Matthew 9:35–38 gives us a clear progression: Jesus goes, Jesus sees, Jesus has compassion, Jesus recognizes the harvest, Jesus tells His disciples to pray, and Jesus sends. Compassion in the Bible is more than feeling sorry for someone. The compassion of Jesus moves Him toward people and leads to action.
Compassion in Action
Jesus traveled through all the towns and villages of that area,
teaching in the synagogues and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom.
And he healed every kind of disease and illness. Matthew 9:35 (NLT)
Jesus did not wait for hurting people to find Him; He went where the people were. His ministry included teaching truth, preaching the Good News, and responding to physical needs through healing. Jesus cared about the whole person. His compassion was not merely an emotion; His compassion became action.
We cannot meet every need, but we can respond to the needs God places in front of us. Compassion may mean praying, listening, encouraging, helping with a practical need, sharing the Good News, or simply being present. Who has God placed in your path that you can care for?
Seeing People as Jesus Sees Them
“When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.” Matthew 9:36 (NLT)
Jesus did not merely see a crowd; He saw people and what was happening beneath the surface of their lives. Matthew describes them as “confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.” People may appear successful, busy, confident, or happy on the outside while carrying loneliness, fear, disappointment, family problems, or spiritual emptiness inside. Jesus did not respond with irritation or condemnation. He saw people who needed a shepherd.
One of the first steps toward becoming compassionate people is learning to see people the way Jesus sees them. Instead of only asking, “What is wrong with that person?” we can ask, “What might that person be carrying?”
A Great Harvest Needs Workers
“The harvest is great, but the workers are few.” Matthew 9:37 (NLT)
The people who looked like scattered sheep in verse 36 now become a harvest in verse 37. Jesus does not simply see problems; He sees possibilities. He says the harvest is great. The problem is not that there are too few people who need God, but that “the workers are few.”
There are people around us who may be open to friendship, prayer, encouragement, spiritual conversation, and the Good News of Jesus. Sometimes we assume people are not interested in spiritual things. Jesus tells us to see the world differently: there is a harvest.
Every Christian can participate in God’s harvest. Some teach, encourage, serve, invite, pray, build relationships, share their testimony, or walk beside people during difficult seasons. The question is not, “Can I do everything?” but, “Where can I work in God’s harvest?”
Prayer Prepares Us to Participate
“So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.” Matthew 9:38 (NLT)
Jesus gives the disciples one immediate response to the enormous need: pray. That is significant. There is a great harvest and too few workers, but Jesus first says to pray because the harvest belongs to God. He is the Lord who is in charge of the harvest. We cannot produce spiritual transformation ourselves; we depend upon Him.
There is also something important about this prayer: the people Jesus tells to pray for workers soon become the workers themselves. We should pray for God to send people who will love, serve, encourage, disciple, and share Christ with others. But we should also pray, “Lord, how might You want to use me?” Prayer does not replace participation; often prayer prepares us for participation.
Those Who Pray May Be the Ones Sent
Jesus called his twelve disciples together and gave them authority to cast out evil spirits and to heal every kind of disease and illness. Matthew 10:1 (NLT)
The chapter division can cause us to miss the connection. In Matthew 9, Jesus tells His disciples to pray for workers; in Matthew 10, He begins sending them out as workers. The disciples were not simply supposed to pray, “Lord, send somebody.” They themselves became part of God’s answer.
When we ask God to reach people, help people, encourage people, or bring people to Christ, we should remain open to the possibility that He may want to use us. Sometimes the answer to “Lord, send someone” may be “I am sending you.”
The Mission Was Not Limited to the Twelve
The Lord now chose seventy-two other disciples and sent them ahead in pairs
to all the towns and places he planned to visit. These were his instructions to them:
“The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.” Luke 10:1–2 (NLT)
Luke 10 is important because Jesus now sends seventy-two others, not just the Twelve, and He repeats the same harvest language. This shows that participation in God’s mission was not limited to the original apostles. Jesus involved a much larger group of followers.
Notice also that they were sent ahead to the towns and places Jesus planned to visit. That is a helpful picture of ministry: we go into people’s lives with compassion, prayer, service, encouragement, and truth, trusting Jesus to work.
We do not need to be apostles, pastors, missionaries, or professional ministers to participate in what God is doing. Ordinary followers of Jesus can notice people, care for people, pray for people, serve people, invite people, encourage people, and share what Jesus has done in their lives.
From Compassion to Mission
Matthew 9 gives us a simple pattern: Jesus went—compassion moves toward people. Jesus saw—compassion notices people. Jesus cared—compassion feels their need. Jesus saw a harvest—faith sees possibilities. Jesus told His followers to pray—the harvest belongs to God. Jesus sent His followers—those who pray for the harvest can become workers in the harvest.
The question is not whether we can meet every need around us. We cannot. The better question is: Who has God placed in front of me, and how can I show that person the compassion of Jesus?
For Reflection
- What might change in your relationships if you intentionally tried to see people the way Jesus sees them?
- Where might Jesus already be sending you—in your family, neighborhood, workplace, friendships, or community?
- What is one practical way God may be asking you to show His compassion to someone this week?
Closing Prayer
Lord of the harvest, help us see people the way Jesus sees them. Give us compassion for those who are hurting, discouraged, confused, or without direction. Send workers into Your harvest, and help each of us be willing to say, “Lord, use me.” Show us someone this week whom we can encourage, serve, pray for, or point toward Jesus. Amen.
