Lord’s Day, Vol. 10 No. 33

The Unfinished Work of Soul Winning

How did Jesus accomplish this work of soul winning? We can glean from Matthew 9:35-38, it is hard work (v35), it is heart work (v36) and it is Holy Spirit’s Work (v37-38).

35 And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. 36 But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. 37 Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; 38 Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.

• Hard Work (v35)
  • Preach (v35a)
  • Pray (v35b)

The adjective “all” and “every” is used three times to describe the scope of Jesus’ work, it is comprehensive. He covered the grounds, left no corner of cites and villages not evangelized. It is demanding physically speaking. Jesus set for us the example, “How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!” (Rom. 10:15b cf. Isa. 52:7). The principal activities were preaching and praying. He was spreading the good news of the gospel. He preached the word to all who are willing to listen. Jesus also taught. He showed to them the true sense of the laws of God in Matthew 5-7. How do we live our lives in the light of God’s Word that will bring God’s blessings!

He also healed the sick. We see this in Matthew 8-9. These mighty works authenticated Jesus’ credentials as the Messiah King. Today, we do not possess such supernatural power of miracle healing but we can pray for the needs of those we meet, acknowledging that power comes from God, and we submit ourselves to His sovereign power and will to heal.

Our Lord went about all the cities and villages and He was among the people. We can see the picture of weariness and toil in the work of the gospel. It required physical, mental and spiritual endurance. Our Lord demonstrated to us this commitment by His excellent example for our emulation. In fact we catch a glimpse of Jesus in the work of soul winning in Matthew 8-9. You will notice that it is a greatly sacrificial work. He said this to the scribe who wanted to be His disciple – “20 And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head” (Matthew 8:20). And yet it is highly rewarding for it is the souls of men and women snatched from the clutches of hell and transported to the glory of heaven. We see the string of ceaseless activities that our Lord was doing. It is truly an encouragement and great privilege for us to be a part of this good work. 

However, in the immediate context of verse 34, the Pharisees accused our Lord that “He casts out devils through the prince of the devils”, in other words, Jesus’ work is evil because He is energized by Satan. What great blasphemy! In fact, from Matthew 9 onwards we observe that the work becomes more difficult because of opposition. Chapter 9 began with Jesus’ healing the man sick with palsy (paralysis of the muscles as a result of some disorder in the nervous system) and forgiving him of his sins. The scribes observing, said to him, “This man blasphemeth.” Indeed, as Jesus said, these scribes taught evil in their hearts. The work of Jesus in saving man spiritually and physically was of God, a work of love. Jesus was fulfilling the mission that God the Father sent Him to do. He had to endure much ridicule and scorn for the good work. In the midst of toil, our Lord endured mocking and scorning that can cause much discouragement, like pouring cold water to cool down the momentum of the work started. This was the lot for our Saviour. It will be the lot for us His disciples too. May the Lord grant to us His comfort and encouragement so that we may press on despite rejection, resistance and setback! 

• Heart Work (v36)
  • Compassion (v36a)
  • Care (v36b)

The hard work was undergirded with resolve and purposeful determination in the heart to this gospel work despite setbacks. Matthew described by two verbs, Jesus “saw” and “moved with compassion”. Jesus is able to read the hearts to see the burdens in the hearts of the multitude. There was sorrow, grief, affliction, trouble, and sin that was in the heart of these. He was not thinking about Himself and His interest but He had in mind their interest and welfare. He felt so much for them it is as if it affected his physical inner being and it moved Him to action. That’s God’s love, the agape-type, sacrificial, unconditional. There was sorrow, grief, affliction, trouble, and sin that was in the heart of these. In this verse, we see the great value of lost souls in the heart of our Lord. They fainted – to physically become weary or exhausted, give out, to lose heart and become discouraged.

They fainted and were scattered abroad. As He saw their lost estate, it drove Him into action. Jesus felt deeply for them. He is the good Shepherd who cared for His sheep.

• Holy Spirit-Led Work (v37-38)
  • Call (v37-38a)
  • Commission (v38b)

Jesus utilized farming imagery to help us to see the urgency of the work. When the farmer first sows, there is a season of cultivation, where he waters and fertilizes. But when harvest time comes, the entire field is ready at the same time. This is the picture of the harvest that Jesus wants us to see. It is urgent to reap quickly the fruits of the harvest before they turn bad before the birds come and the worms and insects come to feed on them. He is showing to us the vast field of work still undone. Jesus urged His disciples to pray, for no man by himself can discharge this work unless the Lord raises him or her up and endows him with the strength and ability to go forth. There is a great number of people who needs instruction but there are few able to instruct these poor people in the ways of righteousness and truth. Pray the Lord by His Spirit would call and commission more to serve in this ripe harvest field.

Thank God for His blessing for the Special Prayer Meeting on 10 August 2022 as we recounted God’s goodness for the past 10 years of prayer time at the Praise Chapel. Amen.

Yours lovingly,

Pastor Lek Aik Wee