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Would you say that Jesus was and is the epitome of The Love of the Truth? Would you say that The Love of the Truth would include compassion for others? Would you say that Jesus was a compassionate person? When you think of Him, what deeds of compassion come to mind? Was it the many healings that He performed? Was it His kindness toward His mother? In what ways was Jesus compassionate? We will consider this question and notice that compassion extends beyond the limitations which we frequently assign to it.

We will look again at the passage we considered yesterday. “Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd. Then He said to His disciples, 'The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.'” (Matthew 9.35-38).

It is true that Jesus had compassion toward the sicknesses or disabilities of the people (e.g. the multitudes of sick in Matthew 14.14 and the blind men of Matthew 20.34). It is also true that He had compassion on people because of temporary physical circumstances (e.g. the hunger experienced by the multitude who listened to Him teach; see Matthew 15.32). He commended, even commanded, compassion to fill the hearts of His followers (e.g. the Good Samaritan in Luke 10.33). However, there was another dimension to His compassion, a dimension that overshadows all other dimensions.

Notice in today's introductory text, Jesus “...was moved with compassion for them [the multitudes], because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd.” He not only had compassion, He was moved with compassion. His concern and empathy was not theoretical; it was absolutely practical. He not only felt something; He did something! Note the issue which caused Him to act compassionately on their behalf. The multitudes were “…weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd.” This verbal picture describes the spiritual condition of the people and Israel as a whole. They had leaders, but they were dead wrong! They were wolves in sheep’s clothing who were ready to capture and devour at will. If nothing was done, the end of the masses was certain! Jesus simply could not sit idly by while thousands upon thousands of people moved pell-mell toward eternal destruction.

“Then He said to His disciples, 'The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.'” The reading continues into Matthew 10 where He sent out His apostles on the limited commission. The obvious purpose behind the sending out of the twelve was in response to the acute spiritual need that He saw among the people of Israel!

The Love of the Truth is indeed compassionate. Above all things the Love of the Truth has compassion for lost souls. Jesus had that compassion as do all who faithfully follow Him. The largest dimension of Jesus’ compassion was His intense desire to redeem the lost!

Questions:

1. Who is the Lord of the harvest? What is the significance of that term?

2. Did the Lord of the harvest send out laborers? If yes, who were they?

3. What was the relative worth of Jesus’ two ministries, the physical (healing diseases, raising the dead, comforting the hurting, etc.) and the spiritual (teaching the gospel)?

4. Why would we say that the largest dimension of our Lord’s compassion was to redeem the lost? Do you agree or disagree?

"Inspiration For You" from Randy Mitchell

Watching Your Dollars Fly Away