Let’s pause and linger a little longer at this Scripture verse, using the SOAP method—Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Picture yourself in the crowd that day, watching Jesus move among the people, His eyes filled with compassion. He didn’t just see needs; He felt them. And He didn’t just feel them; He responded. That’s our invitation today—to step closer to His heart and learn what it means to love like He does.
S – Scripture
Matthew 9:36 – “When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.”
O – Observation
In Matthew 9:1-35, Jesus Christ is presented as the central figure, miraculously healing people from various sicknesses, restoring life to the dead, giving sight to the blind, and enabling the mute to speak. Throughout this chapter, Christ’s actions follow a clear and effective pattern—He sees the needs of those around Him, empathizes with their struggles, and responds in a way that changes lives.
All these miraculous transformations were done through Christ Jesus, who gloriously demonstrated God’s deep compassion for humanity. Christ revealed Himself this way because God is love, as stated in 1 John 4:8. As a spiritual leader, He intently and intentionally recognized the needs of those around Him and responded with great empathy and deep compassion.
The compassion of Christ is particularly emphasized in Matthew 9:36, where He is overwhelmed with pity for the people—harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. He saw a great harvest ready to be gathered, yet there were no labourers. His actions display the depth of God’s mercy and compassion for all humanity and their desperate need for spiritual guidance and support.
Christ, in all His ways, has always presented Himself as the Good Shepherd, and Matthew 9:36 captures this beautifully. As His followers, we are called into a deeper understanding of this verse, learning to model Him by following His basic pattern of response:
Seeing a need, empathizing with others, and responding in a way that brings transformation.
A – Application
1. Identify the Needs Around You
All believers are called to recognize the needs of others and make a difference. The world today often promotes self-satisfaction before extending help or resources to others. However, this mindset contradicts God’s call for His people (see Philippians 4:2). As followers of Christ, we must see the needs of those around us and respond in a way that glorifies God and makes a real impact.
2. Empathize with Others’ Situations
Believers are called to model Christ by deeply understanding what others are going through—without making presumptions or passing judgment that condemns rather than restores.
Jesus understood the struggles of those around Him and recognized their deep need for restoration. When He saw the multitudes, His heart broke for them because they were desperate and helpless, with no one to walk alongside them.
This remains the reality of our world today. Many people see the struggles of those around them, yet instead of showing compassion, they make false assumptions and judgments that condemn rather than restore (see 1 John 3:17).
3. Respond in a Transformative Way, Imitating Christ
Our daily mandate as followers of Christ should be reflected in how we respond to the situations around us. Jesus never left any situation unresolved. His acts of deep compassion led to transformed lives.
This is what we are called to do—respond in a way that brings lasting change in people’s lives (see 1 John 2:6).
P – Prayer
Dear Lord,
I pray that You fill my heart with deep compassion so that I may model Christ in all situations. Help me to respond with patience, bringing comfort, support, and healing to those around me. Teach me to be consistent in my actions—to extend grace, to selflessly empathize with those who are struggling, and to reflect Your love in every circumstance. May my responses always bring guidance, support, healing, and comfort to those in need. In Jesus’ name, Amen.