We have all faced situations that can be described as piteous. Jesus had been at the early stages of His ministry here upon the earth. In Matthew 6 we find Him presenting truths relative to the Kingdom and also healing people who were experiencing physical problems.
We have almost little or no knowledge of why, from a human standpoint, He waited until almost 30 years of age to begin His ministry, although we know of the one incident at about 12 years; he stayed at the temple and when asked by His parents, why, His reply was simply that He was about His Father’s business.
Those sermons on almsgiving, prayer, fasting, money, anxiety, judging, treating people and proof of the Kingdom could only be described by the listeners, “the crowds were amazed at His teaching; He was teaching them as one having authority and not as their scribes.” (Matthew 7:29)
“As He came down from the mountain, large crowds followed Him.” (Matthew 8:1) Immediately He also is described as beginning His ministry of healing. First, He is described as healing a leper, then the servant of a centurion, then healing Peter’s mother. Further there was the healing of many who were demon possessed; and He cast out spirits and healed all who were ill. By that time there were so many enamored with His abilities that they wanted to be His disciples. Lovingly rebuking them He explained the cost of discipleship, you cannot have two masters.
When these things were accomplished He got into a boat, and His disciples joined Him. As a storm arose and tossed that boat, the disciples were afraid and so He spoke and the sea became calm.
Much more is presented by Matthew as relates to His healing power. The power over demons, and over paralysis, along with the extending of forgiveness to a tax-collector! You cannot help but draw what the folk of that hour concluded—“the news of Him spread throughout the land.” (9:31)
Verse 36 opens to us the heart of the Savior as He beheld their sickness and disease – every kind of such things. Even deeper than that, He beheld what we find described in verse 36: “Seeing the people, He felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and dispirited like sheep without a shepherd.” Pity, unequaled by any other than the Savior!
The story of the Good Shepherd is found in John 10:1-18. Make time to read it as you will comprehend His PITY for them, for you, for me.
ETCetera 