rwp - Matthew:9:35-38

rwp@Matthew:9:35 @{And Jesus went about} (\kai perigen ho Isous\). Imperfect tense descriptive of this third tour of all Galilee.

rwp@Matthew:9:36 @{Were distressed and scattered} (\san 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\).

rwp@Matthew:9:38 @{That he send forth labourers} (\hops ekbali 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.