Compassion: The Heart of Christ's Love

Sermon Summary

Compassion is not an optional add-on for those who follow Christ; it is a defining mark of our identity as believers. The parable of the Good Samaritan, which Jesus tells in response to a lawyer’s question about inheriting eternal life, reveals that compassion is deeply rooted in our relationship with God. The lawyer, an expert in the Mosaic law, knew the right answers—love God and love your neighbor—but struggled with the practical outworking of that love. Jesus’ story exposes that true compassion is not merely a matter of knowledge or good intentions, but of the heart, flowing from a genuine love for God.

Throughout Scripture, loving God and loving others are inseparable. Our ability to love others well is only possible when we are first transformed by God’s love for us. Without this foundation, our attempts at compassion are often incomplete, uninformed, or even self-serving. We may act in the name of love, but without God’s wisdom and courage, our efforts can miss the mark or even cause harm. Only when our hearts are shaped by God’s love do we gain the courage and discernment to love others as He does.

The parable also highlights how rare true compassion is. The priest and the Levite, both religious leaders, saw the wounded man but chose to pass by, likely justifying their actions with seemingly good reasons—concerns for safety, ritual purity, or lack of resources. Yet, their lack of compassion was not due to ignorance, but a heart issue. Jesus contrasts their response with that of the Samaritan, who, despite being considered an enemy by the Jews, was moved by compassion to help at great personal risk and cost.

Jesus uses the Samaritan’s actions to model the kind of compassion He Himself embodies. The Samaritan’s willingness to help an enemy, to risk his own safety, to give generously without limit, and to commit to long-term care all point to the sacrificial love of Christ. Jesus came to rescue us when we were spiritually dead, showing compassion not just in word but in costly, redemptive action.

Practically, living out this kind of compassion is challenging. Needs are everywhere, and we cannot meet them all. The way forward begins with prayer for wisdom wrapped in compassion, prioritizing those needs God places directly in our path, and resting in the assurance that we cannot outgive God—even when we are taken advantage of. Ultimately, as we consider Christ’s compassion toward us, we are compelled to move toward others with the same self-giving love.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Compassion flows from a transformed heart rooted in God’s love. Our ability to love others well is directly tied to our relationship with God; without first loving Him, our compassion will be incomplete and often self-serving. True compassion requires the courage and wisdom that only God can provide, shaping our motives and actions to reflect His heart. [11:26]
• 2. The rarity of compassion is not an intellectual problem but a heart problem. Even those who know the right answers, like the lawyer, priest, and Levite, can fail to act compassionately because their hearts are not aligned with God’s. We often justify our lack of compassion with reasonable-sounding excuses, but Jesus exposes these as barriers to genuine love. [21:23]
• 3. Jesus models compassion that crosses boundaries and risks personal cost. The Samaritan’s actions—helping an enemy, risking danger, and giving without limit—mirror the sacrificial love of Christ, who came to rescue us when we were spiritually helpless. This challenges us to move beyond comfort and convenience, extending compassion even to those we might consider outsiders or adversaries. [34:46]
• 4. Compassion addresses both immediate and long-term needs, not just quick fixes. The Samaritan didn’t just provide first aid; he ensured ongoing care and promised to return, reflecting Jesus’ commitment to our holistic transformation. Christ’s compassion is not transactional but relational, inviting us to invest in others’ lives for the long haul. [38:52]
• 5. Practicing compassion requires prayerful discernment, prioritizing proximity, and trusting God with the outcomes. We must seek wisdom to know when and how to help, focus on the needs God places in our immediate circles, and accept that sometimes we will be taken advantage of. Yet, we can rest in the truth that we cannot outgive God, and our acts of compassion, even when imperfect, are part of His greater work in the world. [48:02]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [02:43] - Crucial vs. Optional: The Heart of Compassion
• [03:57] - Compassion Flows from Our Relationship with God
• [08:47] - The Biblical Connection: Loving God and Neighbor
• [11:26] - Why Loving God Comes First
• [14:01] - Compassion: Not an Intellectual Problem
• [19:05] - The Excuses We Make
• [21:23] - Justifying Ourselves and Missing Compassion
• [22:32] - The Samaritan’s Motivation
• [24:14] - The Samaritan’s Identity and Historical Tensions
• [29:45] - Disciples’ Attitudes and Jesus’ Rebuke
• [31:16] - Jesus as the Ultimate Model of Compassion
• [34:46] - Compassion on the Enemy: The Gospel Parallel
• [36:58] - Compassion at Great Risk and Cost
• [38:52] - Addressing Immediate and Long-Term Needs
• [41:12] - The Challenge of Practicing Compassion
• [42:43] - Three Practical Considerations
• [48:02] - You Can’t Outgive God
• [49:46] - Moving Toward Compassion: The Final Call

• Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Luke 10:25–37 (ESV) — The Parable of the Good Samaritan —
> 25 And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” 26 He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?” 27 And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” 28 And he said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.”
> 29 But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” 30 Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead. 31 Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. 32 So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. 34 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. 35 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.’ 36 Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” 37 He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” And Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise.”

Observation Questions

1. What question does the lawyer ask Jesus at the beginning of the parable, and how does Jesus respond?
2. According to the parable, what actions did the priest, the Levite, and the Samaritan each take when they saw the wounded man?
3. What specific word does Jesus use to describe the Samaritan’s motivation for helping the wounded man?
4. What did the Samaritan do for the wounded man beyond just helping him in the moment?

Interpretation Questions

1. Why does Jesus connect loving God and loving your neighbor so closely in this parable? What does this reveal about the source of true compassion?
2. The priest and Levite likely had “good reasons” for not helping. What does the sermon suggest about the real reason for their lack of compassion?
3. Why do you think Jesus chose a Samaritan—a person considered an enemy by the Jews—as the hero of the story? What point was he making to his listeners?
4. The sermon says that compassion is “not an intellectual problem but a heart problem.” How does this challenge the way we think about our own acts of compassion?

Application Questions

1. The sermon says that compassion flows from a heart transformed by God’s love. In what ways do you see your relationship with God affecting how you treat others, especially those who are difficult to love?
2. The priest and Levite justified their lack of action with reasonable-sounding excuses. Can you think of a recent situation where you made an excuse not to help someone? What was going on in your heart at that moment?
3. Jesus models compassion that crosses boundaries and comes at personal cost. Is there someone in your life right now who is “outside your comfort zone” or even an “enemy” that you sense God calling you to love or serve? What would it look like to take a step toward them?
4. The Samaritan didn’t just offer a quick fix—he committed to ongoing care. Are there people or situations in your life where you tend to offer only short-term help? What might it look like to invest in someone’s long-term well-being?
5. The sermon suggests starting with prayer for “wisdom wrapped in compassion” when faced with needs. How can you make prayer a more regular part of your response to the needs you see around you?
6. The idea of “prioritizing proximity” was mentioned—focusing on the needs God places directly in your path. Who are the people in your immediate circles (family, work, neighborhood) that might need compassion from you this week?
7. The pastor said, “You will get taken advantage of. Deal with it.” How does the fear of being taken advantage of affect your willingness to show compassion? How can you trust God with the outcomes, even when your help isn’t appreciated or is misused?