Day 28: Saturday, May 2
Matthew 9:32-38
As they were going away, a man who was demon-possessed and unable to speak was brought to him. After the demon was cast out, the man who had been mute began to speak. The crowds were amazed and said, “Never has anything like this been seen in Israel!” But the Pharisees said, “By the ruler of demons he casts out demons!”
Then Jesus went throughout all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every kind of disease and sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were bewildered and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest-ready fields.”
The Scriptures quoted are from the NET Bible® http://netbible.com copyright ©1996, 2019 used with permission from Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. All rights reserved.
COMMENT & QUESTIONS
This week we have come across many people who have responded to Jesus. Some people responded by trusting in Jesus. Other people told Jesus to leave. Still others came to Jesus to criticise Him.
In this final section of this part of the story, Matthew tells us what motivated Jesus to have all of these interactions. It was because when he saw the crowds He had compassion on them. They were like sheep without a shepherd. When you look at people in our community who have broken lives and who need a shepherd, do you feel compassion? Take a few moments to think of people who you know who need a shepherd like Jesus to guide them. Then take a moment to pray for ‘workers’ to go and reach these people like Jesus did.
Perhaps at the moment you can see people in your community struggling with the impacts of isolation and loneliness. There may be people who have lost their jobs, who have difficult family situations or who have addictions. It's easy to blame these people for getting into these circumstances themselves, but Jesus has compassion even on people when they cause their own troubles. It's easy to be angry at the world, but Jesus calls us to have compassion.
Prayers
Give thanks that we follow a Saviour who is filled with compassion Pray for labourers to go into the harvest and reach the lost