaching us to have compassion for His followers and to pray for more laborers for the Kingdom of God. (Matthew 9:37-38) "Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the laborers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth laborers into his harvest." We should pray for more ministers of the good news of eternal life after death.

It's a fact that we are not immortal, and we all are going to die someday. We can have compassion on others by telling them of the Gospel of eternal life, through the sacrifice of Jesus, to those who don't know that there is a way to have eternal life after death, a way to, someday, be with our loved ones who have already died. There are no other words that can give comfort and hope to a mother who has just lost her child, or to a child whose grandparent just died. Jesus gave this hope of eternal life after death, to a woman, when He saw her weeping because of the death of her son. (Luke 7:13) "And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not."

Jesus taught his followers, in that famous Sermon on the Mount, to have compassion for one another. (Matthew 25:35-36) "For I was hungry, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me."

He didn't say I was sick and ye healed me; or in prison and ye set me free; but ye visited me and came unto me. We can visit those who are sick at their home or in the hospital and we can visit those who are in prison. What? Yes, visiting those in prison is what Jesus taught. Please do not judge others. How many times have you done what was illegal but were never caught and thrown into jail? Stealing from work, lying on our taxes or using an illegal substance, all of which could land us in prison if we're caught doing such things. And who of us has followed God's laws with perfection, in His eyes we are all guilty. (Romans 3:23) "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;"

In the epistle of Luke, Jesus explains to his followers that those who are punished for their sins, here on earth by our own judicial systems, are not more guilty than the rest of us. We are all in the same boat, destined to eternal death, unless we repent. (Luke 13:2-3) "And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things? I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish."

Forgiveness to others who ask for forgiveness is a compassion that Jesus taught. We can tell others of the promise of the gift of the Holy Spirit which will help them to become a "new man", following the way to happiness. (Romans 14:17) "For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost." God, our Father in heaven loves us all dearly, no matter what we have done in the past. (Luke 15:20) "And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him." Jesus said we should forgive others, not seven times but seventy times seven.

We have compassion on others because we too once followed our sinful ways, because of our ignorance, weaknesses and yes, stubbornness. Only Gods' Holy Spirit gives us the ability to follow the righteous One. (Hebrews 5:1-2) "For every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins: Who can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way; for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity."

We, as Americans, are known all over the world as the good Samaritans, those crazy Christians that give away all their money. And yet we lack nothing in terms of wealth or income. I pray that we can be as compassionate of others spiritual needs, as we are with their physical needs, in so doing, that the name of Christ Jesus, our namesake, will be glorified. Amen.