Resource Detail

2025 Study of Matthew’s Gospel

THE HARVEST IS PLENTIFUL

BUT THE WORKERS ARE FEW

Matthew 9:35-10:15

Key Verse 9:37-38

1. What do you think moved Jesus to have compassion when he saw the crowds (9:35-36)? What does his request to the disciples reveal about his heart and priorities (37-38)? How might his words challenge or speak to us today in our own context?
2. What do you think was Jesus’ purpose in calling his disciples (10:1)? Looking at the list of the twelve, what stands out to you about the kind of people Jesus chose (2-4)? What do you think was Jesus’ hope and vision for his disciples?
3. What might be the reason Jesus sent his disciples only to the lost sheep of Israel at that time (5-6)? What do you think is the significance of the message they were told to proclaim and the works they were to do (7-8)? How do you see these instructions connected to Jesus’ mission as the Messiah (Lk 4:18)?
4. Why do you think Jesus told his disciples not to take money or extra clothing on their journey (9-10)? What approach were the disciples to take when entering a new town, and in what ways could their presence become a source of peace and blessing to others (11-15)?
5. What lessons or principles for mission can we discover through this passage? In what specific ways can we apply these principles in our everyday lives and ministry today?

2025 Matthew’s Gospel June 29, 2025

JESUS’ HEART OF COMPASSION

Matthew 9:35-10:15

Key Verse 9:36

When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.

Last week, the temperature soared to 100°F—it was extremely hot. Because of the heat, there was a power outage, and our church also lost electricity on Tuesday afternoon. While power was restored the next day, the A/C was still not working. I contacted the A/C technician, but he was busy with other work and couldn’t confirm when he could come. I was deeply concerned about having Sunday worship without A/C in such hot weather. I thought that some people might feel very uncomfortable and that some might complain. Then, during early morning prayer, God gave me a word from Acts 3:6: “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” I realized that I had been focusing on what we didn’t have and become negative. I found myself complaining because the A/C wasn’t working. I was also complaining that our church building didn’t have enough space. I repented for not focusing on Jesus, who alone is more than enough to powerfully carry out God’s mission. By God’s grace, the A/C was repaired, and today we are worshiping God in a cool, comfortable environment. I thank God for giving me such a precious lesson. Today’s message is about Jesus having compassion on the crowds and sending out his disciples to the world.

Look at verse 35. Jesus went through all the towns and villages in Galilee. He focused on teaching, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing the sick. Wherever he went, many people came to him, seeking help. How do you think Jesus felt when he saw the crowds? Did he say, “Ugh, I’m so tired! No matter how much I work, it never ends,” and complain? No, he didn’t. Let’s read verse 36 together: “When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.” When Jesus saw the crowds, he had compassion on them. What kind of heart is compassion? The Bible dictionary says, “Compassion means to enter sympathetically into one’s sorrow and pain.” The original Greek word for compassion is splagchnizomai, which literally means “pit of the stomach.” It refers to the deepest part of our internal organs. It’s the kind of feeling we get when we hear really shocking or heartbreaking news, and our heart just sinks. It’s not just sympathy we feel in our head—it’s a deep, physical, emotional reaction that comes from within.

Jesus often used the word “compassion.” When the father of the prodigal son saw him coming back, the father was filled with compassion. And what did he do? He ran to his son, threw his arms around him, and kissed him (Luke 15:20). We all know the story of the Good Samaritan. A man was traveling and got attacked by robbers. They stripped him, beat him, and left him almost dead. A priest saw him but passed by on the other side. A Levite saw him too but also passed by. But when a Samaritan saw him, he had compassion on the man. And what did he do? He went to him, poured oil and wine on his wounds, and bandaged them. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn, and took care of him. The next day, he gave money to the innkeeper and asked him to look after the man. That is what compassion looks like.

