Allow me to open our message with an illustration. In his book entitled The Kingdom Focused Church, Gene Mims shares the following account: “After Marco Polo returned from the magnificent imperial court of Kublai Khan in 1926, he wrote that the mighty Khan asked him to request that the Pope send him a hundred priests to teach Christianity to his subjects. Then, according to Polo, Kublai Khan said, ‘I shall allow myself to be baptized. Following my example, all my nobility will then in like manner receive baptism, and this will be imitated by all my subjects in general. In the end, the Christians of these parts will exceed in number those who inhabit your own country’.”
“Polo concluded, ‘From this discourse it must be evident that if the Pope had sent out persons duly qualified to preach the gospel, the Great Khan would have embraced Christianity, for which, it is certainly known, he had strong predilection’.” Mims further shares, “The Pope could spare only two friars for the evangelization of China, both of whom turned back before they were halfway there, saying the trip was too difficult. Imagine how different the world would be today if Kublai Khan’s invitation had been accepted!”(1) “Ignoring an opportunity to evangelize can change the course of history for the worse, as much as action in the name of Christ, can change it for the better”(2) – and with this illustration in mind, I want to invite you to stand in honor of the reading of God’s Word in Matthew 9:35-38:
35 Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. 36 But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd. 37 Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. 38 Therefore, pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.”
Jesus Served with Compassion (vv. 35-36a)
Beginning in verse 35, we see the activities that comprised Jesus’ ministry, which serves as a guide for our efforts: Jesus shared the gospel everywhere He went through teaching and preaching, and He met people’s needs by healing their sicknesses and diseases. We know that He also fed the hungry, showed compassion to the outcast, interacted with the untouchables, and Jesus instructed His followers to care for the poor, hungry, thirsty, and those in need of clothing, emphasizing the importance of serving others by meeting their physical needs. But while He was serving them, verse 36 says that “Jesus saw the multitudes, [and] He was moved with compassion for them.”
The Greek word in verse 36 for “moved with compassion” (splagchnistheis) is derived from the word for “bowels” (splagchna), as the Jews esteemed the bowels to be the seat of emotion. “It is an emphatic word, signifying a vehement affection of [sympathy and sorrow], by which the bowels, and especially the heart, is moved . . . to feel pity or compassion at seeing the miseries of others.”(3) When Jesus looked at the multitudes, He was moved with compassion because of their pain, their sorrow, their hunger, their loneliness, and their bewilderment;(4) and all their problems were the result of being shepherdless, as they were deprived and devoid of any spiritual guidance.
The People Are Without a Shepherd (v. 36b)
Jesus saw that they “were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd” (v. 36). The word weary (eskulmenoi) can be translated as “harassed.” The word scattered (errimenoi) can be translated as “prostrated,” and “pictures the people as being like sheep thrown down and lying helpless.”(5) Commentator A.T. Robertson elaborates how it was “a sad and pitiful state the crowds were in. Rent and mangled as if by wild beasts . . . they were harassed, importuned, bewildered by those who should have taught them; hindered from entering into the kingdom of heaven, laden with the burdens which the Pharisees [and other spiritual leaders had piled] upon them . . . The masses were in a state of mental rejection. No wonder that Jesus was moved with compassion.”(6)
Commentator Frank Stagg elaborates even further: “Jesus saw the crowds like sheep cast down and helpless and like a neglected harvest. By outward [signs], religion was robust, with crowded temple, synagogues in every village, six thousand Pharisees, twenty thousand lower priests, a small but powerful group of Sadducean priests, a sizable group of Essenes, and other sectarian groups. But with thousands of priests and laymen who made religion their chief business, the people were neglected, or even worse, thrown down and left helpless.”(7) This reminds me of today. In the “Bible Belt” there is a church on every street corner, often filled with numerous paid staff and teaming with church-goers; and yet, countless individuals are unreached, with their needs going unmet.
