Sympathy sees and says, “I’m sorry.” Compassion sees and says, “I’ll help.”
Jesus, the Master Teacher, gives us a beautiful lesson on compassion personified. A certain man was descending by the robber-infested road leading down from Jerusalem to Jericho. (Secular history records the dangers of this road from ancient times.) These bandits were the meanest type of robbers. They violently took from him his money and even his clothing, beat him up, and left him half-dead in this dangerous, bloody way. Now, by chance, a priest was going down that way. He came alongside, took a momentary look, (Sympathy sees and says, “I’m sorry.”) and passed on the other side of the road to avoid ceremonial contamination. (Here is a vivid picture of ceremonial cleanliness, Church activities, at the cost of moral principle and obvious duty). And likewise, a Levite came down to the place and seeing him, (more heartless even than the priest), passed on the other side. (Sympathy sees and says, “I’m sorry.”)
But a certain Samaritan, being on a journey, came down upon him and, seeing him, took pity on him. The contrast here is sharp between this despised Samaritan “dog” and the robed Priest and Levite, the orthodox clergy of the Jews. The persons one would expect to minister religiously in matters of human welfare. The Samaritan gave a demonstration of true neighbor-love. Immediately on seeing the man he had compassion, a fellow-feeling or empathy for him. Nor did he stop with a mere look of pity, but hastily administered first aid; binding up his wounds, pouring in soothing oil and antiseptic wine, the common remedies of that day. Then he placed the man onto his beast and walked beside him, until he came to an inn. On arrival, he personally took care of the wounded man. At dawn the next morning, he paid the innkeeper for the expense of the night and said: “Take good care of him and whatever you may spend in addition, on my return trip I will pay you.” (Compassion sees and says “I’ll help!”)
Be blessed as you walk in Him.
Pastor J. Amos Jones
