Matthew 9:36

“For ye were as sheep scattered and fainting, not having a shepherd.” — editor's note: Matt. ix. 36.

Chapter XXX.—Of the Section Where It is Recorded, that Being Moved with Compassion for the Multitudes, He Sent His Disciples, Giving Them Power to Work Cures, and Charged Them with Many Instructions, Directing Them…

“Then saith He unto His disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the laborers are few, pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that He will send forth laborers into His harvest.”” — editor's note: Matt. ix. 36–38. [“will” is unnecessary.—R.]

The Lord would refute by actions the charge of the Pharisees, who said, “He casteth out daemons by the “Prince of the daemons;” for a daemon having suffered rebuke, does not return good but evil to those who have not…

Observe how equally in villages, cities, and towns, that is to great as well as small, He preaches the Gospel, not respecting the might of the noble, but the salvation of those that believe. It follows, “Teaching in…

He taught in their synagogues the Gospel of the Kingdom, as it follows, “Preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom.”

Understand, ‘of God;’ for though temporal blessings are also proclaimed, yet they are not called The Gospel. Hence the Law was not called a Gospel, because to such as kept it, it held out not heavenly, but earthly,…

He first preached and taught, and then proceeded to heal sicknesses, that the works might convince those who would not believe the words. Hence it follows, “Healing every sickness and every disease,” for to Him alone…

By “disease” we may understand complaints of long standing, by “sickness” any lesser infirmity.

It should be known that those whom He healed outwardly in their bodies, He also healed inwardly in their souls. Others cannot do this of their own power, but can by God’s grace.

Nor does Christ’s goodness rest here, but He manifests His care for them, opening the bowels of His mercy towards them; whence it follows, “And seeing the multitudes, he had compassion upon them.”

Herein Christ shews in Himself the disposition of the good shepherd and not that of the hireling. Why He pitied them is added, “because there were troubled, and sick as sheep that have no shepherd — troubled either…

Or, “troubled,” by daemons, and “sick,” that is, benumbed and unable to rise; as though they had shepherds, yet they were as though they had them not.

This is an accusation against the rulers of the Jews, that being shepherds they appeared like wolves; not only not improving the multitude, but hindering their progress. For when the multitude marvelled and said, “It…

But when the Son of God looked down from heaven upon the earth, to hear the groans of the captives [Ps 102:19], straight a great harvest began to ripen; for the multitude of the human race would never have come near…

The harvest are those men who can be reaped by the preachers, and separated from the number of the damned, as grain is beaten out from the chaff that it may be laid up in granaries.

The great harvest denotes the multitude of the people; the few labourers, the want of instructors.

For the number of the Apostles was small in comparison of so great crops to be reaped. The Lord exhorts His preachers, that is, the Apostles and their followers, that they should daily desire an increase of their…

He privately insinuates Himself to be the Lord; for it is He Himself who is Lord of the harvest. For if He sent the Apostles to reap what they had not sown, it is manifest that He sent them not to reap the things of…

Or, He then increased their number when He chose the seventy and two, and then when many preachers were made what time the Holy Spirit descended upon the believers.

He shews us that it is a great gift that one should have the power of rightly preaching, in that He tells them that they ought to pray for it. Also we are here reminded of the words of John concerning the…

Figuratively; When salvation was given to the Gentiles, then all cities and towns were enlightened by the power and entrance of Christ, and escaped every former sickness and infirmity. The Lord pities the people…

Matthew 9:36 and Mark 6:34 share the same wording (9 words).

Cited together in Defence Against the Arians I.4.

Cited together in Remigius of Auxerre on Matthew 9:36–38 (4) (Catena Aurea).

'Like sheep without a shepherd' in Judith's words to Holofernes.