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.
when.
Matthew 14:14 And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick.
Matthew 15:32 Then Jesus called his disciples unto him, and said, I have compassion on the multitude, because they continue with me now three days, and have nothing to eat: and I will not send them away fasting, lest they faint in the way.
Mark 6:34 And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things.
fainted, etc.
Matthew 10:6 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
Matthew 15:24 But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
Numbers 27:17 Which may go out before them, and which may go in before them, and which may lead them out, and which may bring them in; that the congregation of the LORD be not as sheep which have no shepherd.
He was moved with compassion for them
The Greek word for "compassion" here is "splagchnizomai," indicating a deep, visceral empathy. This phrase underscores Jesus' divine nature, as He embodies God's love and mercy. Compassion is a recurring theme in Jesus' ministry, demonstrating His role as the Good Shepherd who cares for His flock. This compassion is not just emotional but leads to action, as seen in His healing and teaching.
because they were harassed and helpless
The people are described as "harassed and helpless," suggesting they were burdened by the religious leaders' legalism and the Roman occupation. This phrase reflects the spiritual oppression and lack of true guidance from the Pharisees and Sadducees, who failed to provide genuine spiritual leadership. The imagery evokes the struggles of the Israelites throughout history, often oppressed and in need of deliverance.
like sheep without a shepherd
This metaphor is rich in biblical symbolism. Sheep are dependent creatures, needing guidance and protection. The absence of a shepherd signifies a lack of leadership and care. In the Old Testament, leaders like Moses and David were seen as shepherds of Israel. Jesus fulfills the prophetic role of the ultimate Shepherd, as foretold in Ezekiel 34:23, where God promises to set up one shepherd over His people. This phrase emphasizes Jesus' mission to guide, protect, and save His people, fulfilling the messianic prophecies and establishing His authority as the true Shepherd.
- Jesus is fully aware and attentive to the multitudes around Him, demonstrating His omniscience and personal concern (John 2:24-25; Psalm 147:5).
- His eyes are never indifferent to people’s circumstances; He notices both physical needs and spiritual hunger (Mark 6:34).
- The Lord’s reaction is not detached pity but a deep, active compassion that leads to action (Luke 7:13; Hebrews 4:15).
- This same compassionate heart propels Him to heal, teach, and ultimately lay down His life (Matthew 14:14; John 10:11).
- Believers are called to reflect this compassion in ministry and daily life (Ephesians 4:32; Colossians 3:12).
- “Harassed” points to the people’s weary, battered condition under sin, oppressive leadership, and life’s burdens (Isaiah 53:6; Acts 15:10).
- “Helpless” underscores their inability to rescue themselves; they are spiritually bankrupt and vulnerable (Romans 5:6; Titus 3:3-5).
- Christ recognizes the depth of their need—both external oppression and internal bondage.
- Sheep require guidance, protection, and provision; without a shepherd they stray and perish (Ezekiel 34:5-6; Isaiah 40:11).
- Israel’s religious leaders had failed to care for the flock, leaving people exposed to false doctrine and moral decay (Jeremiah 23:1-4; Matthew 23:13).
- Jesus identifies Himself as the promised Shepherd who gathers, feeds, and guards His people (John 10:14-16; 1 Peter 2:25).
Matthew 9:36 reveals Christ’s tender heart toward spiritually lost and suffering people. He sees their true condition, feels deep compassion, and steps in as the Good Shepherd to meet every need. His example challenges believers to embrace His perspective and extend the same compassionate care to a weary world, trusting the inerrant, living Word that faithfully exposes need and supplies grace.
(36) He was moved with compassion.--The words that follow are so vivid and emphatic that we may well believe them to have had their starting-point in our Lord's own expression of His feelings. We find Him using the identical words in Matthew 15:32, and Mark 8:2 : "I have compassion on the multitude."They fainted.--The English represents the received printed text of the Greek Testament at the beginning of the seventeenth century. There is, however, an immense preponderance of authority in favour of another reading, which gives the passive participle of the verb translated "trouble" in Mark 5:35, Luke 7:6, and meaning literally "flayed," and thence figuratively "tormented, worried, vexed." They were not merely as sheep that have grown weary and faint, hungry, looking up and yet not fed, but were as those that have been harassed by the wolf--the prey of thieves and robbers. (Comp. John 10:8-12.) . . .
Verse 36. - But when he saw the multitudes. The substance of this verse is found in Mark 6:34 on the return of the apostles, equivalent to our Matthew 14:13, seq. (cf. supra). According to the context, the multitudes here spoken of are those of the various cities and villages through which he had passed. He was moved with compassion on (for, Revised Version) them (ἐσπλαγχνίσθη περὶ αὐτῶν). After the vivid Hebrew metaphor (Genesis 43:30), which the LXX. seldom ventured to translate literally, but which is common in the New Testament writings. Because they fainted. So the Received Text (ἐκλελυμένοι, cf. Matthew 15:32), but the Revised Version, with manuscripts, "were distressed" (ἐσκυλμένοι). Σκύλλω, which in the classics is equivalent, to(1) "flay,"
(2) "mangle," is found only in the sense of
(3) "trouble or harass," in the New Testament (Mark 5:35 [parallel passage: Luke 8:49]; Luke 7:6). And were scattered abroad; Revised Version simply, and scattered. (For the thought, cf. Ezekiel 34:5; also Numbers 27:17; 2 Chronicles 18:16; and its parallel passage, 1 Kings 22:17.) The two participles express different aspects of their now normal and continuous state (η΅σαν ἐσκυλμένοι καὶ ἐριμμένοι). Yet the Authorized Version margin, "and lay down," is probably nearer the meaning of ἐριμμένοι here than the Authorized Version and Revised Version; cf. 1 Macc. 11:4 (" They showed him the temple of Dagon burnt... and the bodies cast out" ); Jeremiah 14:16 (" The people... shall be cast out in the streets of Jerusalem... and they shall have none to bury them" ), whine the thought is hardly "scattered," but "cast out and lying prostrate." So here the people are pictured as sheep harassed and prostrated by fatigue, etc.; cf. Vulgate, vexati et jacentes. As sheep having no shepherd; not having a shepherd (Revised Version); cf. the Old Testament passages just referred to.
Parallel Commentaries ...