Mathew 9:35

Readings

Continuing our series in Mathews Gospel

Haggai 1:1–12 NIV

1 In the second year of King Darius, on the first day of the sixth month, the word of the Lord came through the prophet Haggai to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua son of Jozadak, the high priest: 2 This is what the Lord Almighty says: “These people say, ‘The time has not yet come to rebuild the Lord’s house.’ ” 3 Then the word of the Lord came through the prophet Haggai: 4 “Is it a time for you yourselves to be living in your paneled houses, while this house remains a ruin?” 5 Now this is what the Lord Almighty says: “Give careful thought to your ways. 6 You have planted much, but harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it.” 7 This is what the Lord Almighty says: “Give careful thought to your ways. 8 Go up into the mountains and bring down timber and build my house, so that I may take pleasure in it and be honored,” says the Lord. 9 “You expected much, but see, it turned out to be little. What you brought home, I blew away. Why?” declares the Lord Almighty. “Because of my house, which remains a ruin, while each of you is busy with your own house. 10 Therefore, because of you the heavens have withheld their dew and the earth its crops. 11 I called for a drought on the fields and the mountains, on the grain, the new wine, the olive oil and everything else the ground produces, on people and livestock, and on all the labor of your hands.” 12 Then Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, Joshua son of Jozadak, the high priest, and the whole remnant of the people obeyed the voice of the Lord their God and the message of the prophet Haggai, because the Lord their God had sent him. And the people feared the Lord.

We left off last time with Jesus seeking to awaken peoples faith in him, as he performed healing miracles.We are continuing our series in Matthews Gospel Where Jesus proclaims the Good news of the kingdom of God. That is, that Gods messiah has come, and with it the dawn of a new era.

We are continuing our series in Matthews Gospel Where Jesus proclaims the Good news of the kingdom of God. That is, that Gods messiah has come, and with it the dawn of a new era.

Jesus In his teaching (The sermon on the mount)

Jesus in his deed of Power (Jesus in his deeds of Power)

Jesus desire to send out workers to assist him in his ministry of proclaiming the good news of the Kingdom.

Matthew 9:35–38 NIV

35 Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. 38 Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”

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Introduction.

Be assert

leadership training

What are your new year resolutions? The Big Three!

I love the new year. Always feels like a fresh start. A chance to refocus the mind and reorient the mind around your goals. Now maybe, like me, you are one of those people who makes a list of all the things you want to get done this year, Go to the gym, Get organised, invest more time in your hobbies and if your like me your list is probably similar to last years. In your mind write your Big Three.

What are your new year resolutions? Prioritise your Big Three! Or Three things you would love to Happen.

Where did evangelism, God’s mission, sharing the Good news of Jesus, his life, death and resurrection and all that it entails feature in your list of priorities?

There was a time in history where the people of God had arrived back in the promised land having returned from exile through miraculous and extraordinary circumstances where God had rescued them from a pit, and with their lives back on track they were busy making plans, including home improvement projects, life improvement plans.

“Is it a time for you yourselves to be living in your panneled houses, while this house remains a ruin?”

But all the while, they had forgot about the God who reached down and saved them, they had neglected to rebuild his temple, and where neglecting their election and calling to be a light to the nations, to show the nations the ways of Justice and mercy by walking humbly with their God. Instead they prioritised their home improvement projects, work, life, eating, drinking and play whilst forgetting about Gods mission.

Big Idea.

In your resolutions this year. - Prioritise the mission of God. There is a harvest, more workers are needed to gather in that harvest. People of God dedicated to the mission of God.

Why You should Care

Here is why God’s mission should be given priority in your life and in 2019: - Sometimes our goals are driven by responsibility for others and necessity. More often than not they are driven by an endless pursuit of happiness and contentment found in a future promised land of comfort, wealth, position, health and success. Consequently we give ourselves over to prioritising work, pleasure , physical fitness and a better life, whilst ignoring Gods mission, Now these things in themselves are not bad but God will never allow his children to be satisfied with lesser things apart from him.

