Striving for Holiness: Acting With Compassion

Matthew 9:35–38 

This Sunday, Pastor Joe continued the Striving for Holiness series with a message on acting with compassion.

Last week’s message focused on humility—looking honestly at ourselves in light of God’s holiness. This week, Pastor Joe turned our attention outward:

Compassion calls us to see others through the eyes of God’s compassion toward us and then reflect that compassion through action.

His central text was Matthew 9:35–38. In this passage, Jesus traveled through the towns and villages, teaching, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness. But Matthew then tells us something especially important:

“When he saw the crowds, he felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and dejected, like sheep without a shepherd.” — Matthew 9:36

Jesus did more than notice the crowd. He saw the people.

He recognized their physical needs, but He also saw something deeper—their spiritual condition. They were surrounded by religion, yet they were like sheep without a shepherd.

Pastor Joe challenged us to ask whether we truly see the people God has placed around us—not merely noticing them, but seeing them as Jesus sees them.

It is possible to pass someone every day without really seeing them. We can become so preoccupied, isolated, cautious, or busy that we learn to look away. But compassion requires us to look again—to see people as Jesus sees them.

And seeing is only the beginning.

Jesus told His disciples:

“The harvest is abundant, but the workers are few. Therefore, pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest.”  — Matthew 9:37–38

Pastor Joe emphasized that this prayer is not simply asking God to send someone else.

Sometimes, if God has placed a need on our heart, we may be the very person He intends to use.

True compassion compels us to act.

Compassion is more than pity. Pity may recognize that someone is hurting and feel sorry for them. Biblical compassion moves deeper.

As Pastor Joe described it:

“Compassion is a heartfelt empathy which drives us to action.”

Jesus demonstrated that kind of compassion again and again. He healed the sick, fed the hungry, comforted the grieving, and ministered to people because He was moved with compassion.

And because compassion reflects the very nature of God, it should increasingly become part of the life of every believer.

When God revealed Himself to Moses, He declared:

“The Lord—the Lord is a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger and abounding in faithful love and truth.” — Exodus 34:6

We show compassion because we have first received compassion from God.

Scripture therefore tells believers to intentionally “put on” compassion:

“Therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and dearly loved, put on compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.”  — Colossians 3:12

Pastor Joe compared this to getting dressed. We intentionally choose what we put on each day. In the same way, as believers, we are called to intentionally clothe ourselves with compassion and make the decision to see the people around us.

Compassion is not something we display for recognition or applause. It should flow from the very nature of Christ at work within us.

One description Pastor Joe shared captures it simply:

“Compassion is your hurt in my heart.”

Ultimately, the greatest demonstration of compassion is found in Jesus Christ Himself. Christ bore our griefs, carried our sorrows, was pierced for our rebellion, and was crushed for our iniquities. We were the sheep who had gone astray, and yet God showed compassion toward us through His Son. (Isaiah 53:4–6)

Because we have received such great compassion, we are called to extend compassion to others.

So the challenge from this week’s message is simple, but searching:

See people. Pray for them. And act with compassion.

May God open our eyes to the people around us—not only those within our church or our immediate families, but those we encounter every day—and make us a people through whom others can see the love and compassion of Jesus.

“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving one another, just as God also forgave you in Christ.” — Ephesians 4:32

Watch here: