“Moved with Compassion”
Though there are quite a few words that are translated “compassion” in the Bible. The Greek word we will be looking at today is a powerful word that is frequently used in the gospels especially in regard to Jesus loving heart in ministering towards the multitude and towards individual sufferers. The Greek word is the word “SPLANCHNIZOMAI” which is usually translated as “moved with compassion” or “compassion” in the KJV. In the Greek it means “to be moved as to one’s inner most being, to be moved with compassion, to yearn with compassion. It is when something touches us deeply in our inner most being. It also can involve identifying with another persons situation from your heart.
I also would like to say it this way I believe this compassion is the Love of God in ACTION!
It is THIS being “moved with compassion” that gets results when ministering to someone.
As we will see today that when Jesus was “moved with compassion” THINGS HAPPENED!
Some examples of what happened when Jesus was “moved with compassion”:
1. The Hungry were feed
“In those days the multitude being very great, and having nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples unto him, and saith unto them, I have compassion (splanchnizomai) on the multitude, because they have now been with me three days, and have nothing to eat: And if I send them away fasting to their own houses, they will faint by the way: for divers of them came from far.............And he commanded the people to sit down on the ground: and he took the seven loaves, and gave thanks, and brake, and gave to his disciples to set before them; and they did set them before the people. And they had a few small fishes: and he blessed, and commanded to set them also before them. So they did eat, and were filled: and they took up of the broken meat that was left seven baskets. And they that had eaten were about four thousand: and he sent them away.” - Mark 8:1-3,6-9
First Jesus was moved with compassion then the miracle of feeding the 4000+ with 7 loaves and a few fish.
2. Sick were healed
"And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion (splanchnizomai) toward them, and he healed their sick". - Matthew 14:14
In this passage FIRST Jesus was moved with compassion THEN He healed their sick.
"And there came a leper to him, beseeching him, and kneeling down to him, and saying unto him, If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. And Jesus, moved with compassion (splanchnizomai), put forth his hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean. And as soon as he had spoken, immediately the leprosy departed from him, and he was cleansed".
- Mark 1:40-42
In this passage we also see FIRST Jesus was moved with compassion THEN He healed the leper.
Also I would like you to notice a couple other interesting things about this passage.
Note: The leper understood Gods POWER and thus understood Gods ABILITY to heal. But understanding Gods COMPASSION is understanding Gods WILLINGNESS to heal.
Also note that Jesus TOUCHED the leper. When we are moved with compassion we will do things that we might not normally do otherwise (like touch a leper, touch the untouchable).
3. Demon possessed were delivered
"And they brought him [the demon possessed boy] unto him: and when he saw him, straightway the spirit tare him; and he fell on the ground, and wallowed foaming. And he asked his father, How long is it ago since this came unto him? And he said, Of a child. And ofttimes it hath cast him into the fire, and into the waters, to destroy him: but if thou canst do any thing, have compassion (splanchnizomai) on us, and help us. Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth. And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief. When Jesus saw that the people came running together, he rebuked the foul spirit, saying unto him, Thou dumb and deaf spirit, I charge thee, come out of him, and enter no more into him. And the spirit cried, and rent him sore, and came out of him: and he was as one dead; insomuch that many said, He is dead. But Jesus took him by the hand, and lifted him up; and he arose". - Mark 9:20-27
This father with the demon possessed child knew that if he was going to get any help for his son it would come from a Jesus with compassion.
4. Dead was raised
"Now when he came nigh to the gate of the city, behold, there was a dead man carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow: and much people of the city was with her. And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion (splanchnizomai) on her, and said unto her, Weep not. And he came and touched the bier: and they that bare him stood still. And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise. And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he delivered him to his mother".
- Luke 7:12-15
Here was a woman with a run of painful family situations. She was a WIDOW, so we know she lost her husband to death and now her ONLY SON is dead. This touched Jesus and He had compassion on her and raised up her dead child.
As we look at Jesus as our example of being “moved with compassion” we can see the if we want to see lives effected and changed we too must be “moved with compassion” which comes from God as it’s source.
Let us ask our Lord to give us a heart of compassion to effectively minister to those around us!