The few

DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW

THE FEW

Matt 9:35-38

35 Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching 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." 

NIV

We see Jesus being described as doing the same as we saw before.

Matt 4:23

23 Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people.

NIV

It would seem this is his main plan, his master plan as it were. He desired to teach in the synagogues, to preach the good news of the kingdom. He healed everywhere he went. It would seem that if we are going to do any of the good works of God, it would be to teach, preach and heal the sick. Now of course there might be other good works, as Jesus fed the five thousand, but he did so from a couple of fish and loaves. Nevertheless we have Jesus teaching and preaching about the good news and healing people. When he saw how large the crowd had grown that was following after him he had compassion on them. The reason for this compassion was they were harassed and helpless. The Greek word translated as harassed has also been translated as fainted. But the meaning is to flay, or skin, to mangle. The point Jesus was making was these people have been led astray, worse even, by the Pharisees and their rules and regulations added to the law. Their souls were not being tended to, but rather they were being skinned alive by the ruthless rule of the Pharisees. They were like sheep without a shepherd. That would be sheep with no one to protect them against the wolves who would harass them. They would be helpless against the attacks, especially against those wolves in sheep’s clothing. Jesus saw their helpless condition, but also looked past them and knew the helpless estate of all mankind without the salvation he offered. This is the world we live in today. Throughout the ages man has wandered on his own, like sheep without a shepherd. Sheep cannot live properly without a shepherd to guide them to green pastures and still waters. They are helpless against the various religions of man, such as those who were helpless against the religion of the Pharisees. Man has it in his mind that he can create a religion which best suits his likes and dislikes. Throughout the world there are beliefs, not based on the teaching of Jesus, but on the thoughts of man. Many people are helpless to this form of religion, they are harassed, being skinned alive by these false beliefs. The only way for them to find their rightful place in the flock of God, is those Jesus calls workers who will harvest the field. This cannot mean the ordained preachers who pastor churches full of Christians, unless of course that church is full of harassed and helpless people whose soul is not being cared for. Then workers must enter that field and begin the harvest for the kingdom of God. The field Jesus referred to were people who have been led astray by the world itself, by Satan. Their souls are not being cared for, instead they are being led astray into a den of wolves to be devoured. Who are the few? Could that mean those of us who know the truth of the Gospel? Could that mean we need to be teaching, preaching about the good news of the kingdom of God and healing the sick? We are so fast to say we cannot teach, we have no training, we cannot preach, we have no training, no certificate, no ordination, therefor no rights to do so. Do we say, Jesus healed, but how are we going to go around healing people? That was for then, now we have doctors. How are we going to internalize the word into our lives, if we only do that with some portions of scripture that seem more applicable? Would that make us like those who make up their own religion, their own rules and regulations, their own doctrines that best suit their belief system, like the Pharisees? No, we have the word of God and the Spirit who leads us into all truth. This truth is that there are few people who will actually go forth, be thrust forth, which is what that word means, to send out. Who are the few? Have we been sent forth, or are we simply those who are content to be lead to the green pastures and lay by the still waters? That is good, but Jesus wanted his disciples to ask the Father to send forth workers into the world to gather the harvest. Could we be one of those few?