Matthew:9:35-38

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rwp @Matthew:9:35 @{And Jesus went about } (\kai peri ˆgen ho I ˆsous \). Imperfect tense descriptive of this third tour of all Galilee . rwp @Matthew:9:36 @{Were distressed and scattered } (\ˆsan eskulmenoi kai erimmenoi \). Periphrastic past perfect indicative passive . A sad and pitiful state the crowds were in . Rent or mangled as if by wild beasts . \Skull “\ occurs in the papyri in sense of plunder , concern , vexation . "Used here of the common people , it describes their religious condition . They were harassed , importuned , bewildered by those who should have taught them ; hindered from entering into the kingdom of heaven (23:13 |), laden with the burdens which the Pharisees laid upon them (23:3 |). \Erimmenoi \ denotes men cast down and prostrate on the ground , whether from drunkenness , Polyb . v . 48 .2 , or from mortal wounds " (Allen ): This perfect passive participle from \rhipt “\, to throw down . The masses were in a state of mental dejection . No wonder that Jesus was moved with compassion (\esplagchnisth ˆ\). rwp @Matthew:9:38 @{That he send forth labourers } (\hop “s ekbal ˆi ergatas \). Jesus turns from the figure of the shepherdless sheep to the harvest field ripe and ready for the reapers . The verb \ekball “\ really means to drive out , to push out , to draw out with violence or without . Prayer is the remedy offered by Jesus in this crisis for a larger ministerial supply . How seldom do we hear prayers for more preachers . Sometimes God literally has to push or force a man into the ministry who resists his known duty .

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