What does the Bible say about Empathy?

In this episode we explore what the Bible says about empathy from the perspective of the teaching of Jesus in the sermon on the mount and the teaching of Paul in 2 Corinthians 1.

In Matthew 5, we unpack what it means to be “blessed” (makarios): not superficial happiness, but the deep privilege of receiving God’s special favor. Jesus’ words confront our assumptions about poverty, hunger, persecution, and insult, culminating in the paradoxical statement, “Blessed are those who mourn.” How can mourning be called fortunate—and why would grief place someone in a position of blessing?

Jumping over to 2 Corinthians 1:3–4, Paul says that suffering and loss are moments where God personally comforts us and then he invites us to become agents of comfort for others. We examine grief in its many forms—personal, relational, material, physical, and emotional—and discuss compassion and empathy as core Christian virtues. The episode concludes with practical guidance on how to comfort well: acknowledging pain, avoiding minimization, offering presence, expressing care, and learning what not to say. A thoughtful, pastoral reflection on grief, comfort, and the surprising way God meets us in our mourning.