Matthew 9:36-38 KJV
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.
I was struck by the fact that the Lord has concern for two groups of people;
First there are the sheep without a shepherd. There are two different analogies going on at the same time so these sheep could also be labeled the harvest without a laborer.
Our Saviour has compassion for those who need compassion most. They have nothing else. They are in need of a shepherd. They are in need of a laborer. They are in need of someone who would go out of his way to minister to them.
The Lord is concerned for the sheep without a shepherd
Secondly, the Lord is concerned about laborers. He specifically requests that we pray for more laborers. These are those who have a shepherd. These are those who have already been harvested. And our Saviour is concerned that those who have been gathered in would now be sent out.
No one gathers grain only to store it. The purpose of the harvest is always to put that which is harvested to use. Even so with the Lord's harvest. God gathers us in to send us out. God shepherds us that we might learn to be shepherds.
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.
I was struck by the fact that the Lord has concern for two groups of people;
First there are the sheep without a shepherd. There are two different analogies going on at the same time so these sheep could also be labeled the harvest without a laborer.
Our Saviour has compassion for those who need compassion most. They have nothing else. They are in need of a shepherd. They are in need of a laborer. They are in need of someone who would go out of his way to minister to them.
The Lord is concerned for the sheep without a shepherd
Secondly, the Lord is concerned about laborers. He specifically requests that we pray for more laborers. These are those who have a shepherd. These are those who have already been harvested. And our Saviour is concerned that those who have been gathered in would now be sent out.
No one gathers grain only to store it. The purpose of the harvest is always to put that which is harvested to use. Even so with the Lord's harvest. God gathers us in to send us out. God shepherds us that we might learn to be shepherds.
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