Matthew 9:36Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Observe that He initiates with grace rather than condemnation. With this, He admonished the Jewish leaders for posing as shepherds while displaying the traits of predators, for they not only failed to guide the people but actively hindered their improvement. The crowds were astonished and remarked, ‘Never was there such a thing in Israel (Matthew 9:33)!’ However, the leaders responded, ‘It is by the ruler of demons that He drives out demons (Matthew 9:34)!’

They lacked a shepherd, as their leaders not only failed to guide them correctly but also caused them harm. A genuine shepherd’s role is to tend to his flock with care.

The disorder among the flock, the sheep, and the masses is attributed to the shepherds and the shortcomings of the educators, hence the subsequent words.

Exhausted, meaning not transformed by the truth, as they lack guidance for conversion; dispersed, suggesting complete neglect, resembling sheep without a shepherd, some of whom are injured or missing, while others are forsaken, indicating abandonment due to a lack of care. The leaders among the Jews not only failed to bring repentance to those who erred but were themselves in a more desperate state than the very individuals they should have shepherded.

At that time, there was no oppressor afflicting the people, nor were they scattered or disturbed by any event. Why, then, did the Lord feel compassion for them, seeing they were weary and scattered? The Lord had pity on a people worn down by the weight of the law and burdened by the assaults of an unclean spirit, for they had not yet found a shepherd to guide them back to the embrace of the Holy Spirit. The plentiful harvest of this gift is ripe, yet no one has gathered it. Its abundance is enough for the great multitude who wish to partake. Regardless of how many receive it, it is continuously and generously poured out upon everyone.

Our Savior Christ visited every town and village, bestowing upon them two significant gifts: the proclamation of the Gospel of the Kingdom, which is the message of salvation, and the restoration of health to those afflicted with illness. Yet, His boundless compassion demanded more; as St. Matthew reveals, He saw the crowds and felt a deep desire for them, perceiving them as "sheep without a shepherd." Their leaders failed not only to guide them but instead misled them through their own misguided knowledge.

The narrative regarding the commissioning of the twelve apostles to proclaim the Gospel is intricately linked to the broader public ministry of Jesus, as recounted in the preceding chapter. Matthew relates this event to the overall ministry of Christ, providing a general summary of His work (9:35, which closely mirrors 4:23) and illustrating that His mission drew a multitude of followers, making it impossible to address their spiritual hunger individually. This need prompted Jesus to send out twelve of His disciples to share the message. He felt deep compassion for the crowds, likening them to sheep without a shepherd, anguished by the burdensome expectations and numerous rituals imposed by their Pharisaic teachers, and feeling neglected. A brief introduction is also provided by Mark (Mk. 6:6b) before detailing the sending of the twelve apostles to preach.

After journeying through most of Palestine, the Savior realized that the chosen people were "weary and scattered like sheep without a shepherd," lacking adequate teachers and leaders to guide them and ready them for the imminent arrival of the kingdom of heaven.

The multitudes that the Lord observed traveling through towns and villages while He preached, as noted in Matthew 9:35, were like a group of sheep lost without a shepherd. In a land like Judea, which is predominantly pastoral, this analogy resonates deeply. A faithful shepherd watches over his flock constantly, providing guidance and safeguarding them; without such care, the sheep are vulnerable to predators, suffer under the scorching sun and the biting cold of night, and ultimately become weary. This reflects the spiritual condition of the nation. Their spiritual leaders fail to fulfill their roles as genuine shepherds and instructors; they are themselves without vision and do not shed light on the truth for the people. Instead of offering correction, they lead them further astray. The Savior was moved with compassion for these downtrodden souls.

Exhausted and dispersed - ἐκλελυμένοι καὶ ἐῤῥῥῑμμένοι. Could it not be interpreted more fittingly as disintegrated and forsaken?

The large crowds stirred feelings of compassion in Him; lacking spiritual direction, they resembled weary and scattered sheep in need of a shepherd. Those religious leaders who occupied the position of authority (Matt. 23:2) and regarded themselves as the sole bearers of wisdom (Luke 11:52) turned out to be misguided guides (Matt. 23:24). Many among the people yearned to enter the gracious kingdom of the Messiah, seeking solace and fulfillment within it.