True meaning and value and contentment is derived from God’s purpose for our lives. Without God and his mission at the Center of your life all your pursuits will not bring about lasting contentment. The western world has more and more stuff, and yet we we are more and more miserable than ever, because it is chasing after the wind and drinking from water that never satisfies.

“Give careful thought to your ways. 6 You have planted much, but harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it.” 7 This is what the Lord Almighty says: “Give careful thought to your ways. 8 Go up into the mountains and bring down timber and build my house, so that I may take pleasure in it and be honoured,” says the Lord. 9 “You expected much, but see, it turned out to be little. What you brought home, I blew away. Why?” declares the Lord Almighty. “Because of my house, which remains a ruin, while each of you is busy with your own house

If you want contentment, if you want meaning, if you want purpose, invest yourself in Jesus and his mission to the world. Put him and his kingdom at the Center of all you do and like Paul you might be able to say I have learned to be content in all circumstance, In Riches and in poverty.

Context / Structure

As we look at ,

1) The Summery of Jesus mission

1) The Summery of Jesus mission

2) What drove him in his mission

3) The call to his disciples to pray about his mission.

Main

Grant R. Osborne, Matthew, vol. 1, Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2010), 364.Main.

Exposition

Main.

1) The Summary of Jesus mission (so far)

Matthew 9:35 NIV

35 Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness.

Notice Jesus was Teaching, proclaiming good news, and Healing.

You teach about God. God is the creator, God is Just, God is Holy, God is love, God is Patient, Kind, I know this because..... Slow to anger. God is compassionate, God is merciful, God is gracious, God is faithful, God is good. God is to be feared, God is to be loved, God is a Judge, God is a father, God is a sheild, a fortress, a rock. God is all powerful all knowing, all present. Here what he did for me.

(How do you teach? (apologetics).

You proclaim the good news of the Kingdom. God has set a day when he will judge the world and the sins of Mankind, but God sent his son Jesus into the world to die for sinners that whoever believes in him, (His life death and resurrection) will never perish but live forever. He now commands people everywhere who hear this good news to turn from their sin, be baptised and trust in Him, those who do so will receive the gift of Gods Holy spirit to assure and them guide them.

You heal every sickness and Disease. (The apostles were special) Most of us will not have the supernatural gift of Healing. By this I mean where the Spirit of God works healing through the laying on of hands or a word of power to command healing. So in what sense can we heal “every” sickness and disease. You have more power to bring about healing than you realise, there is more power to bring about healing through the sharing of the Gospel through word and deed than you realise.

Comforting Words about Jesus can heal a broken heart.

A warm Embrace in the name of Jesus can heal broken Spirit.

Good news and compassion acted out in kind deed can restore a broken hope and a broken faith.

Salvation - And Yes when a person accepts Jesus as their Lord and Saviour and receives the gift of eternal life their broken bodies will on day be physically resurrected and transformed. Every sickness and disease will be healed, for on the cross he bore our sickness and disease.

Word and Works go together.

But when you proclaim the messsage of salvation and someone responds they

The Summery of Jesus Mission

Notice Jesus Words and Works.

Francis of Assisi - attributed Supposedly said. (He didn’t) It is through hearing the word. What about deaf people? Perceiving is true hearing.

In your new years resolutions how are you going to Teach, proclaim and heal?

2) What drove him in his mission

2) What drove him in his mission

Matthew 9:36 NIV

36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.

Freedom, Joy, Peace, laughter are not the words that roll of their tongue.

Compassion - It is compassion that drove Jesus and this is what ought out to drive us in sharing the good news about Jesus.

But what is it about the condition of the sheep that cause Jesus to have compassion?

