Seek and Save X More Compassion

Seek and Save X

The Lost Sheep of Israel

Matt 9:37-10:6

This is really one long narrative made up of two parts that fit together so nicely. We really can’t understand one without the other. We saw how Jesus saw the multitudes and had compassion on them. What follows are the details of what Jesus said and then did based on that compassion.

The chapter division between 9 & 10 is unfortunate, too. The beginning of the next chapter is what Jesus did. The rest of this chapter helps explain why Jesus did what he did.

The Word of God records the continued compassion of Jesus:

Remember:

Matt. 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.

And, He continues in the same setting in the presence of the multitudes made up of those lost sheep of Israel who followed Jesus around wherever he went and the disciples.

The irony is that they were following him around, but without taking him as their shepherd.

1. The Abundance of Souls

37 Then He said to His disciples,  “The harvest truly is plentiful,

2. The Lack of Laborers

but the laborers are few. 

3. The Divine Remedy

38  “Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.”

4. The Divine Action

10:1 And when He had called His twelve disciples to Him, He gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease.

5. The Divine Instructions

Matt. 10:5-8 These twelve Jesus sent out and commanded them, saying:  “Do not go into the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter a city of the Samaritans.  6  “But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 

Matthew alone gives to his readers this narrative and its careful details. He was writing his Gospel to the aristocratic, Greek-speaking Jews of his day. It was about thirty years after the death and resurrection of Jesus.

Perhaps Matthew wanted them to see that the Jews were the particular objects of Jesus’ heartfelt compassion. Jesus was concerned for their people a generation earlier, what about them? Therefore, Jesus did not send out his twelve disciples to the Gentiles, at this time, nor to the Samaritans. But to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

Jesus was moved with compassion for the multitude he saw coming his way, yes, but his compassion was deeper than that. Jesus saw the multitude as being weary and scattered with God’s judgment upon them as they were sheep without a shepherd, but his compassion was not for them alone, but for the entire collective of lost sheep in the “house of Israel.”

Do you see the connection? Jesus concern was for more than what he saw. It wasn’t just the multitudes, it was for all the lost sheep of Israel of which they were a representative part. His action in sending preachers was designed to meet that particular need.

Jesus also tells them what the basic message is to be: He said,

7  “And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’

Jews, lost sheep of Israel, it is as though you can reach out and touch the Kingdom of God. It is right here. Jesus is its King, come live as subjects of the great King. It was a message of submission to God, the Father.

Their rejection was tragic. They did not reject Jesus out of lack of opportunity to hear his message, nor for a lack of the proper sign. They rejected the one who was the Son of Man, the Son of David, and the Son of God because of their unbelief. He was right there amid the people.

Because God sends a preacher to all of a class of men, like the lost sheep of the house of Israel, it does not follow that God desires or is working behind the scenes for the salvation of that entire class. It only means, by preaching to all, those upon whom God is dispensing his mercy will come. The others willingly reject what they hear. Some come because of the work of God upon their souls, others do not come because of their own sin. Those who do not believe put themselves in a difficult position—they will be held responsible for what they hear, someday. 

Jesus came to his own kind of people. His own people, who should have expected him due to the many, many prophecies about the messiah who was to come, they did not listen to him, nor take up his word and ways.  That the Scriptures might be found true, the message of the kingdom had to be broadcast to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

Listen to the Word of God:

John 1:11 He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him.  12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:  13 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

Men do not believe by taking up what they hear and acting upon it themselves. When one does believe, we know from what the scriptures tell us, that is was the act of God giving them grace that they might believe. That they might receive what is in the good news proclaimed. That they might embrace Jesus by faith and trust him with their everlasting souls.

Nobody has ever been saved by their own actions according to their wills. Any who have known the salvation of God have because of God’s will bringing to pass. It is his eternal purpose granting repentance and faith to some. To be disciples is not something we decide ultimately, it is what God decides and then works in his people. Those and those alone are authorized by God to become his Children in that special adopted sense. They are the ones who truly believe on his name.

When God instructs disciples to do something, they had better obey.  In the Gospels, we see Jesus going to or sending his messengers to specific people of groups as well as his general ministry to all men.  At the end of Matthew’s Gospel we have the great commission from which the churches of our age ought to take their marching orders. Our ministry is to preach the gospel to the nations that men might believe, and become disciples as they are taught in the context of churches to obey all things Jesus had spoken.

Are you concerned for the world? Do you have a heart of compassion for people who are happily ignorant of God and content in the sin of unbelief? Do you pray for those who wander about without any real spiritual leadership?

Do you pray this for some other Christian group to do something, or for God to act directly upon men? Remember the method of Prayer Jesus used, it was not should they go as his disciples who would become apostles, but where and to whom, as they were moved with compassion. A Compassion that drove Jesus to send out preachers, knowing it was a two-edged sword to harvest the souls of men. A dagger that would seal their eternal fate. Goodness and life for all who believe and death forever outside of the comfortable presence of God forever.

