Lord of the Harvest (Matthew 9)

But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, “Why do you think evil in your hearts? For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Arise and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins”—then He said to the paralytic, “Arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.”

“Leave,” He said, “because the girl isn’t dead, but sleeping.” And they started laughing at Him. But when the crowd had been put outside, He went in and took her by the hand, and the girl got up. And this news spread throughout that whole area.

In this chapter our Lord declares that He has the power to forgive sins, and that He has the power to heal.

Then He declares Himself as the Lord of the harvest.

7 accounts of our Lord healing women, children and men are recorded in this chapter.

In our Lord we have access to healing; faith in our Lord is the gateway to healing in our lives.

Our Lord is powerful and we can find strength in Him when we are weak and sick in our bodies.

In between the accounts of healing are two sections that we might wonder why they are there.

Matthew’s calling, and our Lord making us aware of Himself as the Lord of the harvest.

Those who are well don’t need a doctor, but the sick do. Go and learn what this means: I desire mercy and not sacrifice. For I didn’t come to call the righteous, but sinners

When He saw the crowds, He felt compassion for them, because they were weary and worn out, like sheep without a shepherd.

In this journey of studying our Lords life on earth we seek to be better followers. In all the gospels, as we will discover, our Lord uses the pharisees to demonstrate what following our Lord does not look like. Our Lord lived the life his followers should seek to live.  A life governed by mercy and humility, a life aware of how it was rescued therefore seeks to show others that they too can find the same rescue. A life lived for the glory of the Father.

Our Lord in this chapter is again revealed as the compassionate Messiah whose heart is always seeking to save the lost.

We as our Lord’s followers have the privilege of being gospel carriers to others (harvest). In a sense we are like the pharisees for we already have some knowledge, and understanding of our Lord.

Let us not be like them in behaviour though but be like our Lord and bring our Lord good news to all.

Let us not be like them but seek to include all around irrespective of status, knowledge and understanding.

Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest is abundant, but the workers are few. Therefore, pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest.”