Last Wednesday at 7:05 pm, we received an emergency message from Grace Jeon: “Ryan was lost. We cannot find him.” Many members immediately began praying for Ryan. My wife and I went out to look for him. We saw Grace Jeon walking around pale and desperate, searching for Ryan. We also saw Moses S. Kang, hurrying around in a panic, trying to find him. My wife and I entered Alley Pond Park to search. The mosquitoes were biting so much that my legs were itchy. A little later, we heard the good news that Ryan had been found. We came out of the forest and went to see him. There, we saw Grace E. Kang, filled with worry. After confirming that Ryan was safe and talking briefly, we returned home. On our way back, we met Daniel Nam just coming out of Alley Pond. He had been searching for Ryan there for a long time. His body was soaked with sweat from the heat. No doubt, he had been under heavy attack from mosquitoes. When I saw Daniel Nam, I could truly feel what compassion is. He entered sympathetically into the sorrow and pain of Ryan’s family. He felt a deep, heart-sinking shock and immediately took action to find Ryan. That is what compassion is.

Why did Jesus have compassion when he saw the crowds? It was because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. You’ve probably heard that sheep are some of the most vulnerable and dependent animals. Sheep have no sense of direction. So once they get lost, they can’t find their way back on their own. It’s easy for them to fall off a cliff or into a pit. Sheep also have no way to defend themselves. They don’t have sharp teeth, claws, or strong horns. They don’t even have the speed to run away quickly. So when they come across a predator like a wolf, they’re completely helpless. That’s why sheep desperately need a shepherd. A shepherd leads them to green pastures with plenty of food and to fresh streams of water. If a sheep falls into a pit, the shepherd pulls it out. If one goes missing, the shepherd searches until it’s found. The shepherd protects the sheep from wild animals. But sheep without a shepherd wander aimlessly. They’re exposed to danger and don’t know when death might come. When Jesus saw the crowds, he saw that they were like sheep without a shepherd.

What was the condition of the Jewish people who were like sheep without a shepherd? They were being attacked and constantly harassed by others, but there was no one to help them. Because of the Roman Empire’s oppression and exploitation, many were living in poverty and hardship. They were burdened by the legalistic religious leaders. More than anything, they were under attack by Satan and evil spirits. They were suffering from sin, sickness, and demon possession. And no one was helping them. Their souls were becoming more and more weary and empty. They lived each day in pain, without hope. But then, they heard about Jesus. They listened to the powerful message of Jesus. They experienced Jesus healing the sick and driving out demons. They came to Jesus, hoping to find healing and salvation.

Let’s read verses 37–38 together: 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.” During harvest season, there’s often a shortage of workers. And if you don’t harvest in time, you can end up losing the crops. That’s why the owners of the fields work hard to gather workers to bring in the harvest. Jesus saw that so many people were thirsty for the word of God. They were longing to hear the good news of the kingdom of heaven. That’s why Jesus said, “The harvest is plentiful.” But on the other hand, there were so few people who could share the gospel with them. So Jesus began looking for workers for the kingdom of heaven. “Ask the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest field.” But why did Jesus ask his disciples to pray for this? It’s because Jesus wanted them to become the very workers of God’s kingdom. Jesus wanted them to take stewardship of God’s harvest work. Jesus is still looking for workers for the kingdom of heaven today. “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” Will you answer Jesus’ call? “Yes, Sir, here I am. Send me to your harvest field.” I pray that we may have compassion on people, like sheep without a shepherd, and respond to his call to take part in God’s harvest work.

Jesus decided to send out the harvest workers into the world. Look at 10:1: “Jesus called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out impure spirits and to heal every disease and sickness.” Jesus had a clear purpose in calling them. First, Jesus called them to himself. He called them to follow him, learn from him, and become like him. To be called as a disciple of Jesus means to imitate his character and his ministry. Second, Jesus called them in order to send them out into the world. In verse 2, we see that the twelve disciples were called apostles. The word “apostle” means someone who is sent out with the authority of Jesus. As Jesus sent out his disciples, he gave them several instructions.

First, he sent them to the lost sheep of Israel. He didn’t send them to the Gentiles or to the Samaritans. This doesn’t mean Jesus wasn’t interested in the Gentiles. It was simply because God’s appointed time for them had not yet come. However, Jesus did share the gospel with a Samaritan woman and also healed Gentiles. Not long after, the gospel did reach the Gentiles—and now, it has spread throughout the whole world.

Second, Jesus told them to preach an eschatological message. “The kingdom of heaven has come near.” The kingdom of heaven is now closer than ever. Just look at the signs of the end times around us. It wouldn’t be surprising if Jesus came back tomorrow. That’s why we must urgently proclaim this message: “The kingdom of heaven has come near.”

