Jesus' Compassion on the Multitudes
“And Jesus went about all the cities and yillages, teaching in their synagqsaes, and preaching the Gospel of the kingdom, and healing every siumess and every dueaae among the people. Bat when he saw the nnxltitades, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fiunted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shephera. Then saith he onto his disciples. The harvest tmly is plenteous, but tile labourers are few; pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest” — Matt. ix. 35-38.
EL When Jesus sawy he was moved with compassion.” fVom Matt. iv. 23, we learn, that when Jesus first entered on the ministry, Gralilee was the scene of his khours: He went about all Chdilee, teaching in their synagogues, and pleaching the Gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of siciaiess and all manner of disease among the people.” And we learn also (verse 25), that great multitudes followed him. Chapters v., vi., and vii., contain a specimen of what he taught and preached; chapters viii. and ix. of the manner in which he healed; and now, at verse 35, we aie told that he had gone over all the cities and villages of Galilee — he had finished his survey; and ‘’when he saw the mnltitades, he was moved with compassion.” Gralilee was at that time a thickly peopled country — its towns and villages swarmed with inhabitants; so that it got the name of Gkdilee of the nations,” or populous CraUlee. What I wish you to observe, then, is, that it was an actual survey of the crowded cities — of the over-peopled villages — of the crowds that followed him — it was an actual sight and survey of these things, that moved the Saviour’s compassion. His eye affected his heart: ‘’ When he saw, he was moved with compassion.”
1. This shows that Christ was truly man. The whole Bible shows that Christ was truly God — ‘’that he was with God, and was God” — that he was “God over all, blessed for ever.** But this event shows that he was as truly man. It is the part of a man to be overcome by what he sees. When you sit by the fire of a winter evening — when you hear the yeltiDg of the pitilesa — 3i!!iift rain and the sleet driying against the window — you think of some houseless, homeless wanderer — your heart is a little moved, you heave a passing sigh, and utter a passing expression of sympathy. Sut if the wanderer comes to your door — if you open the door, and see him, all wet and I shivering, the sight affects the heart — your heart flows out in a thousandfold greater compassion, and you invite him in to sit before the Are.
When the full bloom of health is upon your cheek, if you hear of some sick person, you are a little affected; but if you go and see — if you lift up the latchet of the door, and enter in with quiet step, and see the pale face — the languid eye — the heaving -breast; then does the eye affect the heart, and your compassion flows like a mighty riveL This is humanity — this is the way with man — this was the way with Christ: “When he saw, he was moved with compassion.” Once they brought him to the grave of a dearly loved friend. They said: “Come and see;** and it is written:” Jesus wept,” Another time, he was riding on an ass’ colt across Mount Olivet — the hill that overhangs Jerusalem; and when he came to the turn of the road, where the city bursts upon the view — “when he came near, and beheld the city — he wept over it.” And just so here. He had gone round the cities and villages of Galilee — he had looked upon the poor, scattered multitudes, hastening on to an undone eternity: “And when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion.”
Let me speak to believers. Jesus is your elder brother. He says to you as Joseph said to his brethren: ‘’ I am Joseph* your brother.” In all your afllictions, he is afflicted. For he is not an high priest which cannot be touched with a feeling of your infirmities; but was in all points tepipted like as we are, yet without sin. Some of you have little children pained, and tossing in fever. Jesus pities them; for he was once a little child. Little children, if you would take Jesus for a Saviour, then you might carry all your griefs to him; for Jesus knows what it is to be a little child* Grown believers, you know the pains of weariness, and hunger, and thirst, and nakedness. Tell these things to Jesus; for he knew them too. You know the pains of inward heaviness — of a drooping heart, exceeding sorrowful, even unto death — of the hidden face of G<3; Jesus knew them too. Go to Jesus, then, and he will heal them all.
2. This shows that Christians should go and see. Many
Christians are content to be Christians for themselves — to
hug the Gospel to themselves — to sit in their own room,
and feast upon it alone. This did not Christ. It is true
he loTed much to be alone. He once said to his disciples:
Come into a desert place, and rest awhile.’’ He often
spent the whole night in prayer on the lone mountain side;
but it is as true that he went about continually. He went
and saw, and then he had compassion. He did not hide
himself from his own flesh. You should be Christ-like.
