by: Robert Nacci
Matthew 9:35-38, “And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. 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. Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.”
Compassion is not only for a lost and dying world, but compassion is also for one another, as believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, the family of God.
Yes, we know what Bible tells us about showing compassion for the lost and for each other, but my concern is that it is all a head knowledge of what the Bible says and not a heart knowledge that stirs us to action. Sometimes I feel we get this idea that we are saved and all is right with the world, and that we are saved and we are better than those who are not. Christians are not better than those who are lost, because the Bible tells us, “such were some of you.” We were once that sinner who was lost in need of salvation. Salvation does not make us better, rather I would say that it makes us blessed.
We look at our backslidden brothers and sisters in Christ and tell ourselves that it is their problem; they have to get right. Yes they do, but again the Bible commands us, “ye which are spiritual, restore such a one.” We tell ourselves we’re right with God so we’re better because of that. Again, just because we may not be in a backslidden state does not make us better than those who are because it could very well be us at some point.
It is not our job to play God, and I will continue to make that statement until the day I die. It is our job to point them to the Saviour, to show them they are a sinner in need of salvation. I’m afraid we’ve started to do God’s job for Him when we feel the need to make someone feel guilty because of their sin. When in reality, all we need to do is crack open a Bible and show them their need of a Saviour. When soul winning is done right, the person will see that they are guilty before God and will see their need of a Saviour. We don’t need to play God.
We then move onto the backslider, and you know what we do with them? We put them on the back pew, we talk about them, we criticize them, we analyze them and we do everything except what the Bible commands; restore them. Pray for them. Love them. Show them that it’s still time to get right with God. Do you know someone who is backslidden? If so, pray for them, call them, visit them, love them, and show them that you care and that God cares and that it’s still time to get right with God. Whatever you do, don’t talk about them, criticize them, or analyze them because nine times out of ten you’ll just drive them away.
There is a need in our churches today of compassionate Christians for sinful souls. I want to challenge you with the question, are you a compassionate Christian for sinful souls, and like Christ, are you moved with compassion? To answer that question, we first must know what compassion is.
The word “compassion,” as it is used in the Bible means, “To be moved inwardly; to yearn with tender mercy, affection, pity and empathy.” It refers to the deepest possible feelings. The phrase, “moved with compassion” means to be moved in the “inner organs”. It has the same idea as our modern expression, “From the bottom of my heart.” Someone defined compassion as, “Sympathy coupled with a desire to help.” Sympathy means, “The capacity to share feelings, to enter into the same feelings, to feel the same thing”. So, compassion is “sharing the feelings of others and possessing a desire to help them in their trouble.”
In our passage, we see that Christ was moved with compassion. But what moved Him? The first four words of our verse; “But when He saw.” If we’re ever to be moved with compassion for people, we must see them. See what?
1. We must see their depravity in sin.
The Lord Jesus Christ was moved with compassion because these people were lost under a burdensome load of sin. The same is true today. Look around you, you can’t miss or deny the fact that there are people hurting, longing, and are in need of being reached by a compassionate Christian for their sinful soul.
Ephesians 2:1-3 says, “And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.”
Psalm 38:4 says, “For mine iniquities are gone over mine head: as an heavy burden they are too heavy for me.”
To be moved with compassion like Christ, we must see their depravity in sin.
2. We must see their destiny in Hell.
The Lord Jesus Christ was moved with compassion because He could see the end from the beginning. He knew that apart from Him, they would all be in Hell. No wonder He was moved with compassion. Jesus doesn’t want anyone to go to Hell. Christians need the same vision. If we really believe in Hell like we say we do, then why aren’t we telling more men, women, boys and girls about the Saviour? Even the people in Hell are concerned about the lost.
Luke 16:27-31 says, “Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father’s house For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.”
There are people all around you who will die and go to Hell. Will they go without you having told them?
Ezekiel 33:8 says, “When I say unto the wicked, O wicked man, thou shalt surely die; if thou dost not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.”
Romans 10:14 says, “How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?”
If we are ever to be moved with compassion, we must see their heart need. We must see their need for a Saviour. We must see their depravity in sin; their destiny is Hell. We must see it. That’s the only way it will touch our hearts and move us to compassion.
Lamentations 3:51 says, “Mine eye affecteth mine heart…”
If we ever have any hope of reaching our world for Christ, we must see their need. Their need is that of a Saviour. We can’t be concerned about how someone looks, that they look dirty, scary, they look this or they look that, NO! We can’t worry about the fact that they may look less desirable than someone else, or that they don’t look like they’re worth the time or the effort. We can’t be concerned that they don’t look like any change will ever take place, that they don’t talk right, look right or act right. Again I say, it is not our job to play God. God is not willing any should perish. As Christians, we need to get past the outward appearance of people. We just need to have a passion, a burning passion for souls. Our church doors should be open to all. That is why the church is here. That is why churches like the one I am in and the one you are in exist, to be a hospital for sinful souls. I encourage you when they do come in, be a friend to them. Take the time with them. Sit with them. Care for them and show them the love of Jesus.
