MATTHEW 9:36 Sheep Without a Shepherd

MATTHEW 9:36 Sheep Without a Shepherd Last week we closed our study of Matthew 9 by seeing how Jesus was MOVED WITH COMPASSION as he looked at the multitude of people following Him. (Mat 9:36 KJV) “But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion on them Splagchnizomai - splangkh-nid'-zom-ahee = to have the bowels yearn

because they fainted The idea is that they were actually falling down. They must have followed Him so long they were getting tired. But they were also just plain worn out by the lifeless legalism and hypocrisy of religion and were scattered abroad = Thrown down violently The picture is that of a lone sheep being violently lung to the ground by a predator! It would be a word used speaking of rape.

We are surrounded by a generation of boys/girls… young men/women…. THAT have been scattered…. Violently thrown down… raped by MTV / VH1 / SONY-VIACOM, etc, etc. MERCHANTS OF COOL Middle school kids losing their virginity…. having abortions…. Dying of overdoses…. Teen suicides… Teen prostitues Not just youth… but adults - Raped by materialism and hedonism

as sheep having no shepherd. Here were the descendants of Abraham…. the flock of God… and they were in their present condition because shepherd’s of Israel had failed them! The shepherd’s of God’s flock weren’t leading and feeding the flock of God. This multitude could not find in the religious system of Israel what their souls were searching for. It made Jesus ill to see this multitude without a shepherd because Jesus knows that the GREATEST NEED of a sheep is to have a shepherd.

By nature - Sheep are defenseless It was the job of the shepherd to watch over and protect the sheep from predators. Sheep are defenseless. Have you ever heard of packs of wild sheep terrorizing neighborhoods… wild sheep attacks? Have you ever seen a sheep bare its teeth and growl at you? About the only defense that a sheep has is to run. Have you ever heard the saying - “Quick as a sheep”? The ONLY hope of protection that a sheep has is for the shepherd to protect it from predators.

By Nature - Sheep have no sense of direction One of the greatest jobs of the shepherd is that of guiding the sheep to food and water. Left to themselves sheep would starve. Besides that, if you leave the sheep to feed in one area they will eat in that one place until they actually tear up the roots and destroy the pastures. Left to themselves sheep would die of thirst. They have no instinctive sense for finding sources of water. They must be led to water. Sheep are essentially helpless creatures.

Jesus was MOVED WITH COMPASSION for these people because he KNOWS that left to themselves sheep would get lost. Sheep have absolutely no sense of direction. A Welshman once told me that if a sheep was to walk over the crest of a hill where they can not see the rest of the flock, they are LOST and they do NOT know their way back. They have ZERO homing instincts. There are a lot of animals that have tremendous homing instincts.

EXAMPLE:Cats have tremendous homing instincts. You can put them in a bag, leave them at Lake Tahoe, and they’ll end up back on your front door step. EXAMPLE: even a Donkey has great homing instincts. Isaiah 1:3 The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master's crib: but Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider. (KJV)

ILLUSTRATION: A few years ago in Israel there was a man who had stolen some things and was trying to escape on his donkey. When he got cornered, he left his donkey and ran off. The police just waited and watched the donkey. When dinner time came the donkey went home. They went with the donkey and arrested the man. Even a donkey has a sense of direction, but not so with sheep. They are EASILY lost. Thus they NEED the shepherd to watch over them to see that they get home safely.

Jesus was MOVED WITH COMPASSION on these people because He KNEW left to themselves the would NEVER make their way to God…. REAL LIFE! By nature - Sheep can not provide for themselves. In Psalm 23 David was able to say with confidence - The LORD is my shepherd…. And because of that he could also with confidence say I shall not want. IF a sheep has a faithful, diligent shepherd, one who is watching out for it and caring for it, THEN it will really have no wants. The shepherd will see that it is provided for.

ILLUSTRATION: In another psalm David said: Psalm 34:10 The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: Lions are much stronger than sheep. The have tremendous instincts. They are at the top of the food chain. Yet they experience hunger. But David continued on to say Psalm 34:10 …..but they that seek the LORD shall not want any good thing. (KJV) KEY POINT: It was the job of the shepherd to completely take care of EVERY NEED in the lives of his sheep…..

Jesus was MOVED WITH COMPASSION for these people because as He looked at these people he saw saw that they had NO SHEPHERD to provide for their spiritual needs! TURN WITH ME TO PSALM 23 David - the Shepherd King of Israel wrote these words that are perhaps the most famous in the English language In it we can see WHY Jesus was moved with compassion for these people and WHAT He desired to BE to them and DO for them.

