Lord’s Day, Vol. 11 No. 4
The Work of Soul Winning
Matthew 9:35-38 (KJV). 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.
The first object of the church given in the church’s constitution is to save souls. How can this be accomplished? We shall consider our Lord’s example, the example par excellence, for our learning. Jesus came not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance. He was chided by the Pharisees for having a meal with publican and sinners – This was His exact words in Matthew 9:12-13 (KJV) But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick. But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
Remember how Matthew, the writer of this Gospel was saved. He was the most notorious scumbag in Capernaum. Working for the Roman Government, he extorted from his own people in custom duties. No Jew would fellowship with him, not by a barge pole. But Jesus did. He came to save sinners. And Matthew acknowledged his lost estate and came to Jesus, receiving, eternal life.
(1) The Work Involves the Word (v35)
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.
The cities were fortified, the villages consisted of clusters of houses together, and the synagogues were the congregating point for worship for the Jews since their exile to Babylon after the Temple was destroyed. As long as they had a group of ten people, they could form a synagogue. Jairus was a ruler who sought Jesus to raise his daughter from the dead. In the synagogue, the Scripture is taught, it is a place of instruction. Jesus was that visiting Teacher. There were perhaps according to the historian Josephus about 3 million Jews, very much like Singapore 40 years ago.
The principal activities were preaching and praying. He was spreading the good news of the gospel. He preached the word to all who were willing to listen. To preach is to make a public announcement, to make a proclamation, to evangelise, to announce the good news.
He tells them the good news to the heavenly kingdom of God. What great need He is proclaiming for the people. What an outreach, God coming in Person! Never before! 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 with our mind’s eye through the Scriptures 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 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. Notice the string of ceaseless activities that our Lord was doing. It is truly an encouragement and a great privilege for us to be a part of this good work. Will you be willing to take some tracts and invitation cards from the church and give them to the people in your neighbourhood as a start? Just one hour each week, choose a target block of flats or estate. Go from house to house. I assure you that it is most rewarding. We will see people coming, no direct correlation but there is a spiritual impact that is made. Will you ask a friend to come? Make an effort to call, arrange transport perhaps, bring. This is the great work that God has called you to do.
(2) Wisdom For the Work (v36)
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.
This wisdom for the work is well demonstrated by Matthew with 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, 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. He was not thinking about Himself and His interest but He had in mind their interest and welfare. Jesus felt deeply for them. He is the good Shepherd who cared for His sheep.
Two word pictures – they “fainted”, and were scattered were used to describe the dire predicament of the multitudes. The first word – they “fainted” literally meant, “having been flayed,” or milder, “having the skin torn,” as this happens to sheep wandering among brambles and sharp rocks. The second word translated, “they were scattered abroad”. It comes from the root word which means, “thrown down prone and helpless”, exhausted, totally drained of energy. This verb is used with reference to corpses lying prostrate on the ground.
These two word pictures are two perfect participles in the Greek syntax used as adjectives; their tense describes a present condition as resulting from a past action.
Both participles are made vivid by the comparison: “like sheep not having a shepherd.” They looked abject, torn and exhausted, a sight to rend the heart, a most pitiful sight. As He saw their lost estate, it drove Him into action.
What follows shows that Jesus was thinking of the spiritual condition of the people. Their souls received no wholesome spiritual food and care, for, as far as that was concerned, they were left to shift for themselves.
Material and physical destitution moves man deeply to provide humanitarian aid, but Jesus’s care goes beyond the physical for He saw their spiritual distress. Jesus felt deeply for them.
He is the good Shepherd who cared for His sheep. The good Shepherd who laid down His life for the sheep. This unconditional and sacrificial love is God’s power flowing into the life of God’s children. It comes as an overflow of the Holy Spirit’s power in the believer’s heart. It comes because the child of God has been touched by God’s love. Jesus demonstrated the greatness of this love in His ministry on earth. For us who are saved, it is a love that flows out of gratitude and indebtedness. We have been forgiven much, though undeserved. Unless we realize our lost estate and experience in our hearts the reconciliation with God by the finished work of Christ on the cross, we cannot live out this love. It keeps us humble and loving.
Jonathan Goforth, a missionary to China, often sang this chorus as a prayer as he reflected on his ministry. He desired that God keep his heart burning for lost souls.
LORD Crucified, Give me a heart like Thine:
Teach me to love the dying souls of men.
Oh, Keep my heart in closest touch with Thee;
And give me love-pure Calvary love to bring the lost to Thee.
The last days before our Lord’s coming are characterized by sin – Matthew 24:12 “And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.” May our hearts be fervently burning with God’s love.
(3) Worker for the Work (v37-38)
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.
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 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 few are equipped to instruct them 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.
The church is called to fulfil this Great Commission to carry the gospel to all the world. The church is called to this precious work of soul-winning. May the Lord help you to prepare well. The Lord grant you His grace as you embarked on the work of soul-winning for His glory. Amen.
Yours lovingly,
Pastor Lek Aik Wee