The eternal disposition of the souls of others is always a pressing concern. Each day, each minute, souls are being lost to eternal condemnation.

Our field is the world. Especially the part of the world in which we live. We must be faithful there before we can be faithful elsewhere.

In our land we are a melting pot. People from cultures all over the world come to us to seek the freedoms we enjoy. Since God has brought the nations to us, we’d better be concerned for all types of people, that they might hear the truth while we pray that God might grant repentance and faith to them to come. We have lost sheep from almost everywhere living in our neighborhoods, and going to our schools, shopping with us in the stores and malls. They are all around us. We are surrounded…….by gospel opportunities.

What can we do?

For those who do not believe in Jesus as their Lord and savior, if you hear this invitation, listen to the good news of what God has done and obey God’s command to repent and believe.

If you are a disciple, you could tell them about the Gospel of John, or Mark, if they don’t have a Bible. Tell them how to find it online. But, let them see your concern. You could tell them about the gospel of Jesus Christ, yourself. You could give them an evangelistic cd to listen to, you could have them over for a meal in order to introduce them to the Gospel, You could invite them to Church to hear the Gospel. You could invite them to a Church function--that is the few we have, but we could have more. You could be honest about your sin--apologize when you are wrong and seek forgiveness. Extend forgiveness to others when they say they are sorry. Do you see how many ways we can testify to God’s grace that is changing us.

You see, Christians should be ready to give a defense of the hope we possess.

1Peter 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;  16 having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed.  17 For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.

Do you want them to know the things of greatest importance to Jesus--the salvation of eternal souls. If you have the same concern, and you should, bring them the message or bring them to where they will hear the glorious truths of sins forgiven and peace with God.

The words and ways of Jesus are so instructive for us as we seek to evangelize in God’s way.  Consider the instructions he gave to the twelve as they were being sent. This might surprise you:

Preparation but not provision

9  “Provide neither gold nor silver nor copper in your money belts, 10 “nor bag for your journey, nor two tunics, nor sandals, nor staffs; for a worker is worthy of his food. 

Jesus saw them as laborers going out to work. And, as they worked preaching to others, those who heard, even among the lost sheep of the house of Israel, were obliged to provide for the preachers. The Twelve where wholly dependant upon God for spiritual increase and “the lost sheep” for physical needs. That is perilous. But it works within the framework of Jesus’s concerns. Let’s read further:

11  “Now whatever city or town you enter, inquire who in it is worthy, and stay there till you go out. 

The word for worthy has the connotation of one who is distinguished, in the sense of different than the others for their devout moral excellency accompanied by wisdom. The language shows it was not a common trait. But would be the exception in each place. The twelve were to look for a certain type of person as their host. The one in a town or village who stood out from the others in these areas. Once they found this householder, they were to go to check out his house. It was not enough to take another’s word. It must be what was required in truth. The text continues:

12  “And when you go into a household, greet it.  13  “If the household is worthy, let your peace come upon it. But if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you.  14  “And whoever will not receive you nor hear your words, when you depart from that house or city, shake off the dust from your feet.

Some places would find a worthy home where the disciples could move in for a limited time to preach and teach to the people. They could enter in, be welcome and stay at their leisure.

However, if they would not find such a home in each and every place from which to base their operations. The lack of a receiving unworthy home was enough to hinder the gospel from being preached and to bring judgment upon the entire town. If its most distinguished citizen was unworthy, so too the town.

If they did not receive the disciples, nor their words, that they were to keep traveling. Their “peace” was not to be given, it was not a worthy place, they were to keep their peace to themselves.

It was not that the disciples would go to one house and then to another and another until the whole city or town had been canvased. The “or” should have the sense of “either/or.” If either the distinguished home, or the city, did not accept them nor their message, they were to leave.

The shaking off of the dust is a sign of judgment in that the person leaving could not even carry their dirt to another place. It was to rid oneself of all that was in or represented by the town or village.

What about this neighborhood, or Worcester and the surrounding towns who have not availed themselves of our gospel witness? God may remove the church from the city not because of us, but because of the hardness of the hearts of those who will not come after being invited for the good of their eternal souls. But, in their blindness, they don’t see it that way.

You see, Jesus knew the character of men and what the disciples would find generally. With the potential condemnations that come later in this narrative and the actual condemnations that come later in the ministry of Jesus it does not appear that many cities received the messengers of a compassionate Christ.

If you have ever done door to door work, you have an idea of what the disciples would have faced. Most of the Irish pastors do this as a sign of faithfulness to long held Christian conventions even though there has been little or no fruit.

Instead of moving on and kicking the dust off their shoes, they endure for decades as a martyr complex grows in their minds. They forget about the judgment that is coming even in this age.

A Word of Judgment

15  “Assuredly, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city! 

Read of the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah in Genesis 13 through 19. The destruction was complete, enduring, appropriate, just, and a manifestation of the power of God on earth. It is horrendous reading left best for the day than right before bedtime.

