Empathy is a critical aspect of being human. At its core, empathy involves being able to understand and share in the feelings and experiences of others. The Bible has a great deal to say about empathy and its importance in living a Christ-like life.
The most fundamental teaching on empathy in the Bible comes from Jesus himself. When asked what the greatest commandment is, Jesus replies, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:39). To truly love others, we must be able to empathize with them and consider their needs and feelings as we would our own. The apostle Paul echoes this idea when he writes, “Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep” (Romans 12:15). Sharing in others’ emotions, both joy and suffering, requires empathy.
Jesus modeled empathy throughout his ministry. He was constantly moved to compassion when he encountered people in need (Matthew 14:14). Jesus could sympathize with the weakness and suffering of humanity, having experienced it himself during his earthly life (Hebrews 4:15). He felt empathy for the marginalized of society, like the woman at the well (John 4) and the woman caught in adultery (John 8). His empathy moved him to reach out to these outcasts when others would condemn them.
The Bible exhorts Christians to lead with empathy. Paul writes, “As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience” (Colossians 3:12). Practicing empathy brings unity to the church: “Have the same mindset as Christ Jesus” who humbled himself to understand others (Philippians 2:5). It also enables us to forgive others just as God has forgiven us (Ephesians 4:32). According to the Bible, empathy is a virtue to cultivate.
Empathy equips Christians to be effective witnesses of the gospel. The book of 1 Peter instructs believers to “have compassion for those who doubt” (1 Peter 3:15). Without empathy, it is impossible to see situations from another person’s perspective and meet their needs effectively. Empathy helps Christians understand the struggles unbelievers face and communicate the gospel in a compelling way.
The Bible makes clear that God himself feels great empathy for his people. In the Old Testament, God saw the misery of the enslaved Israelites and “heard their groaning” (Exodus 2:24). Even when God’s people turned away from him, the prophets describe God as filled with compassion and faithfulness (Lamentations 3:22). God ultimately expressed his empathy by sending Jesus to suffer and die in humanity’s place “that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest” (Hebrews 2:17).
Cultivating empathy is part of reflecting the character of God. The Bible frequently describes God as “gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love” (Psalm 145:8). As imitators of Christ (Ephesians 5:1), Christians are called to clothe themselves in compassion, kindness and humility (Colossians 3:12). Practicing radical empathy expresses the very heart of God.
The Bible warns what can happen when God’s people lack empathy. Isaiah condemns the vain worship of God’s people because they do not seek justice for the oppressed (Isaiah 1:11-17). Amos decries those who allow injustice and oppression of the poor to continue unchecked (Amos 5:21-24). Empathy calls us to care deeply for issues that may not directly affect us personally. Heedlessness of others’ suffering is contrary to God’s concern for justice.
According to the Bible, empathy leads to tangible actions. The parable of the good Samaritan illustrates that empathy calls us to cross social boundaries and take initiative to serve those different from us in concrete ways (Luke 10:25-37). Biblical empathy is more than just sympathetic feelings – it acts to meet real needs. As James writes, if we see a brother or sister without food or clothes and do not help meet their needs, our faith is dead (James 2:14-17).
Empathy strengthens church communities. We bear one another’s burdens by weeping with those who weep and rejoicing with those who rejoice (Galatians 6:2; Romans 12:15). Paul exhorts the Philippians to make his joy complete by being like-minded and practicing empathy and compassion (Philippians 2:1-4). Cultivating empathy builds intimacy as we share each other’s feelings, creating trust and vulnerability.
The Bible views empathy as an antidote to sins like pride and selfishness. When people lack empathy, they become so preoccupied with their own desires that they ignore the needs of others. Practicing empathy counteracts self-centered attitudes (Philippians 2:3-4). Empathy also tears down prejudices between groups, as we begin to truly understand different perspectives.
Jesus perfectly models radical empathy. Though completely divine, he willingly took on human flesh and experienced our suffering firsthand (Philippians 2:6-8). He gave up his rights and made himself nothing in order to empathize fully with humanity. As God’s children, we honor Christ by following his pattern of extreme humility and empathy.
According to the New Testament, cultivating empathy is central to becoming mature in Christ. We are to speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15), look not just to our own interests but also to the interests of others (Philippians 2:4), and clothe ourselves with compassion, kindness and humility (Colossians 3:12). Jesus himself calls empathy the second greatest commandment. Biblical empathy means living like Christ.
The Bible makes clear that empathy pleases God. The apostle Paul prays that the Philippians would abound in love and in depth of insight to discern what is best so they may be “pure and blameless” until Christ returns (Philippians 1:9-10). Colossians 3 calls empathy the “bond of perfect unity” that allows us to live in harmony with one another (Colossians 3:14). Biblical empathy helps achieve God’s desire for peace and unity among his people.
Ultimately, the Bible connects empathy to spiritual maturity and integrity. Practicing biblical empathy leads to changed attitudes and behaviors that honor God and benefit others. Empathy moves us to humble service after the pattern of Jesus. A faith community flourishes when all are sensitive to others’ emotional states just as they are their own. Biblical empathy reflects a heart tuned to care for others as God cares for us.
The Bible provides both motivation and a pattern for growing in empathy. We are to look to Jesus, who gave up equality with God to embrace the human condition (Philippians 2:6-8). The Holy Spirit produces empathy and compassion in us as the fruit of God’s presence (Galatians 5:22-23). Believers have access to God’s unlimited empathy through prayer (Hebrews 4:15-16). As recipients of God’s great empathy, Christians are called to extend empathy to those around us.
Empathy also helps us avoid ungodly attitudes. Selfish ambition and vain conceit are the opposite of biblical empathy (Philippians 2:3). Pride leads to lack of care and concern for others. Empathy acts as an antidote to these destructive outlooks. With empathy, we can identify roots of behaviors and address issues in a constructive manner, rather than condemnation.
Practicing biblical empathy aligns our hearts more fully with God’s desire for harmony and flourishing relationships. Empathy helps us see situations from other perspectives – a more “God’s eye view.” It calls us to care for issues that may not directly impact our lives. The Bible makes clear that God notices and cares deeply about human suffering. So empathy leads us to share his concern.
While empathy can lead to getting taken advantage of at times, the Bible still calls Christians to an empathic approach. We are to turn the other cheek when wronged (Matthew 5:39), forgive seventy-seven times (Matthew 18:22), and overcome evil with good (Romans 12:21). Of course, we can still set healthy boundaries. But the default posture is to lead with empathy and care for others before self – the model of Christ.
The Bible makes clear that cultivating empathy should be a top priority for God’s people. We cannot truly fulfill the greatest commandments of loving God and neighbor without empathy (Matthew 22:36-40). Empathy moves us past surface-level sentimentality into deeply understanding others’ perspectives and entering into their emotions. This produces selfless, sacrificial love that lays down rights and privileges in service of others – the very definition of Christ-like love.
In summary, biblical empathy means participating in others’ emotions enough to understand their feelings and experiences in a deep way. It then moves us to selfless action to meet felt needs. The Bible provides rich inspiration and guidance for growing in empathy. As God’s people, we are called to walk in humility, compassion and kindness. Biblical empathy enables us to live out Christ’s radical pattern of other-centered love. There is perhaps no greater way to reflect God’s glory than by nurturing empathy to reflect his heart to a broken world.