Grow Christ-like compassion for Muslims with these important Bible Verses

Throughout the Old Testament, God is consistently described as compassionate; and in the New Testament we see Jesus’ compassion at work toward humanity and how the Church carried on His compassion after He ascended. 

God’s love and compassion through His Son are seen clearly in our salvation through His grace and during our times of suffering and brokenness.

As children of God and Christ-followers, we are called to love others as He loved us: deeply, graciously, and unconditionally. This call on our lives is always easier to answer with people like family members, friends, and fellow believers.

But how can we have compassion on people who are different from us in noticeable ways, like people who are against our faith and disagree with our beliefs? When we are faced with someone who is opposed to us spiritually, how can we have compassion for them and love them?

To narrow it down even further, let’s think of the Muslims who may live in our community: How can we have true compassion towards them especially when we learn what the Quran teaches about Christians? Many Muslims believe that because Christians are infidels (those who don’t follow Islam), we should be subdued and submit to Islam. 

How do we have compassion for those who may hate us?

First, we should study what the Bible teaches about compassion. How does it describe God’s compassion? How does Jesus have compassion for us humans? Are we called to be compassionate as Christians?

Bible verses about compassion

Matthew 9:35-38 - Jesus had compassion on the lost

Jesus was going through all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every kind of disease and every kind of sickness. Seeing the people, He felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and dispirited like sheep without a shepherd. Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest.”

Colossians 3:12 - Christ-followers are called to be compassionate

“So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience."

Psalm 116:5 - God is full of compassion

“Gracious is the Lord, and righteous; Yes, our God is compassionate.”

2nd Corinthians 1:3-4 - We should pass God’s comfort on to others

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

What does it mean to have compassion for Muslims?

Looking at the verse from Matthew 9 above, we see that Jesus had compassion for the people around Him because He saw their true condition as “sheep without a shepherd.” They were broken and sinful, but instead of judging them for their sin, Jesus’ heart broke for them.

As Christ-followers, we must take on the same lens Jesus uses to see people. Yes, Muslims are sometimes hateful towards Christians, broken and sinful. But they are also “harassed and helpless” like the people Jesus met in the crowds.

From a very young age, Muslims are indoctrinated with beliefs that emphasize fear, shame, and perfection. They are subject to an inconsistent god who only favors them if they are good enough. Seeing this truth of how entrapped Muslims are by Islam, a seed of compassion can grow in our hearts for them.

Of course, we understand that it will be harder for some of us than others, especially for those of us who have encountered Muslims in wars or persecution. If you struggle with this, pray and ask God to help soften your heart. He calls us to forgive and love, and He is willing to walk that road of healing with you so you can replace hatred or fear with love and compassion.

Truly, Muslims are deserving of our compassion – they are spiritually oppressed in Islam. Women are taught to be ashamed of themselves for how God designed their bodies. Men are taught the only way to guarantee a spot in paradise is dying for the sake of Islam. Children are pressured to be perfect Muslims from a young age, memorizing the Quran and reciting it perfectly. Every daily prayer must be perfect and in Arabic, or else Allah will not listen. A heavy spirit filled with bondage imprisons every Muslim’s heart and mind.

Let your compassion for Muslims spur you into sharing the Gospel

What did Jesus do when His heart was filled with compassion for the crowds? He spent His time “proclaiming the good news of the Kingdom and healing every disease and sickness.”

Do not let compassion and love for Muslims sit idly in your heart. In the same way you’d give a lifesaving medication to a dying person, you can give the gospel to Muslims and tell them that Jesus saves!

Read more about sharing the gospel with Muslims here: Do I need to prepare to share the gospel? Three steps to be ready for evangelism 

Prayer to have compassion for Muslims

Dear Lord, thank you for being a gracious, righteous, and compassionate God. Please soften my heart and open my eyes to have compassion for the Muslims so I will be passionate about sharing the gospel with them. Amen.