When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus’ compassion wasn't just a soft feeling; it was a visceral reaction to seeing people utterly worn down and broken. The original Greek words paint a picture of people being flayed or fleeced, not just tired, and not just scattered, but thrown down and prostrate, utterly helpless without a guide. This highlights that their plight was far more than inconvenience; they were victims of neglect, looking to Jesus as their only hope.
When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus has just finished a busy period of teaching and healing, moving through towns and villages. When he sees the large crowds that have followed him, his heart breaks for them because they are worn out and scattered, much like sheep lost without anyone to guide or care for them. This deeply compassionate observation immediately leads him to declare that there's a great need for more workers to help gather these lost souls.
Jesus looked at the crowds and his heart ached. What was it about them that moved him so deeply?
The Greek word for "compassion" here is incredibly strong, almost visceral. It describes a gut-wrenching sympathy, a deep stirring in his innermost being. When Jesus saw the crowds, he didn't just feel sorry for them; he was profoundly moved because he recognized their true state. They were "harassed" and "helpless," like sheep lost and vulnerable without anyone to care for them. This wasn't just a passing feeling; it was the deep, loving concern of the Good Shepherd for his flock.
The people were "harassed and helpless." What does this really mean, and why did Jesus compare them to sheep?
The condition of the crowds wasn't just physical tiredness from following Jesus. The original language hints at being worn down, troubled, and even "fleeced" or "torn." They were spiritually abused and neglected. The religious leaders, who should have been their shepherds, were instead burdening them with complex rules and traditions, leaving them confused and spiritually abandoned. Jesus saw their deep spiritual poverty and vulnerability, recognizing that without true guidance, they were defenseless against spiritual dangers.
Seeing this vast need, Jesus’ compassion wasn't passive. What did it lead him to do and say?
Jesus’ deep empathy for the suffering crowds immediately prompted him to action. He didn't just feel; he . He spent his ministry teaching, preaching, and healing, embodying the care the people desperately needed. More than that, his compassion led him to articulate a profound spiritual truth: the "harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few." He recognized that his own work was just the beginning, and that a larger workforce was needed. This directly calls us to pray for more dedicated servants and to consider our own role in caring for those who are spiritually lost.
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Understand the original words
splagchnizomai · Greek Verb
Refers to a deep, visceral emotional response, often involving the bowels or inward parts. In the New Testament, it describes the profound empathy of Jesus that moves Him to act on behalf of others.
skyllō · Greek Verb (participle)
A state of being physically or spiritually exhausted, beaten down, or plagued by external pressures. In a biblical context, it often refers to those burdened by the weight of sin or the oppressive religious systems of the time.
rhiptō · Greek Verb (participle)
Refers to a state of being cast down, prostrate, or utterly abandoned. It describes those who are spiritually incapacitated and lack the resources to help themselves or find their way to God.
probaton · Greek Noun
An animal known for its vulnerability, dependency, and tendency to wander. In Scripture, humanity is frequently compared to sheep to emphasize our need for a leader, protector, and guide to keep us from straying.
poimēn · Greek Noun
One who tends, feeds, and protects a flock. Biblically, it is used to describe God’s relationship with His people and the responsibility of spiritual leaders to provide care, guidance, and safety.
Jesus' compassionate observation of the crowds as 'harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd' directly reflects the historical reality of a people long burdened by spiritual neglect, political oppression, and a lack of true leadership, echoing the failures of past 'shepherds' described in the Old Testament.
c. 722 BC
Fall of the Northern Kingdom
The Assyrian Empire conquers the Northern Kingdom of Israel, scattering its people and leading to the loss of many tribes. This event created a precedent of exile and dispersion for the Israelites.
586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem and Babylonian Exile
The Babylonians conquer Judah, destroy Jerusalem and its Temple, and exile a significant portion of the population. This period deeply shaped Jewish identity and expectation for a Messiah.
c. 539 BC - 444 BC
Return from Exile and Temple Reconstruction
Cyrus the Great allows Jewish exiles to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the Temple. Despite the restoration, many Jews remained in dispersion, and the community faced ongoing challenges.
1st Century BC - 1st Century AD
Roman Rule and Messianic Expectation
Judea comes under Roman dominion, increasing political and religious tensions. This era saw heightened expectation for a deliverer or Messiah who would restore Israel's glory.
c. AD 27-30— this verse
Jesus' Ministry Begins
Jesus begins his public ministry, traveling and teaching throughout Galilee and Judea, gathering large crowds. He witnesses the deep spiritual and physical needs of the people firsthand.
This Old Testament passage directly addresses the failure of Israel's shepherds, highlighting God's condemnation of their neglect and setting the stage for the 'good shepherd' imagery found in Matthew 9:36.
Numbers 27:17Moses' prayer for a leader to guide the people 'like sheep that have no shepherd' shows the long-standing recognition of this vulnerable state, which Jesus' compassion directly addresses.
1 Kings 22:17This passage describes Micaiah's prophecy about Israel's scattering, emphasizing that they had no true shepherd to lead them, echoing the spiritual destitution Jesus observed.
John 4:35Jesus' own words about the fields being 'white for harvest' relate to the readiness of the crowds for spiritual nourishment, a situation that elicits his deep compassion for their 'harassed and helpless' state.
1 Peter 2:25This verse refers to believers as 'sheep that were scattered' but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of their souls, directly contrasting the lost state with the salvation found in Christ.
barnesMatthew 9:36: "But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd."
But when he saw the multitudes - That followed him from place to place. When he saw their anxiety to be instructed and saved. He was moved with compassion on them - He pitied them. Because they fainted - The word used here refers to the weariness and fatigue which results from labor and being burdened. He saw the people burdened with…
pulpitMatthew 9:36: "But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd."
Verse 36. - But when he saw the multitudes. The substance of this verse is found in Mark 6:34 on the return of the apostles, equivalent to our Matthew 14:13, seq. (cf. supra). According to the context, the multitudes here spoken of are those of the various cities and villages through which he had passed. He was moved with compassion…
Jesus’ compassion wasn't just a soft feeling; it was a visceral reaction to seeing people utterly worn down and broken. The original Greek words paint a picture of people being flayed or fleeced, not just tired, and not just scattered, but thrown down and prostrate, utterly helpless without a guide. This highlights that their plight was far more than inconvenience; they were victims of neglect, looking to Jesus as their only hope.
Jesus has just finished a busy period of teaching and healing, moving through towns and villages. When he sees the large crowds that have followed him, his heart breaks for them because they are worn out and scattered, much like sheep lost without anyone to guide or care for them. This deeply compassionate observation immediately leads him to declare that there's a great need for more workers to help gather these lost souls.
Jesus has just finished a busy period of teaching and healing, moving through towns and villages. When he sees the large crowds that have followed him, his heart breaks for them because they are worn out and scattered, much like sheep lost without anyone to guide or care for them. This deeply compassionate observation immediately leads him to declare that there's a great need for more workers to help gather these lost souls.
"When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd." — Jesus’ compassion wasn't just a soft feeling; it was a visceral reaction to seeing people utterly worn down and broken. The original Greek words paint a picture of people being flayed or fleeced,…
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Last reviewed October 2026