Bible Study - June 12th
Sunday, June 12th - 2005
Matthew 9:35-10:8 (New International Version)
"Like Sheep Without a Shepherd"
The Workers Are Few 35Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. 36When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. 38Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field."
Matthew 10
Jesus Sends Out the Twelve 1He called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out evil[a] spirits and to heal every disease and sickness.
2These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (who is called Peter) and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; 3Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; 4Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.
5These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: "Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. 6Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel. 7As you go, preach this message: 'The kingdom of heaven is near.' 8Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy,[b]drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.
Notes: The idea of Shepherds appears frequently throughout the Bible ... for instance:
Let the Lord, the God of the spirits of all flesh, appoint a man over the congregation, who shall go out before them and come in before them, who shall lead them out and bring them in; that the congregation of the Lord may not be as sheep which have no shepherd. (Numbers 27:16-17)
and Ezekial 34: Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, and say to them ... Ho, shepherds of Israel who have been feeding yourselves! should not shepherds feed the sheep?
and, of course, the Twenty-third Psalm: The Lord is my shepherd ...
and then in Mathew 18:12 the Parable of the Lost Sheep and in John 10" Jesus' teaching about the "good shepherd."
And here is a Russian Proverb: "Without a shepherd, sheep are not a flock."
When Jesus saw the people, he was moved to compassion for they were like sheep without a shepherd. For, as we know, their religious leaders offered them little consolation. They were hungry and despairing. As even today, people long for the truth and for a sense that God cares.
So, what is the message of Jesus, "the good shepherd," in today's fast paced post-modern world? What do people hunger for? And what are the religous answers that are out there ... is it fast-food for the soul? Or is it something more nourishing?
Matthew 9:35-10:8 (New International Version)
"Like Sheep Without a Shepherd"
The Workers Are Few 35Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. 36When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. 38Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field."
Matthew 10
Jesus Sends Out the Twelve 1He called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out evil[a] spirits and to heal every disease and sickness.
2These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (who is called Peter) and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; 3Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; 4Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.
5These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: "Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. 6Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel. 7As you go, preach this message: 'The kingdom of heaven is near.' 8Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy,[b]drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.
Notes: The idea of Shepherds appears frequently throughout the Bible ... for instance:
Let the Lord, the God of the spirits of all flesh, appoint a man over the congregation, who shall go out before them and come in before them, who shall lead them out and bring them in; that the congregation of the Lord may not be as sheep which have no shepherd. (Numbers 27:16-17)
and Ezekial 34: Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, and say to them ... Ho, shepherds of Israel who have been feeding yourselves! should not shepherds feed the sheep?
and, of course, the Twenty-third Psalm: The Lord is my shepherd ...
and then in Mathew 18:12 the Parable of the Lost Sheep and in John 10" Jesus' teaching about the "good shepherd."
And here is a Russian Proverb: "Without a shepherd, sheep are not a flock."
When Jesus saw the people, he was moved to compassion for they were like sheep without a shepherd. For, as we know, their religious leaders offered them little consolation. They were hungry and despairing. As even today, people long for the truth and for a sense that God cares.
So, what is the message of Jesus, "the good shepherd," in today's fast paced post-modern world? What do people hunger for? And what are the religous answers that are out there ... is it fast-food for the soul? Or is it something more nourishing?
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