1The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.2He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.3He restoreth my soul:he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his nameﾕs sake.4Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.5Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.6Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

In his book, A Shepherd Looks At The 23rd Psalm, Phillip Keller says that there are SEVERAL THINGS necessary before a sheep will lie down. 1.) The sheep must be free from all fear. If it has any fears it WON’T lie down 2.) It must be free from friction with other sheep. If it has been in a fight with any other sheep it won’t lie down. 3.) It must be free from flies or parasites. If it is being plagued by parasites it will be restless and unable to lie down.

Psalm 23 is a beautiful picture of contentment. The sheep has no fears. He has no friction. No nagging parasites or flies. No hunger. Just lying there in green pastures with a full stomach. As Jesus looked at this people He was moved with compassion because they had no one to make them lie down.

Psalm 23:2 he leadeth me beside the still waters. Jesus looked at these people and was moved with compassion on them because without a shepherd they had no means of being refreshed One of the crucial roles of the shepherd is to lead the sheep to water. ILLUSTRATION: One day Jesus was traveling through the region of Samaria. John 4:5-11; 13-14 Then cometh he to a city of Samaria, which is called Sychar, near to the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph.

6 Now Jacob's well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied with his journey, sat thus on the well: and it was about the sixth hour. 7 There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water: Jesus saith unto her, Give me to drink. 8 (For his disciples were gone away unto the city to buy meat.) 9 Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him, How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans. 10 Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water. 11 The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep:

from whence then hast thou that living water?………. 13 Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: 14 But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life. (KJV) Jesus was leading this woman to still waters. OBSERVATION: The thirsty soul finds in Jesus refreshment for his spiritual thirst. John 7:37-39 In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying,

If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. 38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. 39 (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.) He restoreth my soul. Psalm 23:3 There are many times when we will face pressures that are greater than we can bear. Paul the apostle wrote of the extremities that he had been brought to in serving the Lord:

2 Corinthians 1:8 For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life: (KJV) When describing the overwhelming demands of the ministry that he had to face and endure he concluded by asking:2 Corinthians 2:16 And who is sufficient for these things? (KJV) But Paul concluded in 2 Corinthians 3:5, Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God; (KJV)

The sheep’s problems are actually the shepherd’s problems! THAT is why Jesus was so moved with compassion on the people. They were facing all of the problems and adversities of life WITHOUT a shepherd. Jesus wants to be our shepherd SO THAT HE can RESTORE our souls. When I get my eyes upon The Lord who is my shepherd,then I find that He restores my soul.

I begin to realize that my problems are actually my Good Shepherd’s PROBLEMS. EXAMPLE:When we had taken on the financial responsibilities of this place I would begin to be overwhelmed. When that would happen the Lord would ask me - “Whose Church is it Richard?” “It’s Yours Lord.” “Then what are you worrying about?” “I don’t know.”

I would begin to think - “You created the problem Lord. If we go bankrupt, it’s Your problem Lord.” And the worry would go. In the next section of the Psalm - through the eyes of the Shepherd King of Israel - we see how the Lord would desire to BE OUR GUIDE. Psa 23:3 (KJV) he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. There are so many times in our lives when we have two paths before us and we DON’T know which way to go.

Sometimes it is the difference between the better and the best, but we have to say - “Lord, I don’t know which IS best.” How wonderful it is at that time to just commit our ways to the Lord and say, “Lord, You lead me in the way that I should go.” It is interesting to note that as soon as David declares that Heleadeth me in the paths of righteousnessthat he then declares Psalm 23:4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou [art] with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. (KJV)

David was a realist. He realized that the path of life would turn into a valley. He realized that death was an eventuality for everyone. He knew that he was NOT going to escape it. He knew that one day HIS path would lead there. KEY OBSERVATION: He said: Though I walk THROUGH the valley of death.

He did NOT say that he will walk IN it. He said that he would walk THROUGH it. NOTICE ALSO: He said though I WALK. You may RUN through much of your life. But when you make that turn into the valley of the shadow of deathyou begin to slow down. KEY OBSERVATION: He said I will fear no evil FOR you are with me. When the Christian comes to the valley of the shadow of deathhe/she is NOT alone.

ILLUSTRATION:FOOTPRINTS - The valley of the shadow of deathis one of those places where we will see only ONE set of footprints. They will be the Lord’s because He will carry us through that valley. There is that CONSCIOUSNESS of the Lord’s presence at the time of death. BY THE WAY:Did you notice that he called it the valley of the SHADOW of death. A shadow has no substance. So for the child of God there is no real substance to death.

