Something Has To Change (Verse 36)
Something Has To Change (Verse 36)
WHEN Jesus saw the crowd of ordinary men and women, he was moved with compassion. The word which is used for moved with compassion (splagchnistheis) is the strongest word for pity in the Greek language. It is formed from the word splagchna, which means the bowels, and it describes the compassion which moves people to the deepest depths of their being.
He was moved to compassion by the world’s pain. He was moved with compassion for the sick (Matthew 14:14), for the blind (Matthew 20:34) and for those in the grip of the demons (Mark 9:22). In all our afflictions, he is afflicted. He could not see a sufferer without longing to ease the pain.
(2) He was moved to compassion by the world’s sorrow. The sight of the widow at Nain, following the body of her son out to burial, moved his heart (Luke 7:13). He was filled with a great desire to wipe the tear from every eye.
(3) He was moved to compassion by the world’s hunger. The sight of the tired and hungry crowds was a call upon his power (Matthew 15:32). No Christian can be content to have too much while others have too little.
(4) He was moved to compassion by the world’s loneliness. The sight of a leper, banished from all human society, living a life which was a living death of loneliness and universal abandonment, called forth his pity and his power (Mark 1:41).
to be distressed’ [BECNT; NASB], ‘to be confused’ [CEV, NLT], ‘to be fatigued’ [NTC], ‘to be troubled’ [LN; GW], ‘to be hurting’ [NCV], ‘to faint’ [KJV], ‘to be bewildered’ [NET], ‘to be wearied’ [BAGD], ‘to be worried’ [TEV], ‘to be bothered’ [LN]. This passive verb means to be caused trouble or harassment [LN].
They lacked good leadership [BNTC, ICC, Lns, NAC, NICNT, NIGTC, TRT], and were helpless [EBC, NIBC] and lost [ICC]. They were defenseless against being bullied and oppressed by bad leaders [EBC]. He was concerned not only for their obvious needs, but also for their sense of distress, which was made worse by the lack of real leadership from their religious leaders, who were not faithful shepherds [BECNT]. He was concerned for their unmet spiritual needs [Lns, TRT, WBC]. They were in spiritual misery [My], aimless, and subject to futility [WBC]. They had many needs, but very few of them had found true spiritual peace, and they were burdened by the legalism of their leaders [NTC]. They were vulnerable and lacking in resources [PNTC]. They had unmet physical needs [NIGTC].
The words that are used to describe the state of ordinary people are vivid words. The word that we have translated as bewildered is eskulmenoi. It can describe a corpse which is flayed and mangled; someone who is robbed through extortion, or pestered by those without pity, or treated with wanton insolence; someone who is utterly wearied by a journey which seems to know no end. The word that we have translated as dejected is errimenoi. It means laid prostrate. It can describe someone prostrated with drink or someone laid low with mortal wounds.
The Jewish leaders, who should have been giving men and women strength to live, were bewildering them with subtle arguments about the law which had no help and comfort in them. When they should have been helping men and women to stand upright, they were bowing them down under the intolerable weight of the scribal law. They were offering a religion which was a handicap instead of a support. We must always remember that Christianity exists not to discourage but to encourage; not to weigh people down with burdens but to lift them up with wings.
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