Your word should be: “Go and see.” You should go and
see the poor; and then you will feel for them. Remember
what Jesus says to all his peqple:” I was sick, and in
prison, and ye yisited me.’’ Be not deceived, my dear
firiends; it is easy to give a cold pittance of charity at the
church door, and to think that that is the religion of Jesus.
Bat,” Pure religion and undeflled, before God and the
Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their
affliction, and to keep yourself unspotted from the world.”
II. What it was that Jesus saw.
1« He saw the multitudes. He had gone through the crowded cities and villages of populous Galilee; and O how many faces he had looked upon! This made him sad. There is something very saddening to a Christian to look upon a multitude. To stand in the crowded streets of a large metropolis, and to see the current of human beings flowing onward to eternity, brings an awful sadness over the spirit. Even to stand in the house of God, and look upon the dense mass of assembled worshippers, fills the bosom of every true Christian with a pitiful sadness.
Why is this? Because the most are perishing souls. Ah! it was this that filled the bosom of the Redeemer with compassion. Of all the bustling crowds that hurry through the streets of your town — of all the teeming multitudes that issue forth from your crowded fiauitories — ah! how few will stand on the right hand of Jesus. Nay, to come nearer still — of the hundreds now before me in this house of God — souls committed to my care and keeping — willing and anxious as you are to hear, yet how few believe our report! — how few will be to me a crown of joy and of rejoicing in the day of the Lord Jesus!
Just think how dreadful, my friends, if there be one soul here that is to perish — one body and soul with lxS)ixvli^ tu
‘y and strength to-day, that is to be with devils in a short while, feeUns the worm, and the flames, and the gnashing of teeth. If there were but one in the whole town, I £ think it would be enough to sadden the soul. But, ah! does not the Bible say: ^’Many are called, but few are chosen?” Ah! then, you will know why Jesus was moved with compassion; and surely you will never look upon a crowd but the same feeling vdll rise in your breast.
2. He saw the multitudes fainting. Perhaps for huim — poor, weak, frail men! There is something most movinc in the sight of weak men, when they are in an unconverted condition. What would a spider be, if it were thwn into one of your great blast-fiynaces? It would be as it wave nothing — so weak — so miserable — so unable to resist the scorchmg flame. Just such was the sight Jesus saw — poor, Irail men fainting for lack of food, and yet perishing for lack of knowledge; and he thought, Alas! if they be unaUe to bear a little bodily want, how vrill they bear my Fatheis anger, when I shall tread them in mine anger, and trampk them in my fury? Oh! no wonder Jesus was sad. Think of this, you who are very feeble and frail — unable to bear hunger or a little sickness. Think what a poor thing yon are in a fever, when you need some one to turn you in your bed; how wHl you bear to die Christless, and to fall into the hands of the living God? If you cannot contend with God now, how do you think you will contend with him after you die?
3. He saw them scattered abroad. When the sheep have been driven away from the fold, they do not all go in a flock; but they are scattered over the mountains — they run every one to his own way. This is what Jesus saw in the multitudes — they were all scattered, turning every one to his own way. In the cities and villages he saw men going every one after different things. One set of men were going after money, making it their chief good — toiling night and day over their work; yet not enjoying the money they made. Another set went after pleasure — the dance, the song, the pipe, and the tabour. Another set went after the joys of the deep carousal — their bellies were their god, and they gloried in their shame. Like the leech, they said: “Give, give.” Another set went after still darker and more abominable things, of which it is a shame even so much as to speak. Jesus saw all — the hearts of all — and had compassion; because they were all thus scattered
SERMON xzn., 153
—none seeking after God. Observe, Jesus was not angry — Jesus did not threaten; Jesus was moved with compasion.
Let me speak to the unconverted. You are thus scattered, very one to his own way. Each of you have got your fevouite Y^alk in life — your favourite footpath. You all go difiernt ways; and yet all away from God. I do not know what k is that your heart loves most; but this I know, that you )ve to go away from Christ and from God. Christ’s eye i upon you all — your histories — your hearts. He knows very step you have taken — every sin you have committed -«Yery lust that reigns in your heart. His eye is now on bis assembly. I will ask you a question. What does esus feel when he looks upon you? Some will say, Anger -49ome ynU. say. Revenge. What does the Bible say? — Compassion. Christ pities you->he does not wish you to terish. Oh! the tender pity of Jesus. He would often lave gathered you, as a hen gathers its chickens; but you fould not.