ALSO - You can NOT have a shadow unless you have light on the other side. That light on the other side is essential for a shadow. (Switchfoot - the shadows prove the sunlight) On the other side of the valley of the shadow of deathis the glorious light of God. The Shepherd King would go on to say of his shepherd: Psalm 23:4 thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. (KJV)

KEY INSIGHT: The rodwas the stick that the shepherd would use to smack the flank of the sheep Sheep can be very stubborn at times. Sheep tend to stray. When they set their sights on wandering, the shepherd takes his rodand strikes the sheep. KEY OBSERVATION: David says: “Your rod is a comfort to me.” Hebrews 12:5-6 And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:

6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. APPLICATION:IF you are sinning and you are getting away with it, THEN you should be concerned…. That you might not be a child of God Because IF you are the child of God, the Lord will NOT let you get away with it. Hebrews 12:7-8 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? 8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.(KJV)

He chastens EVERY son that He receives. Others may get away with it, but He will NOT let you get away with it. His rodwill be there to whack you and keep you in line…. But only if you are His child THUS the rod comforts me. KEY INSIGHT: The staffwas that rod with a hook on the end of it. It was used to pull sheep out of danger. The staff of God is such a comfort as the Lord has pulled us out of danger so many times.

THE SHEPHERD’S CARE In The Face Of Enemies Psalm 23:5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies… (KJV) David had a lot of enemies. NOTE:There is a PRICE for leadership. Leadership always polarizes people. There are those who like you, and those who don’t like what they see….. and they see a lot of you. Enemies were always harassing David.

In The Face Of Life’s Irritations David said that in the presence of his enemies thou anointest my head with oil KEY INSIGHT: Summer time is fly time with sheep. There are several kinds of flies that plague sheep. There is one that loves to lay its eggs in the moisture of the sheep’s nostrils. The sheep is constantly harassed and goes about shaking its head. If the fly is successful in laying its eggs in the nostrils of a sheep they will begin to migrate up the sheep’s nostrils

When that happens the sheep will begin to bang its head against trees. Sheep have been known to beat themselves to death. The shepherd, if he is good, will watch and see if the sheep are tormented. If they are he will make an ointment of oil and sulfur. There is another parasite that attacks the head of sheep. When sheep butt heads with each other, the parasites are spread from sheep to sheep.

The shepherd uses the same oil/sulfur concoction to eliminate these parasitic irritations. KEY POINT: There are a lot of little things that irritate us, that if NOT taken care of, can become fatal. In an ABUNDANT Fashion David said - my cup runneth over. It is interesting to note that the Lord is NOT interested in just FILLING your cup. He wants to fill it to overflowing.

Here is a description of the kind of Christian experience that the Lord has in store for us. Not just filled, but overflowing. KEY INSIGHT: The Christian experience is one that is described with superlatives. The Bible speaks of JOY, but not just simply joy. 1 Peter 1:8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see [him] not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: (KJV) The Bible speaks of LIFE, but not just simply life.

John 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have [it] more abundantly. (KJV) The Bible speaks of PEACE, but not just simply peace. Philippians 4:7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (KJV) The Bible speaks of LOVE, but not just simply love. Ephesians 3:19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. (KJV)

KEY INSIGHT:God wants your cup to overflow because He not only wants to bless YOU, but He wants to bless the world around you. That is accomplished as your life overflows with the goodness of God. KEY QUESTION: Are YOU an INSTRUMENT of God’s blessing? Does YOUR cup runneth over?

In Life And Heaven Psalm 23:6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever. (KJV) AS the Lord is MY SHEPHERD I will find that God’s goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life. And when my days are over, what then? I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

What is death to the person who can say, The Lord is my shepherd? It is only a shadow that you have to cross in going from this life into the house of the Lord. Psalm 16:11 Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence [is] fulness of joy; at thy right hand [there are] pleasures for evermore. (KJV) CONCLUSION John 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: (KJV)

Jesus wants you to look to Him as your loving and good shepherd. Are you facing decisions? He wants to lead you. Are you dealing with life’s irritations. He wants to anoint your head with oil. Are you feeling the sting of His rod today. Remember, it is out of His love for you that he deals with stubborn, wayward sheep.

Are You Without A Shepherd IF you are without a shepherd THEN you are defenseless and without direction. You do not possess the capacity to defend yourself against the world, the flesh, and the devil. You are an easy target for the one of whom Jesus said: John 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy…. (KJV)

But when The Lord is YOUR shepherd YOU shall not want. When the Lord is YOUR shepherd YOU will not be alone. He will be with YOU in your decisions, to lead you. He will be there to lovingly discipline you and to rescue you from your own failures. He will be with YOU in the valley of the shadow of death.

MATTHEW 9:36 Sheep Without a Shepherd