Matthew 14 Having Compassion

Compassion

“And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick.” (v. 14)

Jesus is the Lord of compassion. Do you want to be like Christ? Then learn compassion. This one thing is greatly lacking in the world and in the church today, and is essential to the longevity of them both. Jesus showed His compassion, over and over again, and we see it in the same chapter several times. Too many times our “compassion” is for self or family only, and fails to reach the multitudes. I would rather have a compassionate friend than a faithful friend. Compassion will go much further, and accomplish much more than loyalty, and, in my book, is worth so much more.
Probably the greatest example of the compassion of Christ is seen in this same chapter in response to Peters’ plea “Lord save me”, and His immediate response to it. (vs. 30,31). This is the cry of the child of conviction, “Lord save me” and Jesus responds immediately, and we receive eternal life. What compassion! The feeding of the multitude of people that precedes this does not compare to it in value. His compassion healed their sick, and raised their dead, but they became sick again, and died again. His greatest act of compassion was to give, freely, to man, His Life, the God-life, eternal life. All this, just for the asking of it. Amazing grace!

Compassion is deliberate, we need to work at it. It can be developed by exercise. To learn it we must begin by practicing it, then continue therein. It can become a habit. Compassion is a part of love, as charity is, and may be the true essence of love. You see, even charity is born out of compassion. 1 Corinthians 13 teaches us the character of true charity, and yet it is not equal to compassion. Yes, compassion separates the “men from the boys,” the true from the false. Compassion wins the lost, and weeps for the tragedies of men. Compassion takes the Gospel to the poor; it binds up the broken hearted, and frees the prisoner of sin (Isa. 61:1; and Lk 4:18)