The statement in verse 36 originates from 1 Kings 22:17, where the prophet Micaiah, while speaking in the presence of “the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah” (22:10) declared this: “I saw all Israel scattered on the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd. And the LORD said, ‘These have no master. [So] let each return to his house in peace’.” What I just shared from 1 Kings 22:17 is, unfortunately, a sad picture of the world today. It appears there is hardly anyone willing to reach out and guide people as a spiritual leader, and so the masses return to their houses, not in peace, but without hope; hiding themselves away in their homes, being isolated from society; when what they need is to experience compassion and community; to be shepherded and find a purpose with eternal significance.
The Fields Are Ready for Harvest (v. 37a)
“Jesus saw God’s people harassed by their supposed religious leaders, as sheep are harassed by dogs and wolves . . . [But] Jesus told His disciples that He also saw the crowds in terms of a ripe harvest.”(8) In verse 37, He said, “The harvest truly is plentiful.” When we look at all the abused and hurting people around us, many of whom are angry and bitter, do we assume they are uninterested in Jesus and the church? Do we think that some of them are a lost cause and why even bother? If so, I first have to say how that is a terrible attitude; and secondly, we really need to change our perspective. See a need, meet a need; and if we meet a need, someone will be ready and willing to receive what we offer.
But There Are Not Enough Workers (v. 37b)
Jesus also said in verse 37, “the laborers are few,” which was a slam on the religious leaders. The word “laborer” (ergatai) is used in the sense of an agricultural worker, such as a reaper of wheat. Commentator Adam Clarkes notes that “it was customary with the Jews to call their rabbis and students reapers; and their work of instruction, the harvest.”(9) You see, the number of religious followers and religious leaders was abundant, but they never did the work of instructing people in the way of righteousness; and more importantly, teaching them the way of truth in Jesus Christ. Even though the manpower was abundant and the team roster was full, they were not actual workers; but rather bench warmers.
Pray for Workers to Be Thrust Out (v. 38)
“The field of harvest was too great in proportion to the number of laborers who were available. If laborers were not found to do the harvesting, [then] the grain would be lost,”(10) and so, in verse 38, Jesus declared, “Therefore, pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.” “The word ‘send’ (ekbale), literally means ‘to cast out,’ but it had [later] come to mean [simply] ‘send’ or ‘send forth’ . . . Presumably, the praying is needed, not because of God’s unwillingness to send, but because of man’s unwillingness to go.”(11) Way too many believers have exhibited a failure to launch!
Jesus is saying we need to pray that God would get ahold of unwilling, pew-warming believers and shove them out the door to share the gospel. Roberston says “the verb ekballo really means to drive out, to push out, to draw out with violence . . . Prayer is the remedy offered by Jesus in this crisis for a larger ministerial supply. How seldom do we hear prayers for more preachers. Sometimes God literally has to push, or force, a man into the ministry who resists his known duty.”(12) But this prayer for more workers is not just about those called to a church staff position; it applies to all disciples of Jesus Christ; or rather, to all who have been given the Great Commission.
