2015 Bible Reading,  Matthew

Matthew 7 – 9

Matthew7-9

Bible Passage:  Matthew 7 – 9

36 But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd.

~ Matthew 9:26

This was the first time in the Gospel according to Matthew that we read that Jesus was moved with compassion.  But it will not be the last time either.  In the reading over the next few days, when we come to the feeding of the Five Thousand, again we see similar words …

14 And when Jesus went out He saw a great multitude; and He was moved with compassion for them, and healed their sick.

~ Matthew 14:14

There are a few more incidents in Matthew but I will leave for you to find them.

But today’s thought is around compassion.

Compassion is something sorely lacking today.

I happened to be getting up a bus recently with a heavily pregnant sister.  The bus was crowded but you would think that someone would get up quickly from their seat to offer her their place.  But no.  It took some time with many blank stares and averted glances before a lady gave up her seat.

You would have said this was basic courtesy.  But courtesy is sadly lacking amongst many today.  And we do not need to even talk about compassion.

Yet… our Lord Jesus was moved with compassion.

Now if He, our Lord and God is moved with compassion on the weak and sinners, how much more does He desire for us to have that same compassion.

Even though our hearts today are like a stone as a result of betrayal, cynicism, selfishness, hurt, callousness … He wants it to become a heart of flesh that loves God and wants to make His love known throughout the world.

After Jesus was moved with compassion because He saw the people that was lost like without a shepherd, He said,

37 Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. 38 Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.”

~ Matthew 9:37 – 38

We know the message.  It is very clear.

So as we go through our day, let’s take some time to ask that God would give us a heart of compassion for the lost.  We ask for a heart of compassion that we would be moved to become a part of what God is doing and go into the world and bring the lost, the hurt, the desperate etc to the Lord.

The world of sinners need a Saviour.

Jesus knew that.

We know that.

The question is, do we have the heart of compassion like Jesus?

For he will deliver the needy when he cries for help, the afflicted also, and him who has no helper. He will have compassion on the poor and needy, and the lives of the needy he will save. (Psalms 72:12-13, NASB)

 

 

One Comment

  • Camelinaneedle

    Sometimes, I feel as if I get off track too easily. And that it is only me who has the ability to corrupt my own body.

    I guess having compassion in today’s day and age is sometimes pretty much unheard of because people’s heads are so occupied with a thousand and one other things to even spare the time to look around and look out for the people around them.

    But even then, I don’t think we should be giving ourselves excuses in order to avoid lending a helping hand to anyone.

    I would like to think that many people have somehow forgotten what it’s like to look out for other people and be looked out for.

    People should never discount each other for what they need or deserve.

    I want to learn from Jesus, and be just like Him (even though we all know that that’s not possible). And most times, I only hope He has compassion on me, more than anyone else in the world.

    And maybe when we all realise what a compassionate God we have, we will become more passionate about having compassion towards each other.

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