Compassionate Healer

The New Testament often describes Jesus as someone who "had compassion." This phrase is sometimes translated as "felt sorry" or "took pity."

It appears in complex situations where:

1. Someone shows distress and Jesus resolves the distress (Matthew 18:23–26; 20:29–33; Matthew 18:27; 20:34).

2. Jesus displays deep emotion (Matthew 14:14; 15:32; 18:27; 20:34).

3. There is a contrast with those lacking compassion (Matthew 9:32–36; 18:27–30; 20:29–34).

In the Gospels, "had compassion" directly refers to Jesus, but it also appears in parables where it can refer to God the Father or Jesus (Matthew 18:27; Luke 10:33; 15:20).

In the Old Testament, God’s compassion refers to his tender mercy, most often toward his covenant people. God withdrew this compassion to judge Israel’s stubborn unfaithfulness (Isaiah 27:11; 63:15; Jeremiah 13:14). God restored his compassion when Israel repented (Deuteronomy 13:18; 30:2–3; Proverbs 28:13; Isaiah 55:7).

The Old Testament often describes the messianic age (the time when God's chosen leader would come) as a time of God’s compassion (Isaiah 14:1; 49:10, 13; 54:8, 10; 60:10; Jeremiah 12:15; 33:26; Ezekiel 39:25; Micah 7:19; Habakkuk 3:2; Zechariah 10:6). The Gospels show this idea again, as the messianic age has begun and God’s covenant love is active in Israel once again.

Passages for Further Study

Deuteronomy 13:18; 30:3; 1 Kings 8:50–51; Proverbs 28:13; Isaiah 14:1; 49:10, 13; 54:7–10; 55:7; 60:10; Jeremiah 12:14–15; 33:26; Ezekiel 39:25; Micah 7:18–20; Habakkuk 3:2; Zechariah 1:16; 10:6; Matthew 9:35–36; 14:14; 15:32; 18:23–30; 20:29–34; Luke 10:33–37; 15:20–32