The Compassion of Jesus

Matthew 9:35-38 (New King James Version)

The Compassion of Jesus

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.”

Matthew 10:1 (New King James Version)

The Twelve Apostles

10 And when He had called His twelve disciples to Him, He gave them power over unclean

spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease.

Number 1. The Compassion Jesus had for the people.

Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages... Matthew 9:35 NKJV

These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the

Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: But go rather to the lost sheep of

the house of Israel.

Matthew 10:5–6 KJV 1900

“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations"

Matthew 28:19–20 KJV 1900

Jesus had compassion for the people.

But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they

were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd.

Matthew 9:36 NKJV

Compassion

Greek: σπλαγχνίζομαι

Transliteration: splagchnizomai

Pronunciation: splangkh-nid'-zom-ahee

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in

Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

John 3:16 NKJV

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.

Matthew 9:36 KJV

Matthew describes the people as having fainted and as being scattered like sheep without a

shepherd.

Fainted is translated from the Greek word

Greek: ἐκλύω

Transliteration: ekluō

Pronunciation: ek-loo'-o

Then Jesus spoke to the multitudes and to His disciples, saying: “The scribes and the

Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. Therefore whatever they tell you to observe, that observe and

do, but do not do according to their works; for they say, and do not do. For they bind heavy

burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move

them with one of their fingers.

Matthew 23:1–4 NKJV

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. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

Matthew 11:28–30 NKJV

But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they

were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd.

Matthew 9:36 NKJV

Scattered abroad is translated from the Greek word

Greek: ῥίπτω

Transliteration: rhiptō̄

Pronunciation: hrip'-to

Number 2. They were starving spiritually.

Number 3. They were not cared for properly.

And the word of the Lord came to me, saying, “Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds

of Israel, prophesy and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God to the shepherds: “Woe to the

shepherds of Israel who feed themselves! Should not the shepherds feed the flocks? You eat

the fat and clothe yourselves with the wool; you slaughter the fatlings, but you do not feed

the flock.

Ezekiel 34:1–5 NKJV

The weak you have not strengthened, nor have you healed those who were sick, nor bound

up the broken, nor brought back what was driven away, nor sought what was lost; but with

force and cruelty you have ruled them. So they were scattered because there was no

shepherd; and they became food for all the beasts of the field when they were scattered.