Let Us Be Going Out to Work as Well
We need to be praying for laborers, as Jesus commanded; but when we pray, let us not forget to look in the mirror and consider what we can contribute. You see, we cannot stop at prayer. We need to add feet to our prayers and turn them into concrete actions that make an eternal impact in the lives of others. William Barclay says that prayer alone is not enough to accomplish the harvest, for “a man might say, ‘I will pray for the coming of Christ’s kingdom every day in life.’ But in this, as in so many things, prayer without works is dead.”(13) We should be praying for laborers; but at the same time, we must be in the fields laboring ourselves. Barclay then shares the following account:
“Martin Luther had a friend who felt about the Christian faith as he did. The friend was also a monk. They came to an agreement. Luther would go down into the dust and heat of the battle for the Reformation in the world; the friend would stay in the monastery and uphold Luther’s hands in prayer. So they began that way. Then, one night the friend, [or the monk], had a dream. He saw a vast field of corn as big as the world; and one solitary man was seeking to reap from it – an impossible and heartbreaking task. Then he caught a glimpse of the reaper’s face; and the reaper was Martin Luther; and Luther’s friend saw the truth in a flash. ‘I must leave my prayers,’ he said, ‘and get to the work.’ And so, he left his pious solitude, and went down to the world to labor in the harvest.”(14)
In John 4:35-36, Jesus said, “Do you not say, ‘There are still four months and then comes the harvest?’ Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest! And he who reaps receives wages, and gathers fruit for eternal life, that both he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together.” Some people will mistakenly think they only have to pray for someone else to do the work; and others will rationalize that they still have time before they engage in evangelism, saying, “There are still four months and then comes the harvest” (John 4:35). Maybe they feel that now is not the right time to talk to their coworker or neighbor, for whatever excuse; but Jesus in essence said, “Now is the time to be harvesting!”
In John 4:36, Jesus used the terms “sowing” and “reaping.” Sowing is when you plant seeds of the gospel message in someone’s heart. Reaping is when you lead them to faith in Christ. Both are important and cannot be neglected. William Faye says, “Nonbelievers must hear the gospel an average of 7.6 times before they receive it . . . Maybe this is only the second time he has ever heard it, or maybe this is his 6.6th time. Your obedience to share may bring this person to a turning point.”(15) That turning point is the harvesting. Paul stated in 1 Corinthians 3:6, “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase.” We must all be involved by planting, watering, or harvesting; and some of us will even be blessed enough to do all three at once! But the point is, every one of us must be working.
Time of Reflection
Allow me to close with some questions based on what we have learned: Are you sensitive to the needs of others and moved with compassion? Do you see them as ripe for the harvest and feel a stirring to connect them with strong leadership and grounded discipleship? Or, when you see those who are far from God, do you write them off as being uninterested in what you have to say? Do you see the needs of those around you, but rather than helping, you pray for others to do the job? If so, then perhaps you are a bench warmer; seemingly full of faith, but having no works. When God looks at you, maybe He sees someone needing a good push to get off the bench and in the game.
When Jesus looks out on the world, He is moved with compassion, as He sees people weary and scatted with no shepherd. I think “weary and scattered” is an apt description of many today; as people are weary from the pace and burdens of modern-day life, unable to even think straight. But the deeper meaning is that people are weary from the weight of sin and spiritually wandering and lost. Jesus said in Matthew 11:28-29, “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” Jesus wants to remove the heavy burden of sin and have us sit at His feet, and take upon His yoke of learning; whereby, we find guidance and rest.
NOTES
(1) Gene Mims, The Kingdom Focused Church (Nashville, TN: Broadman and Holman, 2003), pp. 78-79.
(2) Ibid., p. 78.
(3) Adam Clarke, “Matthew to the Acts,” Clarke’s Commentary, vol. 5 (Nashville: Abingdon Press), p. 114.
(4) William Barclay, “The Gospel of Matthew,” vol. 1, The Daily Study Bible (Philadelphia, PA: Westminster, 1958), pp. 363-364.
(5) Frank Stagg, “Matthew,” The Broadman Bible Commentary, vol. 8 (Nashville: Broadman Press, 1969), p. 132.
(6) A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament, vol. 1 (Grand Rapids: Baker, 1930), p. 76.
(7) Stagg, p. 132.
(8) Clair M. Crissey, “Matthew,” Layman’s Bible Book Commentary, vol. 15 (Nashville: Broadman Press, 1981), p. 57.
(9) Clarke, p. 115.
(10) Crissey, p. 57.
(11) Stagg, p. 132.
(12) Robertson, p. 76.
(13) Barclay, p. 366.
(14) Ibid., p. 366.
(15) William Faye, Share Jesus without Fear (Nashville, TN: Broadman and Holman, 1999).
