Proper 6: Gospel, Matthew 9:35-10:8

Matthew is a tough gospel for me. It’s a Jew writing to Jews about THE JEW, and no matter how much one reads and studies it, there is that “inside track” where not knowing and understanding language, culture and history leaves an outsider, … well, … outside. The passage from our gospel reading is not too awfully difficult in that respect, but I always want to give Matthew some additional respect because his effort and his result are from a different world. 

Jesus is busy proclaiming the Kingdom, healing disease and pouring salve on the afflicted. The God of the universe in human skin loves us so. I think perhaps on that and that alone we need to spend much more thought and meditation. “Jesus loves me this I know. For the Bible tells me so.” Astounding. Well, here in our gospel reading Matthew reports regarding Messiah Jesus that, “When He saw the crowds, He had compassion for them because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd” (Matthew 9:36).

“What is man that You are mindful of him ...? Psalm 8 asks that question. It’s a good one, isn’t it? God has compassion on us. He sees that we are harassed and helpless. He knows we don’t do well on our own. So He makes us His own. Once again, astounding. In the midst of busy days of ministry and service to His people and to all who will listen, He sees. And He is mindful of us. 

May I depart from our text for just a moment? “From thence He will come to judge the living and the dead.” Familiar words from the creed. And what do they have to do with harassed and helpless people? Hope. Kind of neat that it is another “H” word. I didn’t plan that. He is coming again. He was here once to deal with our sin. When He comes again for us there will be no reference to it because it is gone. Both harassment and helplessness are conditions from which we need deliverance. And this one who looks upon us with compassion has secured that deliverance and will bring it about when we see Him face to face.

With hope like that, I can, we can endure a bit of harassment and helplessness. He sees. He knows. He’s coming again.