Remember, you that at one time, you and I could have been that sinner who perhaps no one wanted to take the time with, but praise God, they did. When we get pass the outward and see the inward need, it will move to compassion.
3. Seeing the need will move us with compassion.
We see examples of this in the Bible. Nehemiah was moved when he saw and heard of the ruined walls in Jerusalem. Nehemiah 1:3-4 says, “And they said unto me, The remnant that are left of the captivity there in the province are in great affliction and reproach: the wall of Jerusalem also is broken down, and the gates thereof are burned with fire. And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days, and fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven,”
The Apostle Paul was stirred when he saw the city of Athens given to Idols. Acts 17:16 says, “Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred in him, when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry.”
Our Lord Jesus Christ was moved with compassion when he saw the people without a shepherd. Matthew 9:36 says, “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.”
Seeing will move you with compassion, but it needs to go even a step further than just seeing the need and being moved with compassion. Compassion should lead to action.
4. Compassion Must Be Followed By Action
Nehemiah, Paul, and Jesus could have very well stopped at just being moved with compassion, but they didn’t. Nehemiah saw the need, was moved, and acted by rallying the people together to rebuild the walls. Paul saw the need, was moved and acted by delivering one of the greatest messages the Bible ever records on Mars’ Hill. Our Lord Jesus Christ saw the need of fallen man, was moved and acted by giving His life for us on the cross of Calvary. Compassion must be followed by action.
We see the need of our world and we say it moves us to compassion and concern, yet we don’t do anything about it. There’s something wrong with that. Compassion must be followed by action. Do we have concern and compassion for people as our Lord did here in our text? Let me tell you a few things about compassion and concern.
Compassion and concern will send us out on soul winning. Compassion and concern will keep us busy telling the story even when people are hard and unresponsive. Compassion and concern will cause a church to purchase what’s needed to send the Gospel to untouched areas of the community. Yes, every method will be used to win others. Compassion and concern will cause us to speak to others. Compassion and concern will cause us to obey our Lord’s command to witness (Acts 1:8). Compassion and concern will build a warm friendly church. In short, if we really have the compassion and concern as we claim, it will move us to action.
Without compassion and concern, the altars are empty. Without compassion and concern, missionary giving drops to a new low. Without compassion and concern, the services of the church are stereotypical and dead. Without compassion and concern, souls remain lost.
So, you ask what our action must be if we’re moved with compassion after seeing the need of the people around us. It is simple, make a difference.
Jude 1:22 says, “And of some have compassion, making a difference:”
How do we make a difference you ask? Simple: “Go ye.” Matthew 28:18-20 says, “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”
I close with this illustration. While walking home from school, a boy named Mark noticed the boy ahead of him had stumbled to the ground and dropped everything he was carrying. Mark hurried to the boy’s side and helped him collect his belongings. Surprisingly, the boy was carrying an especially hefty load. There was a baseball glove and bat, a couple of sweaters, a small tape recorder, and an armful of books. Mark helped him carry the things home and his new friend, Bill, was most appreciative of his compassion. During the walk home, Mark discovered Bill was struggling in school and had just broken up with his girlfriend. When they arrived at Bill’s house, he invited Mark in for a Coke and they spent the rest of the afternoon talking, laughing, and watching TV. Although the two boys never became real close friends, they kept up with each other throughout the rest of junior high and high school. Several weeks before graduation, Bill approached Mark and asked him if he remembered that day they met when Mark helped him with all of his stuff. Mark nodded as he remembered. Bill then asked, “Did you ever wonder why I was carrying so many things that day?” Without pausing for an answer, Bill explained he had cleaned out his locker and was going home to take his life. He had been storing away sleeping pills and was headed home to end it all when Mark happened along to help him out. Bill told Mark how that simple act of compassion inspired him to go on living. He said, “Mark, when you picked up my books that day, you saved my life.” Imagine how many times our small, seemingly insignificant gestures of concern may reignite the flame of life and inspire someone to continue on.
Thankfully, compassion has a way of doing that. You never know what a little compassion will accomplish. Remember, compassion is more than feeling sorry for someone. It is more than pity. Compassion is a desire to reach out and make a difference in the life of someone else. In truth, compassion is a desire to be Christ to someone else. Again I ask, are you a compassionate Christian for sinful souls, and like Christ are you moved with compassion and doing something to see them saved? Or, have you gotten to the point where you’ve become cold, callused and uncaring? If that’s the case, today is the day to reignite that passion for souls in your life. Today is the day for you to once again become a compassionate Christian for sinful souls.
Robert Nacci
Youth Pastor
Lighthouse Independent Baptist Church
Philadelphia, PA