Have you seen this cliché in movies before? A heart-broken character receives a hand on the shoulder and a friend tells him, “I sympathize…No! I empathize with you.” In this moment they want to portray that instead of feeling pity for their situation that they actually feel the same emotion as their unfortunate friend.
In modern conversation, you will often hear people esteem empathy as a far more preferable response to someone’s plight. In some ways this can be true. To empathize with someone necessitates a close bond with someone. According to Oxford Languages, empathy is “the ability to understand and share the feelings of another.” This can happen between two people that share a similar circumstance or worldview. For people experiencing tragedy, a word of empathy can often be more beneficial than sympathy.
In the Bible, Christians are taught to show empathy, especially toward one another. Galatians 6:2 says, “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” He also states in Romans 12:15, “Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.” Furthermore, Jesus demonstrated the very essence of empathy in His incarnation. Hebrews 4:15-16 tells us, “For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” Jesus feels pity for us (sympathy) because He lived as we do and shows us mercy (empathy).
However, empathy can also be dangerous. Sometimes people prioritize empathy so much that it leads to sin. In the verse right before Paul said, “Bear one another’s burdens,” he warned, “Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted” (Gal. 6:1). Empathy should drive us to reach out and rescue others when they fall into sin. But we must be careful and not let that pursuit lead us into sinning ourselves.
Consider these examples. If a brother starts going to drinking parties, an empathetic Christian should be driven to confront them. But, if they go to the party, they may be tempted to join in. Or a Christian may become close friends with someone and later learn they are a homosexual. Their empathy for their friend may lead them to reject Biblical teaching in favor of their friend and fall into the sin of approving of sin (cf. Rom. 1:32).
Christians must have empathy for their fellow man. But empathy must be guided and limited by the Word of God.