A SERIES OF DEVOTIONS BASED ON THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MATTHEW 

JESUS’ COMPASSION      

Matthew 9:36 “When He saw the crowds, He had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.” 

“The Hebrew and Greek words translated “compassion” in the Bible mean ‘to have mercy, to feel sympathy and to have pity.’ We know that, according to the Bible, God is ‘a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness’ (Psalm 86:15). Like all of God’s attributes, His compassion is infinite and eternal. His compassions never fail; they are new every morning (Lamentations 3:22-23). (Gotquestions.org) 

Twelve times in the Old Testament it says God showed compassion upon someone or an entire nation. In the Gospels, six times the holy writers say Jesus had compassion upon a group or individual. Such was the case in today’s devotional verse, Matthew 9:36. The word compassion is found in some English translations over 140 times.   

Compassion means to have mercy, feel sympathy, and to have pity upon someone. In today’s devotional verse Jesus had such compassion upon an entire crowd of people because they had been abandoned by their spiritual leaders. Instead of ministering to the needs of God’s people the Pharisees, Scribes and Sadducees engaged themselves in attempting to gain personal honor and prestige. Jesus was compassionate upon them bringing God’s love and mercy to bear upon them in their difficult, challenging and at times helpless condition.   

Jesus, out of His compassion healed their diseases, restored body parts that no longer functioned, gave back life to the dead. More importantly, out of His compassion He went to Calvary’s cross to pay for their sins and prayed they would receive God’s forgiveness.   

He also has compassion for you. Because of His compassion He died on Calvary’s cross for you. After His resurrection on Easter, before His ascension into heaven, He gave His great commission (Matthew 28:18-20) to His followers to go out literally into the entire world to spread the good news of His compassion for all. For He would have all to be saved! (1 Timothy 2:4) 

Prayer: Compassionate Lord, I cast all my cares upon You trusting You to minister to my every need as You know best. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

I leave all things to God’s direction;   
loves me both in joy and woe.  
His will is good, sure His affection;   
His tender love is true, I know.  
My fortress and my rock is He:    
What pleases God, that leases me. 

God knows what must be done to save me;   
His love for me will never cease.  
Upon His hands He did engrave me  
With purest gold of loving grace.  
His will supreme must ever be:  
What pleases God, that pleases me. 

My God desires the soul’s salvation;  
My soul He, too, desires to save.  
Therefore with Christian reservation  
All earthly troubles I will brave.  
His will be done eternally:  
What pleases God, that pleases me. 

My God has all things in His keeping;  
He is the ever-faithful friend.  
He gives me laughter after weeping,  
And all His ways in blessings end.  
His love endures eternally:   
What pleases God, that pleases me.  

I Leave All Things to God's Directions // LSB 719