Question 1

What is empathy?

Accepted Answer

Exodus 23:9“You must not oppress foreigners. You know what it’s like to be a foreigner, for you yourselves were once foreigners in the land of Egypt.”Jeremiah 9:1If only my head were a pool of water and my eyes a fountain of tears, I would weep day and night for all my people who have been slaughtered.Romans 12:15Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep.2 Corinthians 1:3-4All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.2 Corinthians 11:28-29I have the daily burden of my concern for all the churches. Who is weak without my feeling that weakness? Who is led astray, and I do not burn with anger?Empathy is deeply identifying with the emotions of another person and responding appropriately. If someone is in pain, we feel their pain. If someone is overjoyed, we join in their excitement.

Question 2

How is God empathetic toward me?

Accepted Answer

Isaiah 53:12I will give him [the Messiah] the honors of a victorious soldier, because he exposed himself to death. He was counted among the rebels. He bore the sins of many and interceded for rebels.Isaiah 63:9In all their suffering he [the Lord] also suffered, and he personally rescued them. In his love and mercy he redeemed them. He lifted them up and carried them through all the years.Romans 5:6, 8When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. . . . God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.Romans 8:26-27, 34The Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will. . . . Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us.Galatians 1:4Jesus gave his life for our sins, just as God our Father planned, in order to rescue us from this evil world in which we live.Hebrews 2:9What we do see is Jesus, who for a little while was given a position “a little lower than the angels”; and because he suffered death for us, he is now “crowned with glory and honor.” Yes, by God’s grace, Jesus tasted death for everyone.Hebrews 4:15This High Priest [Jesus] of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin.1 Peter 3:18Christ suffered for our sins once for all time. He never sinned, but he died for sinners to bring you safely home to God. He suffered physical death, but he was raised to life in the Spirit.God sent his Son, Jesus, to earth as a human being in order to fully experience what we do. Jesus suffered great hurt and pain; therefore, we cannot say that God does not understand or feel our hurts and pains. His heart breaks when our hearts break. God created the full range of human emotions, and Jesus has experienced the full range of human emotions. He understands our weaknesses, our fears, and our joys. Even more than that, his empathy for us moved him to create a way for us to experience eternal joy, free from all pain and suffering.

Question 3

How can I be more empathetic?

Accepted Answer

Job 2:11-13When three of Job’s friends heard of the tragedy he had suffered, they got together and traveled from their homes to comfort and console him. . . . When they saw Job . . . they tore their robes and threw dust into the air over their heads to show their grief. Then they sat on the ground with him for seven days and nights. No one said a word to Job, for they saw that his suffering was too great for words.Empathy isn’t about solving a problem—it’s about coming alongside someone. Sometimes, a silence that says “I’m here” is all that a hurting person needs.2 Corinthians 1:3-4All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.The more we experience the empathy of God, the source of all mercy and comfort, the more we will be equipped to show empathy to others.Philippians 2:1Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate?1 Peter 1:22You were cleansed from your sins when you obeyed the truth, so now you must show sincere love to each other as brothers and sisters. Love each other deeply with all your heart.1 John 3:18Let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions.The more we realize our desperate need for God’s mercy, the more we will understand the power of showing mercy to others. Recognizing our need for God’s compassion moves us to act with compassion toward others.Jeremiah 9:1If only my head were a pool of water and my eyes a fountain of tears, I would weep day and night for all my people who have been slaughtered.Galatians 6:2Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ.Empathy involves vulnerability. It isn’t a detached understanding of something. It involves a shared emotion. Sometimes, empathy requires opening ourselves to others’ pain and sadness.Romans 12:15Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep.1 Corinthians 12:26If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad.Hebrews 13:3Remember those in prison, as if you were there yourself. Remember also those being mistreated, as if you felt their pain in your own bodies.Being empathetic is more than just being concerned about the troubles of others. It involves moving to help them in their times of need.Luke 6:31“Do to others as you would like them to do to you.”We should help others in ways that we would like to be helped. When we don’t know what to do, we should consider what we would need from someone when experiencing a similar situation.Matthew 5:44“I [Jesus] say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you!”We can show empathy by praying for others, even our enemies.Luke 10:36-37“Now which of these three would you say was a neighbor to the man who was attacked by bandits?” Jesus asked. The man replied, “The one who showed him mercy.” Then Jesus said, “Yes, now go and do the same.”We can demonstrate Jesus’ way of empathy by helping anyone who is in need—not just the people we like and are comfortable being around. Jews and Samaritans were enemies, yet in Jesus’ parable, the Good Samaritan goes out of his way to help the Jewish man in need. Jesus calls us to do the same.

Question 4

How is empathy important in my relationships?

Accepted Answer

1 Corinthians 12:26If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad.1 Peter 3:8All of you should be of one mind. Sympathize with each other. Love each other as brothers and sisters. Be tenderhearted, and keep a humble attitude.Empathy unites the church by helping us come to an understanding of one other and our needs.Exodus 23:9“You must not oppress foreigners. You know what it’s like to be a foreigner, for you yourselves were once foreigners in the land of Egypt.”Mark 2:1-5When Jesus returned to Capernaum several days later, the news spread quickly that he was back home. Soon the house where he was staying was so packed with visitors that there was no more room, even outside the door. While he was preaching God’s word to them, four men arrived carrying a paralyzed man on a mat. They couldn’t bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, so they dug a hole through the roof above his head. Then they lowered the man on his mat, right down in front of Jesus. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, “My child, your sins are forgiven.”Empathy helps us be more attentive and sensitive to others. True empathy moves us to action and helps us show the love of Christ to those who need it.