Third, Jesus taught his disciples to rely completely on him. When they went on their mission trip, they didn’t take money or credit cards. They didn’t bring an extra shirt, sandals, or a staff. They didn’t pack a big suitcase for the journey—only the bare essentials. Why? So they wouldn’t rely on money or material things, but fully rely on Jesus. When we put our trust in what we have, we cannot experience the power of God. But when we rely completely on Jesus, we can experience his power and have victory in our spiritual battle against Satan.

I’m praying that next summer, we can go on a mission trip to Latin America. Doesn’t that sound exciting? Who wants to join the mission trip? When that time comes, I hope no one shows up at the airport with a huge suitcase! But let me ask—why would we spend over a thousand dollars to travel to another country for a mission trip? It’s because the mission is at the very heart of God, who desires to restore this broken world. God longs to heal what has been destroyed by human sin. He wants to save people who are suffering because of sin. That’s why God sent Jesus into this world. Jesus came to this earth, suffered for our sins, died on the cross, and rose again. Through this, he completed the work of God’s salvation and opened the way for us to be fully restored. God wants all people to believe in Jesus, be saved, and live a new life. He desires to restore justice on this earth and bring his kingdom here. We join God’s mission because we’ve received salvation by the grace of Jesus—and we’ve come to know God’s heart for this world. Just as Jesus had compassion when he saw the crowds, we too are moved with compassion when we see the lost and dying people of this world. That’s why we participate in God’s mission.

But do you see that the harvest is plentiful around us? Some people say that doing God’s mission in America is too difficult. Statistically speaking, it really has become harder. American society is becoming more and more secular, and many young people are turning away from God. Across the U.S., the Christian population has dropped to around 65%. Among young people, only about 45% identify as Christian. When we try to share the gospel on campus, it’s not easy to find students who are spiritually open. That’s why Jesus’ words—“The harvest is plentiful”—can feel distant or unrelated to us living here in America. To be honest, I used to think that if we want to experience “the harvest is plentiful,” we have to go to places like Latin America, Africa, China, India, and other parts of Asia. In those countries, many people are ready to receive Jesus, and you can experience an abundant harvest. When I visited Nigeria, I saw many large churches. Even at the airport, when people found out I was a pastor and a missionary, they treated me with great respect. I pray that many of us will go out as missionaries to those countries and be part of God’s harvest workers.

Then what about us, living here in New York? Has God abandoned America? Absolutely not! God still loves America, and He has not taken His grace away from this land. There are still young people in the U.S. who love God and want to live for the Lord. Even in our own church, we see many young people who are living for Jesus. Isn’t that so precious? God wants to use us to bring His kingdom here on earth. And He is still looking for workers for His harvest. Our church should participate in God’s mission in the world.

For this reason, our church must become a missional church. A missional church is one that actively participates in God’s mission. In many ways, our church is already very missional—but we must continue to grow as a missional church. To help us move forward, I’d like to share the vision of being “gathered and sent.” A missional church isn’t just about gathering people into the church. Gathering is very important. If we don’t gather and remain scattered, we will lose spiritual strength. When we are isolated, we often struggle alone, becoming vulnerable to Satan’s attacks—and we may fall. But when we gather and worship God together, we receive forgiveness, restoration, and renewal through the Holy Spirit. We are empowered from above and gain strength to live by faith and overcome the world. Worshiping together as a church is the power source of our spirituality.

But we cannot be a missional church by simply gathering. We must be sent out into the world with the strength we’ve gained through worship. In other words, the end of worship is the beginning of our being sent into the world. We are sent out to proclaim the gospel and raise up disciples of Jesus through the power of the Holy Spirit. We are called to go into our homes, workplaces, schools, among our friends, and into our neighborhoods to share the gospel. As a church with a special calling for campus mission, we will give our best to reach students on campus. But we are also members of society, and we must share the gospel in our workplaces and our communities. We must set an example of faith, have a positive spiritual influence, and lead people to Jesus wherever we are. That is how we become a missional church with the vision of being gathered and sent.

Today, we learned about Jesus’ compassion and how he sent his disciples into the world. May we serve our family, friends, coworkers, and people around us with the compassion of Jesus. May we be sent out into the world to share the gospel of Jesus and be used in God’s harvest work. Amen.