Dr Tom Hover
July 20, 2025
Matthew 9:31-38
JESUS CASTS OUT A DEVIL, AND A MINISTRY SUMMARY AND A COMMAND IS GIVEN!
JESUS CASTS OUT A DEVIL, AND A MINISTRY SUMMARY AND A COMMAND IS GIVEN!
Matthew 9:31-38
In our Bible text today, we will learn that Jesus continues His ministry of teaching, preaching, and healing, demonstrating His authority and compassion. He heals a mute, demon-possessed man, causing awe and amazement among the crowds. Jesus then observes the crowds, recognizing their spiritual need and likening them to sheep without a shepherd. He declares that the "harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few" and commands His disciples to pray for more workers to be sent out.
I. JESUS CASTS OUT A DEVIL. Matthew 9:31-34
A. The People Coming for The Miracle. Matthew 9:32
1. The People Had Work in The Coming. Matthew 9:32
2. The People Had Wisdom in The Coming. Matthew 9:32
3. The People Had a When in Their Coming. Matthew 9:32
B. The Pertinent Cause for The Miracle. Matthew 9:32
Problem # 1 The Demon Matthew 9:32
Problem # 2 The Dumbness Matthew 9:32
C. The Powerful Casting out in the Miracle. Matthew 9:33
1. The Swiftness of the Demon Being Casted Out. Matthew 9:33
2. The Side Effect of The Demon Being Cast Out. Matthew 9:33
D. The Precise Comments About the Miracle. Matthew 9:34
1. The Acclaim in The Comments. Matthew 9:33
First, The Character of The Acclaim. “Marveled.”
Second, The Conclusion of The Acclaim. “It was never so seen in Israel.”
And if not in Israel, then not in the world either. Christ was unique.
2 The Accusation in The Comments. “But the Pharisees said, He casteth out devils through the prince [Satan] of the devils” Matthew 9:34
II. JESUS’ MINISTRY TO THIS POINT IS SUMMARIZED.
Matthew 9:35-38, John 21:25
A. Jesus’ Ministry in The Communities. Matthew 9:35
1. The Places of The Communities.
“Jesus went about all the cities and villages” Matthew 9:35
2. The Path to The Communities. “Went about all the cities and villages” Matthew 9:35
3. The Privileges of The Communities. “Jesus went about all the cities and villages” Matthew 9:35
B. Jesus’ Ministry of Communication. Matthew 9:35
1. The Style of The Communication. “Teaching and preaching”
2. The Site of The Communication. “In their synagogues” Much, but not all, of Christ’s communication was done in synagogues. Paul used the same method. Acts 13:15-16
3. The Subject of The Communication. “The Gospel of the kingdom”
Matthew 9:35
C. Jesus’ Ministry of Curing. Matthew 9:35
1. The Problems for The Curing. “Every sickness and every disease among the people” Matthew 9:35
2. The Power in The Curing. “Healing every sickness and every disease among the people” Matthew 9:35
III. JESUS SHOWS COMPASSION AND GIVES A COMMAND Matthew 9:36
A. THE COMPASSION JESUS SHOWS Matthew 9:36
1. Jesus Has a Compassion with Proception “When He saw the multitudes” Matthew 9:36
2. Jesus Has Compassion for All Our Problems “Because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd” Matthew 9:36
The problems were threefold.
First, They Lacked Strength. “Fainted.” Matthew 9:36
Second, They Lacked Sanctity. “Scattered.” Matthew 9:36
This word speaks of sheep going astray: Isaiah 53:6
Third, They Lacked Shepherds. “As sheep having no shepherd.”
Matthew 9:36
B. THE COMMAND JESUS GIVES Matthew 9:37-38
Jesus is giving an observation of a situation for a command.
1. The Command for The People! “Then saith He unto His disciples”
Matthew 9:37
2. The Command for Perception with Passion! “The harvest truly is plenteous, but the laborers are few” Matthew 9:37 If we are going to be like our Lord Jesus, we must have a deep concern and awareness of the spiritual needs around us.
The problem was and is today twofold.
First, The Largeness of The Harvest. “Harvest truly is plenteous.”
Matthew 9:37This is figurative language speaking of the great need of the people. Second, The Laborers for The Harvest. “The laborers are few.”
C. The Command Jesus Gives to Us Is to Pray.
Matthew 9:38 Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth laborers into his harvest.
First, The Remedy in Prayer. “Pray ye therefore.” Matthew 9:38
Second, The Request in Prayer. “Send forth laborers into His harvest.” Matthew 9:38 God has ways of persuading reluctant men to serve Him.
These ways are often painful. If God calls, do not rebel. So many today would rather just sit soak and sour and not get out of their seats and on to their feet and out into the streets for God.
