From the Heart

“Every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins: 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. And by reason hereof he ought, as for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins” (Hebrews 5:1-3).

— Jim Moss

“Compassion is at the core of all Christianity. It is at the core of all we hold noble, it is the quality that makes all of life’s affairs bearable and even beautiful. It is a quality in most humanity that gives us belief that humanity is recoverable” (Eugene Burns).

Sympathy — Necessary for Salvation

God’s eternal purpose has been to establish a family in His own image and likeness. The earthly family created for this purpose lost favor through sin and, therefore, lost their right to life provided by the Creator’s perfect attribute founded on Justice.

Humanity’s desire is to have joyful, everlasting life in peace, free from pain and sorrow. The only hope is for God’s justice to be satisfied and then for humanity to be reconciled with their life-giver. The question is, how could God do this without violating His just sentence?

God’s Wisdom knew from the start that humanity would need to learn from experience the wages of sin, and He already had a plan. God’s compassion overflowed His justice by providing a ransom, His “only begotten Son,” to become a perfect man to take Adam’s place in death.

Without God’s compassion there would have been no hope for humanity, no Ransom, no sin-offering, and no need for a High Priest or Royal Priesthood. “God commends his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” “God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (Romans 5:8, John 3:16).

Humanity — The Object of Sympathy

Adam’s race was born in sin and shapen in iniquity (Psalm 51:5). The wages of sin result in mental, moral, and physical sufferings, including sickness, pain, sorrow, and finally death (Romans 6:23). The heart compassion that was innate in man when God pronounced him “good” has been severely damaged through the fall. Being cast out of Eden into an unfinished earth, the sweat, toll, and pain required to provide necessities for survival have left man enslaved (Genesis 3:19-23). Whatever remaining time, vitality, and resources are often absorbed in selfish pleasures, resulting in the numbing of sensitivity to the needs of others.

Jesus, our High Priest, Sympathizes

The Logos’ (God’s only begotten son) mission was twofold: (1) become a man to satisfy Justice by paying the ransom price to redeem man, and (2) deliver man out of his undone condition (Isaiah 6:8). This latter work would require him, as a man, to learn sympathy by gaining an understanding through experience of the difficulties of the fallen state of man.

The Greek word translated “compassion” (S4697) means to be deeply moved from the depths of your heart. It is used throughout the four Gospels to describe the pure compassion of Jesus and in parables to illustrate the lesson. Jesus healed out of this deep compassion within himself. He was moved with compassion. For example, “So Jesus had compassion on them, and touched their eyes: and immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed him” (Matthew 20:34). “When Jesus went ashore, He saw a large crowd, and He felt compassion for them because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and He began to teach them many things.” (Mark 6:34 NASB).

While on earth, Jesus was not a priest under Jewish Law, but he became our High Priest at His resurrection. “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin” (Hebrews 4:15). Jesus was tempted three times in the wilderness, to be self-willed — to foolhardiness — to compromise (R3717).

Jesus’ trials came from the flesh, the world, and the Adversary. Without yielding to sin, he was able to accomplish what no imperfect man had done or could do. Because he experienced similar trials, difficulties, and the loss of loved ones, he is able, as our High Priest, to sympathize with us in our weaknesses. “For since he himself was tempted in that which he has suffered, he is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted” (Hebrews 2:18 NASB). Our Master knows our struggles and our needs. “He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief ” (Isaiah 53:3). “That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, ‘Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses’” (Matthew 8:17).

“Consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest you be wearied and faint in your minds” (Hebrews 12:3). “Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation to all them that obey him” (Hebrews 5:8-9).

The Royal Priesthood

God’s Wisdom and love, foreseeing the great work of recovering the fallen creation and His desire for fellowship on His plane of the Divine Nature, predestinated a class to become a Royal Priesthood (1 Peter 2:9), a called-out people to bear the name of His Son, Christ Jesus (Acts 15:14). This office would require them, while in the flesh, to be “dead” to sin with Him and be partakers in his sufferings in order to live and reign with Him (1 Peter 4:13). His victory opened a “new and living way” (Hebrews 10:20).

As with the office of High Priest, the Royal Priesthood is required to learn deep sympathy with the groaning creation in order to bring humanity into “at-one-ment” with their Father, as Adam had before his fall.

This remarkable trait, sympathetic compassion, is indispensable for the Royal Priesthood to restore humanity to its Creator’s image. God requires that all humanity’s wrongs be righted, justice laid to the line, and righteousness to the plummet (Isaiah 28:17), for humanity to be in harmony with Him. It is the duty of the Royal Priesthood, together with their Savior and High Priest, to accomplish this.

Developing Sympathy

Is this your calling in life? It is God’s calling for some to come up higher for His grand purpose, His eternal purpose. It starts with a heart desire and God’s drawing (John 6:44), i.e., His invitation (call). Are we willing to offer acceptable sacrifices now to later bless all the families of the earth? “For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble” (1 Corinthians 1:26 NASB).

Compassion and sympathy must be developed to the point of the perfect love required to be of the Royal Priesthood. It starts by (1) developing complete admiration and trust for the Father and His Son, then, (2) having sympathy for those out of harmony with the Father and His Son, next, (3) counting the cost of sacrificing our own fleshly interests and self-will, then, (4) accepting the call to a full consecration (commitment), and finally, (5) transforming self through God’s providences. “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God” (Romans 12:1, 2).

In following these steps, the Royal Priesthood, once in the same plight as the rest of humanity, learn how to deal with the sinful world; and the world will find comfort and consolation in realizing such sympathy (R3067).

This heavenly office requires transformation of character, which comes through practice, practice, and more practice. Practicing forgiveness, patience, and generosity through self-sacrifice. We sacrifice not only our fleshly wants and desires for others, but also develop patience through the same sufferings and ills that the rest of the world experiences. By the power and influence of the holy Spirit, we become better at recognizing the needs of others, which increases our sympathy for them.

“As those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another … forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone … as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. Beyond all these … put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts” (Colossians 3:12-15 NASB).

Sympathy is often developed by actively assisting others — “And the LORD said unto him, ‘What is that in thine hand?’” (Exodus 4:2). “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might” (Ecclesiastes 9:10 NASB). This requires sacrificing our time, energy, and preferences. “As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good to all men, especially to them who are of the household of faith” (Galatians 6:10). This means, setting aside one’s own concerns, entering into the struggles of others, and taking a vested interest in their difficulties.

“Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can (John Wesley). Blessing others — “Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not” (Romans 12:14). “Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called” (1 Peter 3:8, 9). “Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye meet withal it shall be measured to you again” (Luke 6:38).

Add to these skills whatever you can (comfort, mercy, consolation, etc.) to have the sincere sympathy required of the Royal Priesthood to bless mankind.

In Conclusion

Sympathy gives us the motivational drive to do the restitution work of Christ’s Kingdom. “The LORD is gracious, and full of compassion: slow to anger, and of great mercy” (Psalm 145:8). For if ye turn again unto the LORD, your brethren and your children shall find compassion before them that lead them captive, so that they shall come again into this land: for the LORD your God is gracious and merciful, and will not turn away his face from you, if ye return unto him” (2 Chronicles 30:9).

“And the LORD passed by before him [Moses], and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth” (Exodus 34:6). Entering into God’s compassion may be the closest we come to seeing God this side the vail, until we see him face to face.