The Heart of a Missionary

Matthew 9 features stories about Jesus ministering to people that his society would have looked down upon. These include a paralyzed man, two blind men and people that the society would have seen as ceremonially unclean. One of these people was Matthew himself, who Jesus called when he collected taxes for the Roman government, which Israelites hated.

Jesus’ ministry is motivated by compassion for sinners and sufferers.

Matthew 9:35–36 CSB

Jesus continued going around to all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and every sickness. When he saw the crowds, he felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and dejected, like sheep without a shepherd.

Jesus is not annoyed or angry at the crowds, but compassionate.

Superman Story

Compassion = deeply moved within.

Jesus has compassion because He sees people as they truly are.

What is your heart towards broken people?

Transition: That leads us to a very important question. How can we have Christlike hearts?

Jesus sees us as helpless sheep, not as self-sufficient

Matthew 9:36 CSB

When he saw the crowds, he felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and dejected, like sheep without a shepherd.

God wants us to be dependent on Him. Why? Because God built us to depend on Him