1059 where. Many were diseased and de mon-possessed. Tradition had been sub stituted for God’s Word. So their souls had been neglected.' The masses were unshepherded, untaught, unsaved. (Isa. 56:9-11; Jer. 50:6). What He felt: The conditions moved Him to compassion (Heb. 4:15). This word “ compassion” is said to be one of the strongest in the Greek language and suggests the stirring of the inmost soul in yearning. - The word is j thus used as referring to the human element in the Lord Jesus. Compassion is an eternal principle of God. He saw the need of body and soul, and His own body and soul responded to the cry (Heb. 2:17). This is the picture of humanity that the church needs to view with the spir itual eyes of the masses. It needs to look out upon a lost world and see the havoc that sin has wrought, and the soul of the church needs to be stirred with Divine compassion. Men are lost. (Rom. 3:23). “ For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” Like scattereS sheep they are driven about by the winds of doctrine (Eph. 4:14) and the traditions^ of men (Col. 2 :8). They need the Christ who is the power of God and the wisdom of God (1 Cor. 1:24). God needs men and women who will be as Paul was to a lost world (1 Cor. 9:19-22). (3) SOLEMN ADMONITION, 9:37, 38. “ Pray ye therefore.” With that picture of distressing need before Him, He said, “ The harvest is great— but the laborers are few.” Why did He not follow -it with “ go ye” 7 Because that is not His order. Before He called the Twelve, He prayed all night. (Luke 6:12, 13). “And it -came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God. And when it was day, he called unto him his disciples; and of them he chose twelve, whom also he Denied apostles,”
THE K I N G ’ S BUSINESS not know by what means this man ob tained this wonderful faith, but we do know that “ faith cometh by hearing; and hearing by the Word of God” (Rom. 10:17). Christ marvelled at his faith. How refreshing it was to find it! He looked for it among the Jews and found it in the heart of a Gentile. Twice did our Lord marvel,— once at unbelief in His own home at Nazareth, and here He marvels at faith. Faith pleases God. (Heb. 11:6). Unbelief hinders. (Matt. 17:20). All things are possible to him that has faith (Mark 9:23, 24). Great faith is commended (Matt. 15:28). Little faith is deplored (Matt. 8:26). Misuse and neglect of opportunities result in a blighted faith. If not cultivated, faith dies. A worldly atmosphere is not con ducive to the cultivation of faith. We are influenced by the company we keep, and by the teaching we receive. There is no capacity for a full faith, unless there be a full fellowship with the Lord. A professional Christian life is a dead weight. Too often the church lives at a “ poor, dying rate.” The Lord responded to the faith of the cent,urion and gave him the desire of his heart. His servant was healed with a word. (2) SPIRITUAL VISION, 9:35, 36. “When He saw the multitude.” Josephus tells us that there were 204 populous cities and villages in Galilee. The word “ multitudes” therefore is not an extravagant term. In His visitation the Lord Jesus had looked upon the crowds and had been made conscious of their deep need. What He saw: Sheep without a shepherd (Num. 27:17; 1 Ki. 22:17). “ And he said I saw all Israel scattered upon the hills, as sheep that have not a shepherd; and the Lord said, These have no master; let them return every man to his house in peace.** The Jewish leaders had neglected the people. The teachers had ignored them. Physical distress was in evidence every-
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