A Compassionate Gut-Check

Dear Compassionate Congregation:

While working on another project about compassion, I was looking to see how many times in the Bible Jesus was “moved with compassion” to heal, feed, weep, etc. The answer is twelve. Although not every instance specifically uses the verb “moved”, in every case Jesus does something having felt compassion. The breakdown is as follows: five times in the Gospel of Matthew, four times in the Gospel of Mark and three in the Gospel of Luke. Interestingly, there are no references to Jesus’ compassion in the Gospel of John. But, wanting to see how these occasions parallel, I needed to consider the underlying Greek word in each instance.

What accounts for today’s musing is this fascinating word translated as compassion. The word is σπλάγχνα, which refers in a literal sense to the inner organs of the belly. Pronounced splangkh'-na, it occurs to me that the word may be an onomatopoeia for the noise your stomach makes when you’re hungry. Since ancient Mediterranean traditions held that our deepest passions come from our guts, it follows that a sense of compassion would be a rumbling in the belly. For those speaking languages from regions further north, the sense of compassion rises slightly north of center—we speak of compassion from the heart, with gut-instinct being less trustworthy.

What I found fascinating was how this splangkh’-na churning was translated as compassion in some cases but is translated as bowels [KJV] or intestines [NAS] when referring to human anatomy. That translation is found when Judas hangs himself (Acts 1.18-19)—the rather vivid depiction is Judas’ bowels sloshing out upon his death. I immediately thought of one of my favorite pieces of stained glass in the Art Institute. In it is depicted Judas post-suicide, with an image of the Devil receiving his infant soul from his gaping bowels (see accompanying picture).

Physics and anatomy aside, it occurred to me that the original readers of this account would have connected the full weight of Judas’ actions. Perceiving no atonement for his betrayal, Judas’ twisted compassion becomes the Devil’s portion. As a result, Judas is eternally remembered for this cosmic gut-punch.

Gut-instinct can drive us to do great good. Moved with selfless compassion, the early church knew in its belly the importance of human care. But when gut-instinct drives selfishness, it becomes a powerful source of destruction.

Praying for good gut-health, I remain,

With love,
Jonathan Krogh
Your Pastor