Matthew 9:35-10:4, Evidence (13)

In v36 of today’s reading Jesus makes an assessment of the people of Israel.  In v35 we see why Jesus was qualified to make that assessment.  The incarnation (the event where God took on flesh) was not a myth nor was it a “surface” event.  Jesus truly immersed Himself in the people of His day.  He was in all the cities and villages around the Galilee.  He taught in their synagogues, a place where His teaching was out before people who could respond to it and challenge it if they wished.  His miracles were done in very public ways.  The people He healed were known; there was no question that what He did was a mere publicity stunt or fund-raising gimmick.  He had first-hand acquaintance with the people.

So, when He assessed the situation and concluded they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd, He knew what He was talking about.  People were fainting and wandering around aimlessly.  And the reason Jesus gives is that they had no shepherd, no one who was reliably leading them.  As Jesus made clear in John 10, and as was predicted in the prophets (e.g. Ezek. 35), the shepherds of Israel were not doing their job.  The religious leaders in particular were in the shepherding business for their own material gain.  Thus, the spiritual needs of the sheep were not met.  Here is a great explanation of what Jesus is saying:

The Lord saw lost people as having no real goals.  They were "scattered abroad" -- like sheep. Sheep are neither strong, nor smart, nor swift. They are somewhat stupid, having a propensity to go astray and wander aimlessly farther and farther away. Lost sheep have no goal, no instinctive sense that will bring them back to the fold. Jesus saw lost people as sheep wandering here and there through life, with no sense as to where it all leads and where it all ends.  He also saw them as having no real guides, "as sheep having no shepherd."  What did they have? They had the Pharisees, Sadducees, scribes and rabbis. But (they) were as lost as the people they were attempting to lead. (John Phillips, p174)

With this pointed assessment there are two other important pieces of information.  One has to do with the attitude of the Assessor: He was moved with compassion.  Jesus was not viewing people as their Judge, although He is the Judge of all men.  He viewed them as God Incarnate, as the One who had a feeling for their infirmities (Heb. 4:15).  Second, when He saw the people His continuing assessment was that the harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few.  There needed to be laborers like what He was looking for when He restored Peter to ministry, telling Him to feed My lambs … tend My sheep … feed My sheep (John 21:15-17).  He did not give up on the lost sheep; He saw them as ready to hear and respond to the gospel.

Therefore, Jesus gives a command: PRAY!  And then, after His own all night prayer vigil (acc. to Luke 6:12), He chose twelve men to be with Him and to be trained to shepherd the flock.