In Matthew 9:35-36 we read this about Jesus…
Matthew 9:35-36 Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.
The idea in Greek for the words harassed and helpless is rather graphic. Harassed is a word that translates “to be skinned." Helpless is the idea of being thrown to the ground by an opponent with no one around to help. I had a seminary professor who was a missionary in the Middle East. He worked in villages where raising sheep was an important business for families. He was talking about this passage one day and he said, “The only time you see sheep without a shepherd is when they are being sold in the market or getting ready to be slaughtered by the butcher.” I think this image resembles what Jesus experienced when he saw the crowds.
Jesus is the Good Shepherd and he guides and protects. The Bible says, “He lays down His life for the sheep.” People who are without Jesus might look good on the outside, but the reality is they have an enemy who is skinning them alive, and they have no one to help them. I hate this image!
Right after these verses that describe what Jesus saw, he says the following to His disciples:
Matthew 9:37-38 “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”
As you pray for people this week, consider the spiritual reality of life without Jesus. Also, pray that God would bring many believers into their lives to show and share the gospel.
