"THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW"
Moved By Compassion (9:35-38)
INTRODUCTION
- A major problem regarding evangelism today is the lack of
motivation...
- Many Christians seem to lack the motivation to teach others
- Years go by, and little is done to share the gospel
- Rather than being troubled by this fact, many just attain a
state of complacency
- Yet motivation is "the steam that drives the train"
- With proper motivation, a Christian will seek to save the lost
- Even if they don't know how, they will not rest until they are
doing something that might lead others to Christ
- What motivated Jesus to save the lost?
- What prompted Him to come to this earth?
- What propelled Him to go from city to city with the gospel of the
kingdom?
- What moved Him to endure the shame and pain of dying on the
cross?
- Several factors could be listed...
- His strong sense of purpose (to do His Father's will) - Jn 6:38
- The Father's love (which He wanted to share) - Jn 15:9; 17:26
- The potential condemnation those He sought to save (of which He
warned) - Mt 10:28
- The joy set before Him (helping Him to endure the cross) - He 12:2
-- Each of these factors can help motivate us as well
- But there was one factor which is mentioned in the text for our
study today...
- Our text is Mt 9:35-38, in which we read of the on-going ministry
of Jesus
- Notice verse 36, "But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved
with compassion for them..."
[Compassion for the lost...could the lack thereof explain why many
Christians do not actively seek to save others? To help answer that
question, let's first take a closer look at...]
- JESUS' COMPASSION FOR THE LOST
- JESUS HAD COMPASSION FOR THE LOST...
- As mentioned on numerous occasions
- In our text - Mt 9:36
- Prior to feeding the five thousand - Mt 14:14
- Prior to feeding the four thousand - Mt 15:32
- Toward various individuals
- A leper - Mk 1:40-41
- A demon-possessed man - Mk 5:1-20 (cf. verse 19)
- The widow of Nain who had lost her son - Lk 7:11-15
- The two blind men - Mt 20:30-34
- He was moved with compassion when He saw people:
- Weary and scattered, like sheep without a shepherd
- Suffering from diseases, demon possession, and hunger
- HIS COMPASSION MOVED HIM...
- To heal the sick and demon-possessed, raise the dead, and feed
the hungry
- To personally teach those in need of a Shepherd - cf. Mk 6:34
- To call upon His disciples to pray for more laborers - Mt 9:37-38
- To send out His disciples as laborers - Mt 10:1-7
[Jesus was truly "Moved By Compassion" for the lost. Thus motivated,
He did what He could to meet their needs, especially their need for
salvation! Now let's a few moments to consider...]
- OUR COMPASSION FOR THE LOST
- DO WE HAVE COMPASSION FOR THE LOST?
- Are we moved when we see...
- Multitudes of people who are without Christ?
- Individuals who are lost in sin?
- Can we say we have compassion for the lost, if we've made...
- No effort to teach someone the gospel?
- Little effort to even get to know those who are lost?
- What have you done in the past year for the lost?
- The answer to this question reveals much about our
compassion
- Are you pleased with the answer?
- HOW CAN WE DEVELOP COMPASSION?
- Does our inactivity suggest a lack of compassion?
- Is it evident that we have not been as concerned for the
lost as we should be?
- What can we do to develop compassion?
- Compassion for lost souls can be developed by...
- Letting God teach us how to love - 1Th 4:9; 1Jn 3:16-17
- God teaches us through the example of His Son
- By frequent contemplation of God's love for us, the more
we will love others!
-- Thus the Word of God is essential for developing
compassion
- Spending time around people
- To love people, we need to get to know them
- As stated by Will Rogers, "I never met a man I did
not like"
- The more we come to know people, the more likely we
become concerned about their well being
- We need to beware of becoming isolated from people
- Certain technological advances can be a hindrance to
getting out and being with people (e.g., television,
air conditioning, computers)
- Remember, Jesus was often moved by compassion when
among the "multitudes" and "individuals"
- HOW SHOULD COMPASSION MOVE US?
- To do whatever we can do...
- Such as teach others - cf. Mk 6:34
- Unable to teach? Then compassion should move us to:
- Learn to teach others - cf. He 5:12; 1Pe 3:15
- Make arrangements for others to be taught
- As Philip did for Nathaniel - Jn 1:45-46
- As Cornelius did for family and friends - Ac 10:24,33
- To seek to involve others in saving the lost...
- By praying that the Lord will send more laborers - Mt 9:38
- This is something everyone can do
- Even if we can't yet teach, we can pray! - 2Th 3:1
- By sending out others to teach - Mt 10:1,5-7
- Jesus did more than teach and pray, He trained and sent
out His disciples
- We can be involved with sending out others also
- Encouraging the training of those willing to teach
- Supporting financially those who go out to teach
- Php 4:15-16; 3Jn 5-8
CONCLUSION
- Without compassion for the lost, there is no "steam"...
- We may have the knowledge and the opportunity to teach others
- But like a train on a track with no steam, we will just sit there
-- Is that what we have been doing regarding evangelism? Could it
be we are lacking the "steam" necessary for evangelism?
- With compassion for the lost, we will not rest until we are doing
something...
- It may not be the same thing as others, but it will be something
- If we don't know how or what to do, compassion will motivate us
to keep looking, studying, etc., until we find something to do
-- For as the "steam" builds, we will not be satisfied until we
begin moving and releasing the steam, just as Jeremiah said:
"Then I said, `I will not make mention of Him, nor speak anymore
in His name.' But His word was in my heart like a burning fire
shut up in my bones; I was weary of holding it back, and I could
not." (Jer 20:9)
May the example of our Lord Jesus, the true Word of God, whose
compassion moved Him to save us, burn in our hearts until we too are
"Moved By Compassion"!