(Text and Audio)
Title: Narrative Transition
The other day I sent a text to someone who is about 15 years younger than I am and I signed off by writing, “Sounds good homie.”
How many of you have ever heard me casually say, or text, or email the phrase, “homie”?
What does it mean?
And why did this young lady, 15 years my junior, mercilessly make fun of me for using this terminology?
To know the author is to be familiar with their methods and mindset. And todays study is no different.
Today’s study isn’t a theological marvel. Nor does it deal with a controversial topic. But it is noteworthy, it is worthwhile. Today’s message is a study of Matthew the author as much as anything.
This passage is a transitionary note from our author Matthew. It is the bridge between chapters 5-9 and what is to come in chapter 10. Here we see Matthew summarize the work recorded in chapters 5-9, and also Jesus’ remarks point forward to the sending out of the apostles coming in chapter 10.
- Transition Point One: Recap of things past
One of the nice things about the Gospel of Matthew is how well organized it is. And that makes sense, if we remember the makeup, the DNA of the book of Matthew. This gospel, you may recall, is written by a Jew (Matthew) to a primary Jewish audience as evidence that Jesus of Nazareth was indeed the Messiah.
Matthew therefore organizes the material of the Story of Jesus in a very straightforward way.
Prologue: Chapters 1,2
Beginning of Jesus’ Ministry (Baptism, Temptation): 3,4
Preaching, Teaching, Healing: Chapters 5-9
Commissioning of the Apostles: Chapter 10
And it is between the third and fourth line that we see today’s passage come into play. Matthew recounts the activity of Jesus early ministry by showing the three main categories that his early ministry fell into:
Preaching: The Sermon on the Mount
Teaching: Jesus answering the many questions of his disciples, John the Baptist’s disciples, and the Pharisees.
Healing: The Leper, The Centurion’s servant, Peter’s Mother-in-Law, Garden of Gergesenes, The Paralytic, Jarius’ Daughter, The Bleeding Woman, The Two Blind Men, and the Mute Man
- Transition Point Two: The Perspective of Jesus in the present moment
Then, Matthew records how Jesus was taking all this in, and in verse 36 we see Jesus look at the multitudes he has two observations: What sorts of things come to your mind when you see these two descriptive words?
- Weary: tired, fatigued, they have been searching for healing for a long time, they have been hoping for a savior for a long time, they are ready to rest, ready for peace, because they have no shepherd, they don’t know when to rest, when to eat, when to be on guard (perhaps an illusion to the bondage of the Law)
- Scattered: disorganized, without leadership, without direction, physically driven from fellowship, splintered and arguing amongst themselves
Q: Essentially, Jesus says, they are sheep without a shepherd. What is the assumption Jesus makes?
A: Sheep need a shepherd or they are rather pathetic and sad, having no understanding of their purpose.
- Transition Point Three: Prepping for the Commission
Finally, in verses 37,38 we see Jesus turn to his disciples and says something that I bet made them start to wonder where Jesus was going with all this. He looks out at the people and says, “The harvest is truly plentiful, but the laborers are few.”
Now, it’s hard to answer the question I’m about to answer because we know how this story ends. We know what happens in chapter 10, we know what happens with Jesus’ life, death, resurrection, and ascension. We believe we are part of this laboring group, working the harvest because we follow Jesus and agree with his assessment, even 2000 years after he made it. But, for the sake of respecting Matthew’s ability as a writer, let us put ourselves in the shoes of the apostles at this very moment.
You’ve just been on a whirlwind tour of Jesus preaching, teaching, and healing and you’ve come tot his point. Jesus looks out at the masses and says, “The harvest is truly plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”
What do you think might have gone through the apostles’ minds?
- Are we harvesting people?
- You need help? Why?
- Who is the Lord of the harvest?
- You said, “laborers.” How many laborers are there?
- What’s this got to do with me?
As we close, I think it would be good for us as a group to answer these very questions together. We, like the men who first heard these words spoken, are Christ’s disciples and ambassadors to this very same harvest.
Nothing (it’s not about you). And everything (you were chosen for this very reason.)
Bigger than that. Souls, actually.
Yes. Because YOU are my chosen instrument to spread the Gospel.
Jesus, because he is the Shepherd of this flock of sheep.
Exactly as many as there should be. Always be looking for laborers.