This list gives you King James Version Scripture passages that show Jesus moved by compassion, whether toward the crowds, the sick, the grieving, or the lost. It is written for anyone who wants to see how Christ responded to human need and to receive that same tenderness for their own days. What these passages share is a simple pattern: Jesus notices people, is moved by what he sees, and acts.
Verses for Seeing Jesus Move Toward the Crowds
The Gospels often pause to tell us how Jesus felt when he looked at large groups of people. These passages reveal a shepherd’s heart that sees confusion and weariness and does not turn away.
Matthew 9:36
But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.
(KJV)
This verse shows Jesus looking at a tired, scattered crowd and feeling real compassion for them. When you feel overwhelmed by the demands around you, try naming one person you are tempted to overlook today and asking God to help you see them as Jesus did.
Mark 6:34
And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things.
(KJV)
Here Jesus sets aside his plans for rest because the people are like sheep without a shepherd. Consider writing this verse on a card and placing it where you plan your week, asking whether there is room in your schedule for someone who needs your patience.
Matthew 14:14
And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick.
(KJV)
After a long and disrupting day, Jesus still responds to the sick with compassion and healing. When your energy runs low, pause before answering the next request and ask God to renew the willingness to give, even when you are tired.
Verses for the Sick, the Hurting, and the Grieving
Many of the most vivid accounts of Jesus’ compassion take place beside beds, at gravesides, and in moments of physical pain. These verses show him drawing near to suffering people rather than keeping his distance.
Matthew 20:34
So Jesus had compassion on them , and touched their eyes: and immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed him.
(KJV)
Two blind men cry out for mercy, and Jesus stops, touches their eyes, and heals them. If you are waiting for an answer to a long-held prayer, let this verse remind you that Christ hears persistent cries and responds with tender care.
Luke 7:13
And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not.
(KJV)
Jesus sees a widow burying her only son and speaks to her before doing anything else. When you are walking through loss, you can picture Jesus meeting you in the same way, saying a word of comfort before any other help arrives.
John 11:35
Jesus wept.
(KJV)
This short verse shows Jesus weeping at the grave of his friend, even though he knew he would raise Lazarus. Reading it can give you permission to grieve honestly, knowing the Lord who wept is near to those who mourn.
Verses for Christ’s Compassion Toward the Lost and Outcast
Jesus’ compassion reaches beyond the respectable and the religious. These passages show him seeking out people who were overlooked, shamed, or pushed to the edges of their communities.
Mark 1:41
And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean.
(KJV)
A man with leprosy comes to Jesus, and rather than recoiling, Jesus reaches out and touches him. Think about someone in your life who feels untouchable because of their past, and consider one small act of welcome you could offer this week.
Luke 15:20
And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.
(KJV)
In the parable of the prodigal son, the father runs to meet his returning child with compassion. This verse, which Jesus told to reveal the Father’s heart, invites you to imagine God running toward you the moment you turn back to him.
Luke 19:41
And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it…
(KJV)
As Jesus approaches Jerusalem, he weeps over the city that refuses his peace. If you carry a burden for a person or community that seems far from God, this verse shows that such longing is part of Christ’s own heart, and you can bring that concern to him in prayer.
Verses for Remembering Christ’s Compassion in Everyday Life
These final passages connect Jesus’ compassion to the ordinary rhythms of faith, reminding you that the same tenderness that healed and taught is available to shape how you treat others and how you rest in God.
Hebrews 4:15
For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
(KJV)
This verse says Jesus is able to sympathize with our weaknesses because he was tempted in every way we are. When you feel ashamed of your struggles, remember that the One you approach understands them fully and welcomes you with grace.
Isaiah 40:11
He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.
(KJV)
The prophet describes God as a shepherd who gathers the lambs in his arms and gently leads the mothers. Picture this image when you feel fragile, and let it shape how you handle a tender situation in your family or work today.
Matthew 11:28
Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
(KJV)
Jesus invites the weary and heavy laden to come to him for rest. At the end of a difficult day, you might speak this invitation aloud, naming the specific burden you are placing in his hands.
1 Peter 5:7
Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
(KJV)
Peter urges believers to cast their anxieties on God because he cares for them. When worry rises during the day, try writing your concern on paper, then physically setting it aside as an act of trust.
Psalm 103:13
Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him.
(KJV)
The psalmist compares the Lord’s compassion to a father’s tenderness toward his children. Read this verse slowly before bed and let it quiet the fear that God is distant or impatient with you.
How to Use These Verses
Start by choosing two or three passages that match where you are right now, rather than trying to read the entire list at once. Write each verse on an index card or in a notes app, and keep it where you will see it during the day, such as beside your coffee maker or on your car’s dashboard. Reading one verse slowly, then pausing to reflect on one specific person or need, will do more than rushing through many.
Pray these verses back to God, using their language as the framework for your own requests. For example, after reading the verse about Jesus seeing the crowd, you might ask him to give you the same eyes for the people you meet this week. Returning to the same passages over several weeks often reveals new details of Christ’s character, and that steady familiarity can shape how you love others.
A Short Prayer for Jesus’ Compassion
Lord Jesus, thank you that you looked upon the crowds with compassion and did not turn away from their need. Help me to see people the way you do, noticing their weariness and responding with patience instead of irritation. When I am sick, grieving, or ashamed, draw me close to you as you drew close to those who suffered in your day. Soften my heart toward those I have overlooked, and let your tenderness flow through my ordinary words and actions. Amen.
