Practical Sympathy
Hebrews 13:3
Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body.


We must not make too much of sympathy, as mere feeling .... We praise feeling and praise its possessor. But feeling is only a sickly exotic in itself — a passive quality, having in it nothing moral, no temptation, and no victory. A man is no more a good man for having feeling, than he is for having a delicate ear for music, or a far-seeing optic nerve. The Son of Man had feeling — He could be "touched." The tear would start from His eyes at the sight of human sorrow. But that sympathy was no exotic in His soul, beautiful to look at, too delicate for use. Feeling with Him led to this, "He went about doing good." Sympathy with Him was this, "Grace to help in time of need."

(F. W. Robertson.)



Parallel Verses
KJV: Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body.

WEB: Remember those who are in bonds, as bound with them; and those who are ill-treated, since you are also in the body.




Nature of Sympathy
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