Sheep without a shepherd. There is possibly a veiled criticism of the Pharisees and Isreals leadership here. - The idea of “sheep without a shepherd” is frequent in the OT (esp. , but also ; ; ; ; cf. )

The idea of “sheep without a shepherd” is frequent in the OT (esp. , but also ; ; ; ; cf. )

They were supposed to be shepherds in Israel, but they had laid the sheep with heavy burdens about rules and regulations and sabbaths. And before we are too harsh on them we need to realise that the church In Scotland has a similar reputation dispite its many faithful ministers. If you speak to people around the Highlands today about their childhood memories of church, they will not talk to you fondly about the good news of Jesus and the freedom he brings. They will talk about Hellfire sermons, legalism, oppression, hypocrisy judgementalism, and Joyless Sabbaths. All the things that Jesus warned against in Matthew’s gospel and Paul in the Book of Galatians. Freedom of the Gospel, Joy, Peace, laughter are not the words that roll of their tongue. Consequently they have become scattered beaten up sheep.

Sheep without a shepherd.

Link

Sheep without a shepherd.

Bruce Barton: Missions finds its motive in the heart of Jesus (“He was moved with compassion”) and its strength in the prayers of the church. (Bruce B. Barton, Matthew, Life Application Bible Commentary (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 1996), 196.

Bruce B. Barton, Matthew, Life Application Bible Commentary (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 1996), 196.

In your new years resolutions how are you going to cultivate compassion because you cant fake it?

Life Application Bible Commentary, Matthew Jesus Urges the Disciples to Pray for Workers / 9:35–38 / 92

Missions finds its motive in the heart of Jesus (“He was moved with compassion”)

3) The call to his disciples to pray for workers.

Life Application Bible Commentary, Matthew Jesus Urges the Disciples to Pray for Workers / 9:35–38 / 92

Missions finds its motive in the heart of Jesus (“He was moved with compassion”) and its strength in the prayers of the church.

Churches which prefer projects to prayer are missing the power, and missions will eventually fizzle there. Churches where zeal comes from “saving the lost” or “rescuing the perishing”—with emphasis on hurry and efficiency because time is short—miss the heart of Jesus’ own motives.

The keys to success in missions are to grow closer to Jesus’ heart for people and to pray. Whatever else your church does, learn to love and learn to pray.

Matthew 9:37–38 NIV

37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. 38 Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”

Matthew 9:37 NIV

37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.

Metaphpore The Harvest is plentiful - Harvest imagery in the OT was generally used for future judgment (, ; ; ),

Isaiah 24:13 NIV

13 So will it be on the earth and among the nations, as when an olive tree is beaten, or as when gleanings are left after the grape harvest.

Isaiah 27:12 NIV

12 In that day the Lord will thresh from the flowing Euphrates to the Wadi of Egypt, and you, Israel, will be gathered up one by one.

Hosea 6:11 NIV

11 “Also for you, Judah, a harvest is appointed. “Whenever I would restore the fortunes of my people,

Joel 3:13 NIV

13 Swing the sickle, for the harvest is ripe. Come, trample the grapes, for the winepress is full and the vats overflow— so great is their wickedness!”

Mat

Isaiah 24:13 NIV

13 So will it be on the earth and among the nations, as when an olive tree is beaten, or as when gleanings are left after the grape harvest.

Harvest imagery in the OT was generally used for future judgment (, ; ; ), and Matthew uses it this way in 3:12; 13:30, 39

Matthew Explanation of the Text

Harvest imagery in the OT was generally used for future judgment (Isa 24:13, 27:12; Hos 6:11; Joel 3:13), and Matthew uses it this way in 3:12; 13:30, 39

Life Application Bible Commentary, Matthew Jesus Urges the Disciples to Pray for Workers / 9:35–38 / 92

Missions finds its motive in the heart of Jesus (“He was moved with compassion”)

Joel 3:13 NIV

13 Swing the sickle, for the harvest is ripe. Come, trample the grapes, for the winepress is full and the vats overflow— so great is their wickedness!”

Joel 3:3 NIV

3 They cast lots for my people and traded boys for prostitutes; they sold girls for wine to drink.

Prayer - They are to pray for workers. God is the lord of the Harvest, he ultimatly is the one who hires and authourises.

