A Heart of Compassion Manifested into Action (Matt.9:36-37)

"The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few..."

“But when He (Jesus) saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary, and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd. Then He said to His disciples, ‘The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few.’”

Crowds would follow Jesus as He moved throughout the region. Some were faithful followers who were drawn by their deep need for healing and hope. Yet among the faithful followers, there were faithful slanders and accusers who were committed to finding fault against Jesus. Their goal was to catch Him violating religious law so they could bring charges against Him. (NOTE TO SELF: Don’t make the mistake in believing that large numbers are a sign of growth and success. The number of people doesn’t always mean everybody is seeking Jesus). Despite their reason for following Him, Jesus was still obedient to His Father’s instructions. He stayed committed and focused on His purpose.

I truly admire Jesus’ ability to remain “steadfast and unmovable in the work of His Father.” How could He still heal folks while His haters were staring at Him? I mean…Jesus could read the heart of everybody in the multitude. He knew exactly who was seeking Him for a blessing and who was seeking Him to curse Him. I believe the reason why Jesus was so focused and committed to the Father’s instructions was because He had “compassion” for God’s people. His compassion was drawn from His devoted love for His Father.  

The word “compassion” in this context is drawn from a Greek word (ἐσπλαγχνίσθη (esplanchnisthē), which is rooted in σπλάγχνα (splagchna). This word literally refers to “the inner organs, i.e., the heart, lungs, and intestines. In ancient Greek thought, the inner organs were considered the seat of deep emotions” (Logos Bible Dictionary). When the scripture says, “He was moved with compassion”, Jesus had more than just a feeling. He didn’t just look at them and say, “Oh, look at them…bless their hearts.” But this type of compassion “moved” in the innermost depth of His heart which resulted in outward action. In other words, He didn’t just “observe” the suffering, but He was compelled to take action to resolve the suffering.

How much more would our families, churches, and communities be IF we all shared the same type of compassion that Jesus had? Are you more focused on the numbers of people in the crowd rather than desiring growth in the heart of God’s people? When you have compassion for someone, do you only observe their suffering, or are you moved in the innermost part of your soul to do something to heal their suffering?  Here are a few key principles I have learned from this scripture:

1. Compassion WITHOUT Love lets us feel sympathy for someone's pain, but without the warmth of tenderness. Without love, our actions are the result of obligation rather than genuine care, which makes it harder to build a meaningful connection with those who are in need.

2. Love WITHOUT Compassion is rigid which easily leads to pride, uniformity and legalism.  

3. But Love WITH Compassion is active. It gives us the ability to see the needs of others. It will not let you walk past them. It listens, lifts, and lingers until God lead you to the next opportunity.  Love and Compassion become the hands and feet of grace so that God can use us to heal wounds that the world can’t always see.

For His glory….

Written by Sandra Kelley 6/27/2025