A Time to Weep . . .

The Apostle Paul

Acts 20:19Serving the Lord with all humility, with many tears, and with trials which happened to me by the plots of the Jews

Romans 9:1-3 I tell the truth in Christ. I am not lying, my conscience testifying with me in the Holy Spirit, that I have great sorrow and unceasing pain in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brothers’ sake, my relatives according to the flesh

Philippians 3:18 For many walk, of whom I told you often, and now tell you even weeping, as the enemies of the cross of Christ

2 Corinthians 2:4 For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote to you with many tears . . .

Paul’s inspired advice

Romans 12:15 Rejoice with those who rejoice. Weep with those who weep.

Other New Testament Christians

2 Timothy 1:4 Longing to see you, remembering your tears, that I may be filled with joy.

Acts 20:31  . . . remembering that for a period of three years I didn’t cease to admonish everyone night and day with tears.

Acts 8:2 Devout men buried Stephen, and lamented greatly over him.

Acts 20:37 They all wept a lot, and fell on Paul’s neck and kissed him, sorrowing most of all because of the word which he had spoken, that they should see his face no more. And they accompanied him to the ship.

Our Ultimate Role Model

Hebrews 5:7 He, in the days of his flesh, having offered up prayers and petitions with strong crying and tears to him who was able to save him from death, and having been heard for his godly fear

Matthew 26:37  . . . began to be sorrowful and severely troubled. Then he said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here, and watch with me.”

John 11:33 When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews weeping who came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled, and said, “Where have you laid him?” They told him, “Lord, come and see.” Jesus wept. The Jews therefore said, “See how much affection he had for him!” Some of them said, “Couldn’t this man, who opened the eyes of him who was blind, have also kept this man from dying?” Jesus therefore, again groaning in himself, came to the tomb. Now it was a cave, and a stone lay against it.

Luke 19:41 When he came near, he saw the city and wept over it

A Few of the Countless Old Testament References

Job 30:25 Didn’t I weep for him who was in trouble? Wasn’t my soul grieved for the needy?

Ecclesiastes 3:4 a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance

Psalm 35:13 But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth. I afflicted my soul with fasting. My prayer returned into my own bosom. I behaved myself as though it had been my friend or my brother. I bowed down mourning, as one who mourns his mother.

Psalm 119:136 Streams of tears run down my eyes, because they don’t observe your law.

Jeremiah 9:1 Oh that my head were waters, and my eyes a spring of tears, that I might weep day and night for the slain of the daughter of my people!

Jeremiah 13:17 But if you will not hear it, my soul shall weep in secret for your pride; and my eye shall weep bitterly, and run down with tears, because the Lord’s flock is taken captive.

Jeremiah 14:17  . . . Let my eyes run down with tears night and day, and let them not cease; for the virgin daughter of my people is broken with a great breach, with a very grievous wound.