PrevMatthew 9:36Next

Matthew 9

And he entered into a ship, and passed over, and came into his own city.

And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.

And, behold, certain of the scribes said within themselves, This man blasphemeth.

And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts?

For whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk?

But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house.

And he arose, and departed to his house.

But when the multitudes saw it, they marvelled, and glorified God, which had given such power unto men.

And as Jesus passed forth from thence, he saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he saith unto him, Follow me. And he arose, and followed him.

And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples.

And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners?

But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.

But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

Then came to him the disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but thy disciples fast not?

And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? but the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast.

No man putteth a piece of new cloth unto an old garment, for that which is put in to fill it up taketh from the garment, and the rent is made worse.

Neither do men put new wine into old bottles: else the bottles break, and the wine runneth out, and the bottles perish: but they put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved.

While he spake these things unto them, behold, there came a certain ruler, and worshipped him, saying, My daughter is even now dead: but come and lay thy hand upon her, and she shall live.

And Jesus arose, and followed him, and so did his disciples.

And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment:

For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole.

But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour.

And when Jesus came into the ruler's house, and saw the minstrels and the people making a noise,

He said unto them, Give place: for the maid is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn.

But when the people were put forth, he went in, and took her by the hand, and the maid arose.

And the fame hereof went abroad into all that land.

And when Jesus departed thence, two blind men followed him, crying, and saying, Thou Son of David, have mercy on us.

And when he was come into the house, the blind men came to him: and Jesus saith unto them, Believe ye that I am able to do this? They said unto him, Yea, Lord.

Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you.

And their eyes were opened; and Jesus straitly charged them, saying, See that no man know it.

But they, when they were departed, spread abroad his fame in all that country.

As they went out, behold, they brought to him a dumb man possessed with a devil.

And when the devil was cast out, the dumb spake: and the multitudes marvelled, saying, It was never so seen in Israel.

But the Pharisees said, He casteth out devils through the prince of the devils.

And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.

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.

Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few;

Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.

What does Matthew 9:36 mean?

Explanation

This verse speaks of Jesus Christ's emotional response to the crowds following Him.

It indicates that Jesus felt a deep compassion for these people.

He perceived them as exhausted and directionless, much like sheep without a shepherd to guide and protect them.

This expression of compassion is a central characteristic of Jesus's ministry, emphasizing his concern for the spiritual and physical welfare of the people.

The word "moved" implies a profound stirring of emotion, and the phrase "they fainted" suggests the people were weary or weak, potentially from their daily struggles and perhaps also from a spiritual hunger for guidance and truth.

Top Rated Matthew Books

Historical Context

Matthew 9:36 occurs in the context of Jesus' early ministry in Galilee.

During this period, Jesus travels from town to town, preaching in synagogues, healing the sick, and casting out demons.

The multitudes referred to are the crowds that followed Him, seeking healing and teaching.

At this time, the Jewish people were under Roman occupation, and many were looking for a spiritual leader or messiah to free them from oppression.

The image of sheep without a shepherd is fitting within this historical frame, as it reflects the people's longing for leadership and deliverance.

Theological Insights

From a theological viewpoint, several insights can be drawn from this verse.

One is the nature of Jesus as a compassionate savior who cares deeply for his followers.

Another insight pertains to the analogy of the shepherd, a common biblical image representing leadership and care, attributes ascribed to Jesus who is often referred to as the Good Shepherd.

This verse can also be seen as a critique of the religious leaders of the time, whom Jesus may imply were not providing the necessary guidance and care for the people.

Practical Applications

Matthew 9:36 can be applied in several practical ways in daily life.

It encourages believers to emulate Jesus' compassion for others, particularly those in need.

It may inspire acts of service and outreach within communities to support those who are ‘scattered abroad,’ which can include the lonely, marginalized, or spiritually lost.

Furthermore, the verse underscores the importance of empathetic leadership that prioritizes the welfare of others.

Cross-References

Ezekiel 34:5: "And they were scattered, because there is no shepherd: and they became meat to all the beasts of the field, when they were scattered."
Psalm 23:1: "The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want."
John 10:11: "I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep."
Mark 6:34: "And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things."

Language Study

In the original Greek text, key words to consider include:

"εσπλαγχνίσθη" (esplagchnisthē), translated as "moved with compassion," which comes from the word "σπλάγχνα" (splagchna), meaning inner organs or guts.

It conveys feeling something deep inside, reflecting the intensity of Jesus' compassion.

"ἐσκυλμένοι" (eskylmenoi), commonly translated "fainted" or "weary," carries the idea of being troubled or distressed.
"ἐρίμμένοι" (erimmenoi), translated as "scattered abroad," implies being thrown down or dispersed without direction.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

The image of a shepherd is prominent in other ancient cultures as well.

For example, in Mesopotamian religions, kings were often depicted as shepherds of their people.

In Egyptian mythology, the god Osiris was sometimes portrayed as a shepherd.

In these cultures, the shepherd is a symbol of guidance, provision, and authority, similar to the biblical motif.

Scientific Perspectives

Modern psychology might analyze this verse through the lens of emotional intelligence and leadership.

The compassion that Jesus displays is an example of empathetic leadership, recognizing and responding to the emotional states of others.

This aligns with contemporary views on the importance of empathy in effective leadership and community building.

Commentaries

Experts and scholars have different takes on Matthew 9:36:

Some emphasize the messianic role of Jesus, interpreting the verse as a fulfillment of Old Testament prophesies regarding a shepherd for God's people.
Others highlight the verse’s call to Christian service and mission, seeing Jesus’ compassion as a model for ministry and social action.
Some commentators may discuss the contrast between the compassionate leadership of Jesus and the lacking care of the religious leaders of that time, which could be inferred from Jesus' observation of the people's state.

Matthew 9

Matthew 9

What does Matthew 9:36 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Matthew Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Matthew 9:36 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Matthew Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?