The Heart of Jesus

Lamentations 3:51 51 Mine eye affecteth mine heart because of all the daughters of my city.

Matthew 9:35–38 35 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. 36 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. 37 Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; 38 Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.

I. What He Saw

Here we find Jesus as He goes through the cities and villages, His heart is moved by what He sees. Not by the buildings, not by the beautiful scenery of the landscape in the distant villages, and the thriving business of the great cities! His heart was moved by the people He observed.

A. The Size V 35a “all”

Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary on the Bible (Chapter 9)

Jesus visited not only the great and wealthy cities, but the poor, obscure villages; and there he preached, there he healed. The souls of the meanest in the world are as precious to Christ, and should be so to us, as the souls of those who make the greatest figure.

B. The Situation “no Shepherd” V. 36

II. What He Felt V. 36

A. Compassion

A suffering with another; painful sympathy; a sensation of sorrow excited by the distress or at least temporary affection. Compassion is a mixed passion, compounded of love and sorrow.

III. The Problem He Saw

A. The Labors Are Few V. 37

III. The Solution He Desired

Matthew 9:38 38 Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.

Christ has a prayer request for us. He wants us to pray that labourers would be sent into the harvest.

Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary on the Bible (Chapter 9)

Christ is the Lord of the harvest. Let us pray that many may be raised up and sent forth, who will labour in bringing souls to Christ. It is a sign that God is about to bestow some special mercy upon a people, when he stirs them up to pray for it. And commissions given to labourers in answer to prayer, are most likely to be successful.

I have had multiple people tell me that they have been praying for the Sandpoint/Ponderay area, that God would send them a preacher to start a church. (Bro. Hohenstreet - Post Falls, Bro. Imboden - Pinehurst, Bro. Stanchfield - Coure d’Alene). Romans 10:13–14 13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. 14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?