Many of us are familiar with the parable of the Good Samaritan. What stood out to me in this story was the definition of compassion. Notice how Luke describes it: “Then a despised Samaritan came along, and when he saw the man, he felt compassion for him.” (Luke 10:33, NLT)
This Samaritan felt something in his heart for a person who despised him in the culture of the time. It wasn’t anger, hate, or malice he felt for having been despised; it was compassion. Wow! This compassion finds its root in authentic, biblical love, which is love for God. Because this Samaritan loved God, fulfilling the greatest commandment in the Bible, he felt compassion for this man in the ditch.
Compassion is not just a feeling; it fuels action. He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. And the next day, he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.’ (Luke 10:34–35, ESV) The Samaritan did what he could in this man’s situation, then brought this man to others who could do more and paid the expenses. This is compassion!
Didn’t Jesus do this for us? We despised Him, yet He saw our condition: lying in the ditch, dead in our sins and trespasses. And what did Jesus feel in His heart? The Bible says He had compassion on the multitudes and wept. Then He did what He could (all we needed): He went to the cross and died in our place, paying the price Himself. Is not this the greatest example? May we love others because we love God, and may this compassion for our fellow man fuel the action that glorifies our Father in Heaven, who loves us!
Thank you for joining me as I read and journal chronologically through the Bible! This devotional reflection comes from Luke 10-11; John 10:22-42.