The Pulpit Commentary — Matthew — Volume 1 — Section 390

Vers. 36-l:!8.-The 'f/Wurnful pwtwre renamed by compassion, Notice, in introduc- tion, how the language which here describes the compassion that moved the vast heart of Christ leads us to most grateful apprehension of the sweet condescending sympathy (not only of Jesus Christ with humanity, but) of Jesus Christ's humanity with our own. How delicately in touch with this latter is it ea.id that the fountains of compassion in that vast heart were freshly opened, freshly drawn upon, a.s Jesus "saw;" saw "the multitudes;" saw the multitudes all" a-faint;" "scattered abroad;" "saw" a. picture-a picture that arrested the eye, that rivetted the thought, that stirred the heart! Yes, a. picture; but one that was mournful, and that ma.de mournful exceedingly-this its subject, "as sheep having no shepherd." Notice, then--'- L How THE LONGEST LABOUR, THE HARDEST TOIL, THE IIIOST TRIED PATIENCE, THE XEEl>"'EST SENSITIVENESS AS TO PERVERSITY, BLINDNESS, HARDNESS OF HEART, NEED NOT STAUNCH DBY A OHBISTUN OOIIIP.ASSION, BUT IIIUST NEEDS MAKE IT FLOW .THE l[OBE FREELY FORTH. II. How THE BEHOLDING Al!ID THE MOVED 0ONTElllPL.ATIVE BEHOLDING OF THE MOUNTAIN llllASSES OF HUMAN SIN, WANT, IIIIBERY, SHOULD HAVE FOR THEIR LEGlTIIIIATE CHRISTIAN ACTION, NOT DESPAIR, NOT DESPONDENOY, NOT BO IIIUCH AB ONE FOREBODING, FEARFUL DOUBT, BUT THE C.ALIIIEST CONVIOTION THAT THEY STRETCH A VAST AND A HOPEFUL HARVEST-FIELD BEFORE THE AGONIZED EYE. III. How THIS HARVEST-FIELD IS ONE TO BE WORKED IN, AND BE.APED, NOT BY THE ANGELS, BUT BY 1IIEN; WHO IIIUBT BE PREPARED TO BE "LADOURERB," AND MUST BE LABOURERS, AND MUST BE APPLIED FOB BY PB.AYER ON THE 'PART OF THOSE WHO ARE .ALBEA.DY THE INSUl"FICIENT LABOURERS, TO IDM, WHO WILL DE FOUND TO DE, AND WHO IB, THE LORD OF THE HABVEST.-B.