In the day of judgment, when spiritual things are discerned and the intents of men’s hearts are manifest and each receives what is due to them, it will bode better for those who were known to be wicked, than for those who refused the message of Christ and his Messengers—that is a greater sin. That is why I have stated that a refusal to take up the message preached and to act upon it is to spit in the face of God continually. Actually, it is worse than to spit, but I am in mixed company with children present.

God is a compassionate God, but even in his compassion he does not trifle with sin and continued unbelief is perpetual rebellion against the rule of his dear Son.

When you stand at the judgment, and it is announced that you heard the gospel over 50 times a year for most of your life, and didn’t act upon what you heard, I fear it will more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah than for some of you. Read Gen 13 and following if you dare to see what will be better than you will get.

Evangelism amongst the world of unbelievers is a perilous thing. And, the compassionate Jesus knew that too. Therefore he gave advise to the Twelve. Changing his metaphor to make a point, Jesus said.

Matt. 10:16 “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves. 

Jesus warns them about Men

17 But beware of men, for they will deliver you up to councils and scourge you in their synagogues.  18  “You will be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles. 

Last week someone posted online that two street evangelists were arrested in England. They posted a video. They were getting all sorts of sympathy and attention. Some in England wanted to hold a protest. All I could think was this, “This is what Jesus said might happen. And, he said why. It wasn’t to assert any rights. It was to speak before authorities as a testimony—telling those who might never hear otherwise, about the compassion of Christ and the need of his grace to save. In doing this, there is great comfort….

Jesus’ Special Promise to the Twelve as they encounter opposition on this mission and in the future:

19  “But when they deliver you up, do not worry about how or what you should speak. For it will be given to you in that hour what you should speak;  20  “for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you. 

That is the way of Jesus. It might happen to one or two or more of us someday. Living for Jesus means standing with him and being reviled as he was reviled. Some of you know of this from school, work or family and friends.

Jesus goes on to show how bad this might get….

The Tumultuous World of Family and Former Friends

21  “Now brother will deliver up brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death. 

These are some of the Lord Jesus’ family values. If you hang around Christians long enough, you will see this happen or you will meet some who fear this will occur.

There are Muslims who turn to Jesus who face this kind of ostracizing from their former friends, their families and everyone they knew from the Mosque. And, if one converts out of Islam, the Koran requires they be put to death. In civilized countries, they get treated as if they were dead—nobody has anything to do with them any more. But, with a drift toward radicalization in some American Mosques, there is a lot of fear. I know because I know such a man. In Catholic countries this is what happens when someone leaves for a more biblical faith. It happens in Judaism even to this day. The world of religious people want to keep you stagnant without any positive change. Verse 21 has been found true over and over again in many centuries of the faith. That most of us in the US never suffer for our faith is unique. It should make us ask if we have it correctly.

What Disciples who Live and Proclaim the Word can Expect

22  “And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved. 

Programmed approaches to evangelism do not work. Making the gospel palatable to “seekers” will devolve into sermonettes for christianettes. There will be no real spiritual freedom and power over sin and temptation. You will end up with a Church full of people who think they are Christ’s when they are not.

Usually, people figure these words of Jesus must mean something else, so they pass over them very lightly and do not take them to heart. I can tell you it means exactly what it says. If anything, some of its force is lost as the Greek is translated into English.  Jesus assures his disciples that the world will HATE them because they live AND proclaim the cause of Jesus. 

Should we expect any less?  You should see some of the looks I get from people who visit when I call them sinners, or talk about Hell as real, or make some general application to life that makes them uncomfortable, some scowl, look away, shake their heads and get noticeably unhappy. 

I am not here to make you feel good about anything. I am not here to indulge myself in religious rhetoric. I am here to preach to you about the content of the Bible. If that brings encouragement and joy at times, and it should to those who believe, and then at other times, profound conviction, that is good, too. I can’t manipulate your mind and emotions to get that sort of result. I have to leave the effects to God because to him I must be faithful...and to him you must be as well. All I can pray is that I might endure to the end as a disciple of Jesus. That he would continue to teach me what I need to know and show me where I must change and that through me he might be pleased to do the same for others.

Preachers are not God’s public relations officers, we are God’s means to deal a deathblow to self and sin as men are pointed to the precious savior He has provided.

They hated it in Christ’s lifetime. People haven’t changed, they still hate it now. Even in the face of such hostility, Jesus endured and he promises perseverance to those who are his.  We look for the wrong things, too many, many times.

In this disciples need to be like their Lord. Consider him and his ministry among men, his treatment from the Pharisees and scribes, the understanding of the disciples, the constant bother of the multitudes, yet he was filled with compassion enough to send out preachers to them and their nation. For many of them it would be a matter of life and death. For us, it is a matter of a life without any discomfort.  I wonder how many of us would have endured with Jesus 2000 years ago.

Even Jesus was urgent about this task, we read in John 9:4  “I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work.  We are ever closer to the darkness of that coming night. AMEN!