4. As sheep having no shepherd. This was the saddest hing of all. If the sheep be driven away from the fold, ainting and scattered upon the mountains, and if there be I number bf shepherds to seek the lost, and bring them )ack to the fold, the sight is by no means so painful; but when they are sheep that have no shepherd, then the case s desperate. So it was with the people of Galilee in []lhrist’s day. If they had had pastors after God’s own leart, then their case would not have been so bad; but hey were like sheep that had no shepherd. This made Fesus sad.
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, to-day, and for iyer. Just as he went through the towns and villages of Galilee, beholding the multitudes, so does he now go through he towns and villages of our beloved land; and, oh! if his leart was moved with compassion over the thousands of jhdilee, surely it must be breaking with intensest pity over he tens of thousands of Scotland. There may be some of on who can look coldly and carelessly on the fifty thou and of Edinburgh that never cross the threshold of the lOuse of God. There may be some of you who can hear inmoved of the eighty thousand of Glasgow who know leither the melody of psalms nor the voice of prayer. There oay be some of you who can look upon the haggard and icenstricken countenances of the mill-populatioii o( ^olix own town, thousands of whom show, by their dress, and air, and open profligacy, that they are utter strangers to the message of a preached Saviour. Some of you may look on them, and never shed one tear of pity — never feel one prayer rising to your lips; but there is One above these heavens, whose heart beats in his bosom at the sight of them; and if there could be tears in heaven, that tender Saviour would weep; for he sees the multitudes fainting and scattered, and — oh! worst of all — pas sheep that have no shepherd.
Some of you have no compassion on the multitudes. Some of you think we have enough of ministers. See here, how unlike you are to Christ. You have not the Spirit of Christ in you — you are none of his. Some of you know the Lord Jesus, and tremble at his Word* Learn this daj to be like-minded to Jesus: ^’ Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.” Christ had compassion on the multitudes; and, oh! will you have none? Christ gave himself for them; what will you give? Surely the stones of this house will rise against you in judgment, and condemn you, if you be not like Christ in this: “Freely ye have received, freely give.”
IIL The remedy,
I. More labourers, “The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few,” Christ looked upon the towns of Galilee as upon a mighty harvest — field after field ready for the sickle. He and his apostles seemed like a small band of reapers. But what are they to such a harvest? The ripe com will be shaken, and shed its fruit upon the ground, before it can be cut down and gathered in. The word of Christ, then, is: “Pray ye, therefore, the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.”
There is a striking resemblance between this day and Christ’s day. (1.) Our cities and villages are crowded like those of Gralilee, and the little band of &ithful ministers are indeed nothing to such a harvest. (2.) The people are willing to hear. Wherever men of God have been sent, they have gathered around them multitudes, eager to hear the words of eternal life. The harvest is ripe — ready to be gathered in. Oh I then, do not say it is a scheme of man’s devising — do not say we are seeking to enrich ministers — do not say we are seeking our own things. We are doing what Christ bids us do: ‘’ Pray ye the Lord of the harvest
2. Labourers sent of God. (1.) This shows we should ek ordained ministers — men sent out or thrust out by od. Some well-meaning people are satisfied if we can get irate Christians, or unordained men, to do the work of the inistry. This is a deep snare into which Satan leads good en. Does not the whole Bible bear witness that no man keth this honour to himself, but he that is called of €U)d,
was Aaron? and eren Christ glorified not himself to be ade an high priest. Woe be to them that run unsent! It as a good wish in Uzzah to hold up the ark; yet Uzzah ed for it.
(2.) Converted ministers. If men may not run without 1 outward call, far less without an inward call. There ere crowds of ministers in Christ’s day. At every comer ’ the street you might hare met them. But they were ind leaders of the blind. So we may haye plenty of inisters raised amongst us, and yet be as sheep that have ) shepherd.
Ah! you that know Christ, and love him — ye Jacobs who restle with God till morning light, wrestle ye with God T this. Give him no rest until he grant it. I haye a yeet persuasion in my own breast, that if we go on in faith id prayer, building up God’s altars that are desolate, God ill hear the cry of his people, and give them teachers ac- )rding to his own heart, and that we shall yet see days ich as hare never before shone upon the Church of Scotmd — when our teachers shall not be removed into comers ay more — when the great Shepherd shall himself bless le bread, and give it to the under shepherds, and they lall give to the multitudes; and all shall eat, and be filled.
St PeterUy Nov, 12, 1837.