OceanSide church of Christ
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A BRIEF WORD STUDY OF COMPASSION IN THE NEW TESTAMENT (2)
Victor M. Eskew
metriopatheo
Hebrews 5:2 – Who can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way; for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity.
Strong (3352):
to be moderate in passion, that is, gentle (to treat indulgently)
Thayer:
to be affected moderately or in due measure, to preserve moderation in the passions especially anger or grief one who is not unduly disturbed by the errors, faults, sins of others, but bears them gently
The word is translated in the New Testament as:
“have compassion”
sumpatheo
Hebrews 10:34 – For ye had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and enduring substance.
Strong (4834):
to be affected with the same feeling as another, to sympathize with, to feel for, have compassion on
Thayer:
to feel sympathy with, that is, (by implication) to commiserate
The word is translated in the New Testament as:
“have compassion”
“be touched with the feeling of”
sumpathes
I Peter 3:8 – Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another; love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous.
Strong (4835):
having a fellow feeling (sympathetic) that is, (by implication) mutual commiseration
Thayer:
suffering or feeling the like with another, sympathetic
The word is translated in the New Testament as:
“having compassion one of another”
splaghnon
I John 3:17 – But whoso hath his world’s good, and seeth his brother having need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?
Strong (4698):
an intestine, pity or sympathy
Thayer:
bowels, the bowels were considered…by the Hebrews as the seat of tender affections, especially, kindness, benevolence, , hence, our heart (tender mercies, affections, etc.) a heart in which mercy resides
The word is translated as:
“bowels of compassion”
“inward affection”
“tender mercy”
A brief summary of the passages:
3 command compassion (I Peter 3:8; I John 3;17; Jude 22)
3 involves parables teaching compassion (Matt. 18:33; Luke 10:33; 15:20)
1 refers to God (Rom. 9:15) used 2x in the verse
9 involve the compassion of Jesus (Matt. 9:36; 14:14; 15:32; 20:34; Mark 1:41; 5:19; 6:34; 8:2; Luke 7:13)
1 the brethren had compassion on the inspired writer (Heb. 10:34)
1 the lord had compassion on servant in parable (Matt. 18:27)
1 contains a request for compassion (Mark 9:22)
1 discusses the high priest’s compassion (Heb. 5:2)