From Matthew 15:32-39 / A God of Compassion

J.C. Ryle notes that of all the varied emotions Jesus displayed during the incarnation – wonder, grief, anger, etc., none is more numerously noted than compassion. At least nine times directly and more times inferred. We need to note it. We have a most compassionate and tender God when it comes to our sufferings.

No, His compassion does not mitigate His justice, holiness or wrath. In His perfection, all of His attributes shine forth with equal intensity. None is ever expressed or displayed at the expense of the others. There is always absolute balance.

One may shine a pure white light beam through a prism to see the varied wavelengths and colors that light is comprised of – but when in right balance, only pure white light is visible. The Gospel serves as a prism, but we must not forget the whole when looking at a portion.

Note first: How much like me Jesus’ Disciples are. They had been here once before. And what did Jesus do then? He miraculously fed the 5,000 from a few loaves and fishes. But here, they repeat what they did the first time – they sputter to themselves about what they cannot do. One would have thought they would turn to Jesus once again first instead. But no. Like me they went through the ritual of personal helplessness first rather than running to Christ first.

Oh Father, help me to seek your face before I get into a dither about what I can’t do. Seeing every situation, make my first thought to run to you.

Note second: The wonder of our God in Christ’s compassion is.

He has compassion on all the brokenness our sinful rebellion has brought into the world.

On our physical needs. So He feeds the 5,000, the 4,000; sends seasons of rain and provides soil for planting and harvesting. We have air to breathe, water to drink, strength to farm and inventions to multiply the productivity of our labors.

On the frailty of our bodies. In His incarnation, He heals multitudes. Even now, He stretches out His healing hand at times. And in compassion gives men success in the sciences to create medicines, surgical techniques, therapies and treatments of all kinds. All to alleviate our suffering. On the saved and unsaved alike!

On the impact of our sin on our souls. His Word is given to lighten the eyes to our condition, and to provide the truth to right our listing and sinking inner man. There are secular counselors who observe and offer insight to our soul’s disorders. And above all, the Gospel to actually heal the soul and bring it back into right relationship with God.

He has compassion on the death we brought upon ourselves in Eden. So He weeps at Lazarus’ grave, and feels compassion for the death of a widow’s only son. Precious in His eyes is the death of His saints. (Ps. 116:15)

He has compassion for the Saint when he or she stumbles in sin. If only more of us grasped this, how much we would know He remains our ally in fighting sin. He winces at our wounds in that cosmic battle. He speaks healing and restoration to us in our failures. His Spirit is the Comforter. By His Spirit He points back to the Cross where our freedom and salvation has been once forever won.

He is compassionate toward the pain of our many temptations. He has tasted them all and knows their bitterness and does not cast us off when we are overcome.

He is compassionate when our own foolishness brings pain and destruction in our lives.

He is compassionate toward our forgetfulness of His love, mercy, grace and promises.

He is compassionate toward our loneliness and provides His Church, natural companionship, marriage and His promise to be with us always.

He is compassionate such that He pleads for us, intercedes for us perpetually before the throne of the Father that we might be preserved, blessed and arrive at our full inheritance.

Christian – never doubt His compassion toward you in every aspect of life – and even on those things we bring upon ourselves in foolishness, times of shirking off His yoke and by virtue of life in this post Genesis 3 world.

You who are not yet saved by His grace – His compassionate arms remain open wide to you. He has preserved you another day, and seen to it this Gospel of His forgiveness and substitutionary death on the Cross is brought before you yet again. He calls to you to come running to Him still filthy in all of your guilt and shame for His cleansing. He has compassion on the ravages of sin in your life. And today, He pleads through my voice to come for His ministrations. He will not refuse you.

O what a compassionate God He is!