“Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them.” (Matthew 5:1)

“Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.” (Matthew 9:35-36)

Crowds were always following Jesus. Everywhere He went the crowds were sure to follow. They followed Him for many reasons, but the question that arises is, what was on His mind when He saw the crowds? In Matthew’s gospel, he gives us insight into our Savior and His response to the crowds.

Leading up to the first time Matthew would speak of Jesus seeing the crowd, Jesus had already been through temptations, had begun His ministry, called the first disciples, and ministered to needs in the crowd. Now, after Matthew records Jesus seeing the crowd, Jesus begins to teach the disciples. This teaching we have recorded by Matthew in what we call the Sermon on the Mount. The sermon lays out for a disciple the quality of character, the calling to make a difference, the depth of the commandments and how to pray. Also, how to live in a relationship with God, how to know a fellow believer and the importance of putting God’s teaching into action.

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.” (Matthew 7:24-25)

The second time Jesus sees the crowds, He has been active in ministry of all kinds. He has seen and responded to the needs of the people, He has proclaimed the Good News of God’s coming to man, He has seen great faith, He has calmed a storm. Along with, He has answered questions, raised the dead, and demonstrated forgiveness. After all this, Jesus sees the crowd and He is filled with compassion. On through Matthew’s Gospel, he would speak of Jesus’ compassion. After the death of John the Baptist, Jesus had withdrawn from the crowds by boat. When He returned, He again had compassion for the people. He saw their need and with “five loaves of bread and two fish,” He feeds “five thousand men, besides women and children.” (Matthew 14:17b,21b) A second time He saw the people as hungry,  He fed “four thousand men, besides women and children” with seven loaves of bread and a few small fish. (Matthew 15: 38b, 36a) One more time Matthew records Jesus’ compassion. Later as the crowd was following Jesus, two blind men called out to Jesus. The crowds tried to hush the men, but Jesus heard them. “Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight and followed him.” (Matthew 20:34)

When Jesus had compassion on the crowds, it was for more than the feeding and the healing. It was because Jesus saw their greatest need.

“When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.’” (Matthew 9:36-38)

If we are walking with the Living Word of God, Jesus, we should see the crowds as He does. We should be moved with compassion because we know their true state of life without Jesus. We see it in all the troubles of this world. As Jesus said, they are “harassed and helpless.” They need a shepherd, our shepherd who gave His life for us. Jesus said, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. ‘I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.’” (John 10:10-11)

Our Good Shepherd has compassion on those around us, may we also have compassion on those in the crowd around us.

In the Love of Jesus,

Michael Block