Matthew 9:35-38 Sheep without a Shepherd
Format for Your Devotions
Instructions: Do not read my example devotion until you have completed your own devotional time in the scriptures. Reading my thoughts first may limit your own understanding. Let the Holy Spirit speak to you alone before looking to see what anyone else has to say, whether it is me, a Bible commentary, or a friend. Let God speak to you before you let another person speak to you. I have provided a format, but modify it to fit your needs. For example, I usually combine my application and prayer together talking to God about the application to my own life. You can go through this devotion process mentally, speaking out loud, or in writing as you wish. Don’t worry if you are not following this process exactly. Sometimes, I add extra information and sometimes I emphasize one part more than others. However, you should always think about what you learn about God from this passage.
Step 1: Pray–Ask for the Holy Spirit’s guidance first of all and that God may reveal the lessons that He wants you to have that day. Request that God protect you from Satan’s distractions (and the devil will try to distract you whether it is pinching the baby or putting you to sleep). Ask to see God more clearly as you read and think about the passage.
Step 2: Read the passage–Read to get an overview of the information first. Then start looking at specific parts after the first reading. You may read a larger or smaller section than I have here because you do not have to follow my organization at all.
Step 3: Understand the passage–You can summarize, ask and answer your own questions about the passage, visualize the story, analyze the characters, and relate this passage to other scriptures and personal experiences.
Step 4: What does this reveal about God?–What do you learn about the Father, Son, and/or Holy Spirit from this passage?
Step 5: Apply this to your own life.
Step 6: Prayer
My Example Devotion: March 5, 2019, Matthew 9:35-38
Note: In the devotion examples, I leave my questions and thought processes in the text because I am trying to demonstrate that a devotional time is a dialogue with God about what you are reading from His word. As such, any questions or ideas that you have should be explored by talking it out with God. These example devotions are not my attempts to teach you what the meaning of a particular scripture is. They are an attempt to teach you the process of devotions, which is a combination of prayer and Bible study where you explore ideas with God as you read His word.
And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”
(Understanding the Text) Matthew summarized this section of his book by saying that these sample miracles that he had just given were repeated again and again as Jesus traveled throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in synagogues, and healing. The crowds followed Him and He healed them. The more He healed, the bigger the crowds became and the more people who came needing healing. As the work grew and grew, it became harder and harder to meet the needs of the crowds. The disciples and Jesus were run ragged. At one point in one of the gospels, it says that they did not have time to stop to eat.
Guzik says that the miracles section here was to establish Jesus’ credentials. “e. This ends a thematic section dealing with Jesus’ credentials as Messiah, as established by His authority over sickness, disease, death, and demons. i. In this section, we notice the different ways Jesus displayed His power. Jesus healed by no set formula, because He is the Messiah, not some magician. ii. Now that Matthew has established Jesus’ credentials as the Messiah, he will focus more on His conflict with religious leaders, with a continuing emphasis on His teaching.” Thus, section one established Jesus’ lineage as that of Messiah, section two established Jesus’ wisdom to be the Messiah, and section three established Jesus’ power as Messiah. Matthew has established that Jesus is the king, a great spiritual leader/rabbi, and a prophet of great supernatural capability. King, Rabbi, and Prophet
(Revelation of God) Jesus saw the people’s desperation and hurt and felt compassion for them. God wants to heal our hurts. God wants us to have the fruit of the Spirit, but if we refuse to connect with Him, He is limited in the healing that He can provide. Our trust is the essential requirement for being healed. Jesus saw that so many people could be healed of their hopelessness and fears if He just had enough workers who were willing to devote themselves to His service.
(Application / Prayer) My application to myself is that I need to trust Jesus to give me the healing and power needed to be His worker. The harvest is also the workers. I am the recipient of Jesus’ healing at the same time that I need to pass that healing on to others. I fear to be a worker because of the pain involved, but part of the pain is because I refuse to trust You and Your healing. I pray to trust You and be Your faithful servant working with You to bring hope and healing to other people.