Bread from the Basket: Your Daily Slice

Elul 23

Compassion

“…tenderhearted …” (Eph 4:32 ISR)

Interesting to note is that the Greek word that is translated here is only found twice in the Scriptures: here in Ephesians, and in 1Pet 3:8. The word is eusplagchnos (Strong’s G2155), and means compassionate, and tender-hearted. Someone who is ‘compassionate’ will have a ‘tender heart’, and vice versa. But what exactly is ‘compassion’?

The most common definition found for the word ‘compassion’ is “a feeling of deep sympathy and sorrow for another who is stricken by misfortune, accompanied by a strong desire to alleviate the suffering”[1]. In other words, there is a profound emotion made evident by a corresponding action. We can be sympathetic to another person who might find themselves in dire straits, but sympathy alone will not prod us into any kind of an action made in that individual’s behalf.

One of the most well-known examples we have of compassion is found in Matthew 18, concerning the man who had accumulated a huge debt, and was unable to pay it. His master was ready to sell the man into slavery, together with his family, in order to recoup some of debt owed. However, when the man fell on his face before the master, pleading with him, the master had ‘compassion’ on the man, and forgave the entire debt. The story goes on with this same man, whose enormous debt had just recently been forgiven, condemning one who owed him money. When the master heard of what had happened, he criticized and censured the original debtor, berating him for not acting with the same compassion that he himself had received.

It is almost impossible to be ‘tenderhearted’ without moving with compassion – see, there is the corresponding action – ‘moving’. And as we are ‘moved’ with compassion, performing an action that displays that ‘tender heart’, we are also being the example of the ‘tender heart’ of our Elohim. The question posed, then, is have we taken advantage of opportunities to show compassion, to help where help is needed? Because we have been shown compassion from our Creator and Redeemer, should we not do the same?

“But You, O יהוה, Are a COMPASSIONATE Ěl and showing favour, Patient and great in kindness and truth.” (Ps 86:15 ISR, emphasis mine)

“Finally, all of you, be one in mind and feeling; love as brothers; and BE COMPASSIONATE and humble-minded, not repaying evil with evil or insult with insult, but, on the contrary, with blessing.” (1Pet 3:8-9 CJB, emphasis mine)