SUMMARY OF MATTHEW 9:35-38
Jesus began travelling through all the towns and villages, preaching the Good News and healing every disease and sickness. Jesus has compassion on the crowds. He told his disciples that they needed more people to preach, so ask the Lord to send out more workers to meet the need.
BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 11, Day 2: Matthew 9:35-38
3a) “They were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.” Basically, they were ignorant of God’s Word and needed to be fed.
b)
Psalm 23:1-3: God is our shepherd, providing us with everything we need. He restores our souls and guides us in righteousness.
Isaiah 53:6: All of us sin, but God leads us back.
Ezekiel 34:5-16: God will be our shepherd and look after us, his flock. He will rescue us and pasture us and gather us. God will bring back the lost, bind up the wounded, and strengthen the weak.
John 10:11-15: Jesus says he is the good shepherd. He knows his sheep, and the sheep know him. He lays down his life for his sheep.
1 Peter 2:24-25: Jesus died for our sins so that we could live. His wounds healed us. We were sheep that had gone astray, but now we have returned to the Shepherd.
c) Knowing they all need a Savior. The desire to help in a broken world.
4) There are more needy people than those who can help them, essentially.
5) God is the Lord of the harvest, so the Lord of everything. He is asking for prayer for more followers to preach the Good News.
Conclusions BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 11, Day 2: Matthew 9:35-38
I love the shepherd analogy. Shepherds weren’t the highest of classes in ancient times, so when God and Jesus say they are shepherds, they are identifying with us all.
Try this light for better reading during these shorter days!
End Notes BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 11, Day 2: Matthew 9:35-38
We see God as a shepherd all throughout the Bible, beginning with Jacob (Genesis 48:15) to Revelation 7:17. It was a powerful image for those who were shepherds in ancient times.
The original Greek word for “moved with compassion” is a very strong word that was used for pity.
Jesus is saying that for so long, the people have had no shepherds because the Levite priests were not doing their job and were corrupt themselves. It’s like they had no shepherd. In order to reap the most out of the harvest, workers are needed. We are to be the workers and help those seeking the Lord come to him.
“Send out workers” or thrust them forward in the ancient Greek. We are all to work for God’s kingdom.
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