Taking Back the Promised Land
by Rev. Kirby Williams
The epic battle for the souls of humankind.
Text: Matt. 9:35-38
Date: 01/15/2012, the Traditional service.
Series: "Matthew" Part 86
Description:
In what seems to be a major shift in focus, Matthew apparently turns from a discussion of the teaching and miracles of Christ to a discussion of the missionary outreach of the church. But he is actually returning to a subject which he introduced in the fourth chapter and has been clarifying throughout the discussion of the Sermon on the Mount and the analysis of the miracles. Jesus has come to recapture the souls of humankind from the bondage of Satan and He has all ready started His offensive. After redefining the battle plan as being the teaching of the Word, the proclamation of the Kingdom and the healing of the sick, Matthew introduces the second great teaching segment of his book as he spells out the missionary calling of the church. He sets the scene for this essential teaching by presenting two graphic metaphors that describe the condition of the world, the proper response of the church to their plight, the intensity of the need, and the activity that will define the growth of the church for the millennia to come.
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I. Introduction
II. Exposition of the text, Matt. 9:35-38.
A. Context
1. The natural reaction to the miracles.
2. The response to the blasphemy of the Pharisees.
3. The second great teaching segment.
B. Acts of aggression, vs. 35.
1. Back to the future.
a. The "inclusio", Matt. 4:23.
b. Preparing for war.
2. The battle plan.
a. The scope of the ministry.
b. Teaching the Word.
c. Proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom.
d. Healing the sick.
C. The metaphor of the "shepherdless sheep", vs. 36.
1. Redefining "the crowds".
2. The deep compassion of Christ.
3. The imagery of the lost flock.
a. The "harassed" flock.
b. The "helpless" flock.
c. The plight of the lost sheep.
4. The abysmal lack of leadership, Num. 27:16-17, 1Kings 22:17, Zech. 11, Eze. 34.
5. Summation of the metaphor of the sheep.
D. The metaphor of the plentiful harvest, vs. 37-38.
1. The plentiful harvest.
a. The nature of the harvest.
i. Fields of amber grain.
ii. The expansiveness of the fields.
iii. The condition of the harvest.
b. The urgency of the harvest.
2. The interpretation of the metaphor.
a. A positive image of the harvest, Joel 3:13, Rev. 14:19.
b. The missionary calling of the church.
3. The prayer for laborers.
a. The specific activity Christ commands.
b. The Lord of the Harvest.
c. The need for laborers.
4. The disciples and the missionary effort.
III. Application
A. Recapturing the Promised Land.
1. The battle plan.
2. The compassion for the lost.
3. Prayers for the missionary effort of the church.
4. Working in the fields.
B. A slightly different perspective.
IV. Conclusion
