“At the sight of the crowds, Jesus’ heart was moved with pity (ἐσπλαγχνίσθη) for them
because they were troubled and abandoned, like sheep without a shepherd.” (9:36)
“Therefore if you have any encouragement in Christ,
if any comfort from His love,
if any fellowship with the Spirit,
if any affection (σπλάγχνα) and compassion,
then make my joy complete by being like-minded,
having the same love, being united in spirit and purpose.
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or empty pride,
but in humility consider others more important than yourselves.
Each of you should look not only to your own interests,
but also to the interests of others.
Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus:
Who, existing in the form of God,
did not consider equality with God
something to be grasped,
but emptied Himself,
taking the form of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man,
He humbled Himself
and became obedient to death—
even death on a cross…”
(Phil 2:1-8)
* Moved with pity (ἐσπλαγχνίσθη)
Original Word: σπλαγχνίζομαι (splangkh-nid’-zom-ahee)
Background: σπλαγχνίζομαι highlights a Spirit-wrought emotion in which the whole inner being is stirred toward merciful action. In the Synoptic Gospels this verb is tied almost exclusively to the ministry of Jesus Christ, with two parabolic exceptions and one plea from a desperate father.
In every narrative use, compassion becomes the hinge between human need and divine intervention. The verbs introduce healing (Matthew 14:14; 20:34; Mark 1:41), feeding (Matthew 15:32; Mark 8:2), teaching (Mark 6:34), and comfort to the bereaved (Luke 7:13). The consistent pattern is: Jesus sees → is moved → acts, underscoring that redemptive deeds spring from His compassionate heart.
“Moved with compassion, Jesus reached out His hand and touched the man. ‘I am willing,’ He said. ‘Be clean!’” (Mark 1:41)
