Christian teaching

I know this sounds a bit odd. But it’s an important word in the New Testament and so I want us to study it and see what we can learn from it to apply to our lives. The word . . .

Splangchnon?!

. . . means literally “intestines,” “bowels” or more generally innards or guts. So for instance in Acts 1:18, it says, “Now Judas (after he betrayed Jesus) bought a field with the reward of his wickedness, and falling headlong he burst open in the middle and all his bowels gushed out.”

But I am not asking you this morning how your intestines are. Splangchnon also has a figurative use.

• The “intestines” were thought to be the seat of tender affections.
• What we today associate more with the “heart.”

[It certainly makes for some interesting translation, if you don’t understand the figurative meaning of the word. For instance in Philemon 1:12 Paul says, “I am sending Onesimus back to you – sending my very intestines.” He is sending Onesimus back to Philemon, whom he cares deeply about. Onesimus is Paul’s very heart.]

The figurative meaning of Splangchnon has to do with “compassion” or “a feeling of great affection.” It’s a word that is similar to mercy, but it carries with it, not just the outward actions of mercy, but also the inward feeling that goes along with it. It is to be “touched” or “moved” by a situation, which leads you to act in a merciful and kind way.

To flesh this out a bit more, lets look at Splangchnon or . . .

Compassion in Jesus’ teaching and example

1. Compassion is a response to human need. For instance, the needs of the sick. Many crowds would follow Jesus everywhere, desperate for help, especially for healing. And even though Jesus was looking for some private time, Matthew 14:14 says, “When Jesus went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick.” He was moved to meet their need.

Another example has to do with the needs of a hungry crowd. This comes to us from Matthew 15, just before the feeding of the 4,000. The people were weary and hungry from following Jesus around. In v. 32 Jesus said, “I have compassion on the crowd because they have been with me now three days and have nothing to eat. And I am unwilling to send them away hungry, lest they faint on the way.” Then Jesus proceeded to feed them miraculously, meeting their needs and more.

Jesus also had compassion on the needs the disabled. In Matthew 20 there were two blind men who were calling out to Jesus to have mercy on them. And the crowds told them to shut up.  But they cried out all the more. And so Jesus stopped to talk to them. And v. 34 says, “And Jesus in pity (Splangchnon) touched their eyes, and immediately they recovered their sight and followed him.” Jesus met their very real need.

2. Compassion is a response to human suffering. For instance the suffering of physical and mental illness. In Mark 9 there is the story of a boy possessed by a demon since childhood, which often  tried to kill him. And he suffered from a seizure when Jesus came near. And so the father asked Jesus in v. 22 – “If you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.’” And Jesus was moved to compassion. He cast out the demon and healed the boy (Mark 9:25-27).

Another example is the suffering of a grieving mother. In Luke 7 she had just lost her only son, and she was a widow. So she was not just grieving, but in that culture and day, also on the verge of being economically marginalized not having a male to care for her. Verse 13 says, “And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her and said to her, ‘Do not weep.’” And then he acted; he raised the young man from the dead.

Compassion also has to do with the suffering of a wounded enemy. In Luke 10 Jesus tells the story of the good Samaritan. A man was robbed, beaten, stripped and left half-dead on the side of the road. He was a Jew. And a Samaritan, who was an enemy of Jews, came and found him. And v. 33 says,    “. . . when the Samaritan saw him, he had compassion.” And he acted. He gave him medical attention, carried him to an inn and paid for his expenses.

And the Samaritan is the example in this story of what it means to love our neighbor. It means to have compassion in similar ways, even upon our enemies.

3. Compassion is a response to human failure. In Matthew 18 Jesus tells the parable of the unforgiving servant. A king called for all debts to be paid up. And one servant who owed the king much couldn’t pay. And so the king ordered that he and his family be sold off to pay the debt. But the servant begged for mercy.

Verse 27 says, “And out of pity (Splangchnon) for him, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the debt.” And the king’s compassion and mercy are a major part of the lesson that Jesus is teaching in this episode.

Then in Luke 15, we have the story of the prodigal son. He had disrespected his father and gone off and squandered his money in a sinful lifestyle. And then when he decided to go back to his father, while on the way, v. 20 says, “his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.”

The father’s compassionate response is a picture for us of God, and how God responds to us when we come back to him from our rebellion and sin.

Now let look at two things to take away from this . . .

Jesus has compassion on us

This the character of God, and it is the character of Jesus as we have seen in the Gospels. And so

• in our times of need
• when we are suffering
• when we have failed

we can know that it touches Jesus’ heart. Things are not different today than they were back then.

And so when we come to Jesus with our needs and concerns, our pain and suffering, our failure and shame, he will have compassion on us. Jesus will be moved to act in mercy and kindness toward us. And this is a great comfort for us.

The second thing we should take away from this is that . . .

Jesus wants us to have compassion on others

This comes out in Matthew 9:36, “When Jesus saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.” He saw their needs. And what did he do? How did he express his compassion? A verse later, it says, he sent out the disciples to minister to their needs (Matthew 10:1).

And Jesus still sends out his disciples to do this. Jesus sends us out to have compassion on people’s needs, suffering and failures.

More specifically, we are to minister to them the compassion of Jesus. We are to be the instruments of Jesus’ compassion to the world around us.

So let us not become cold-hearted; let us not be hard-hearted to the needs, suffering and failures of those around us.

Yes, we need wisdom to know how to respond in a way that truly helps, but let us not become cynical, so that we do nothing. Just as Jesus has had compassion on us, so we are to give his compassion to others.

Let me end by noting that . . .

God is stirring compassion among us 

There are many examples, but here are a few:

• A small group among us who is going out of its way to help with needs in The Gambia
• My daughter Marie, whom God has put it into her heart to care about Darfur, Africa, a place where truly unthinkable suffering and injustice has become a routine part of each day. 
• Marlen, whom God has placed it in her heart to pray for children who are kidnapped or missing.
• Some of us who are talking about volunteering time at the cold weather shelter to help the homeless in our neighborhood.
• Our Deacons, who just this week talked about putting together a food bank supported by our congregation for those who come to us in need.
• Ethel organizing, and all who help with food and cards for those who are sick and in need in our congregation.
• Those of you who are investing yourselves helping families, and kids in our neighborhood and being blessed because of it.
• Those of you who volunteer time working at the Cumberland Valley Relief Center and the world-wide relief work of Mennonite Central Committee.
• Those of you who give time and resources for the work that Mennonite Disaster Service does to help people to recover from natural disasters.
• Our youth, who will be fasting and raising money to help the hungry of the world.

God is stirring compassion, and may God do so more and more! 

William Higgins