Math 9:38

Matthew uses it this way in 3:12; 13:30, but here it is used in positive way for a harvest of souls. There are many in this harvest that that can be saved.

Prayer - They are to pray for workers. God is the lord of the Harvest, he ultimately is the one who hires and authorises. Jesus Promise - To make them fishers for people. Is now being full-filled. First they are praying for workers and then they are commissioned.

Jesus Promise - To make them fishers for people. Is now being full-filled. First they are praying for workers and then they are commissioned.

Life Application Bible Commentary, Matthew Jesus Urges the Disciples to Pray for Workers / 9:35–38 / 92

Missions finds its motive in the heart of Jesus (“He was moved with compassion”) and its strength in the prayers of the church.

Churches which prefer projects to prayer are missing the power, and missions will eventually fizzle there. Churches where zeal comes from “saving the lost” or “rescuing the perishing”—with emphasis on hurry and efficiency because time is short—miss the heart of Jesus’ own motives.

The keys to success in missions are to grow closer to Jesus’ heart for people and to pray. Whatever else your church does, learn to love and learn to pray.

He had a compassion for their present circumstance also.

The NIV Application Commentary: Matthew The Messiah at Work Enlists Workers (9:35–38)

The harvest mission includes the immediate assignment of the Twelve to take the gospel message only to Israel (10:1–15), but also the long-range mission of the disciples throughout the world until the Son of Man returns (10:16–23).

Application

This new year does praying for workers to go out into the harvest feature on your list of priorities?

Application

1) Words and Works Go together. (Cultivate a lifestyle of practicing your faith through good works)

2) Cultivate compassion, Get close to Jesus. Compassion must be primary, without compassion your resolutions will fail.

Life Application Bible Commentary, Matthew Jesus Urges the Disciples to Pray for Workers / 9:35–38 / 92

Missions finds its motive in the heart of Jesus (“He was moved with compassion”) and its strength in the prayers of the church.

Churches which prefer projects to prayer are missing the power, and missions will eventually fizzle there. Churches where zeal comes from “saving the lost” or “rescuing the perishing”—with emphasis on hurry and efficiency because time is short—miss the heart of Jesus’ own motives.

The keys to success in missions are to grow closer to Jesus’ heart for people and to pray. Whatever else your church does, learn to love and learn to pray.

3) Pray for workers, be prepared for the answer.

Life Application Bible Commentary, Matthew Jesus Urges the Disciples to Pray for Workers / 9:35–38 / 92

Churches which prefer projects to prayer are missing the power, and missions will eventually fizzle there. Churches where zeal comes from “saving the lost” or “rescuing the perishing”—with emphasis on hurry and efficiency because time is short—miss the heart of Jesus’ own motives.

The keys to success in missions are to grow closer to Jesus’ heart for people and to pray. Whatever else your church does, learn to love and learn to pray.

Reflection

Good News -

Mission finds its motive in the heart of Jesus (“He was moved with compassion”) and its strength in the prayers of the church.

Churches which prefer projects to prayer are missing the power, and missions will eventually fizzle there.

Churches where zeal comes from “saving the lost” or “rescuing the perishing”—with emphasis on hurry and efficiency because time is short—miss the heart of Jesus’ own motives, which cared about peoples immediate wellbeing also,

But you cant fake compassion, The keys to success in missions are to grow closer to Jesus’ heart for people and to pray. Whatever else you do in 2019, learn to love and learn to pray.

Whatever else you do in 2019, learn to love and learn to pray.

Call To Repentance And Faith

Call To Repentance And Faith

Set your priorities in Order.

Landing

The harvest mission includes the immediate assignment of the Twelve to take the gospel message only to Israel (10:1–15), but also the long-range mission of the disciples throughout the world until the Son of Man returns (10:16–23).

The New International Version Chapter 28

16 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Jesus said Go, we love to gather.

Happy New year, As you Go.