Skinned Alive

A somewhat well-known passage of scripture is found in Matthew 9:37 where Jesus informs his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few.” He goes on to instruct them to pray for more laborers in order to achieve a greater harvest, but what did Jesus see that caused him to take that moment to say those things?

Verse 36 answers the question, and an expanded translation of the Greek gives us a better understanding of what he was actually viewing. Verse 36 says, "When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd." (Matthew 9:36, ESV)

The word harassed comes from the Greek word skullo that translates as harass, trouble, or weary. However, the word also means to skin, flay or lacerate. The word helpless comes from the Greek word rhipto. It means to throw, cast, hurl, scatter, or disperse and is also used in regard to sick people who are laid on the ground. In addition to these words, Jesus goes on to describe people as “sheep without a shepherd.”

Having lived in West Texas sheep and goat country for a short time, I learned a few things about sheep from the local ranchers.

1. Sheep follow other sheep blindly, and seldom does the lead sheep actually know where he is going.
2. Sheep are timid animals, and they startle easily. Once they startle, panic sets in to the point that the sheep can become far more destructive to themselves than whatever it is that startled them.
3. Sheep have no ability to defend themselves. They must be defended.
   

So what did Jesus see when he observed people? He saw people who were in deep anguish, so deep that words carrying connotations of their skin actually being peeled off or words that were used to describe those who were so sick they laid helplessly on the ground. He saw people who were directionless, easily startled, and unable to defend themselves against those things or forces that sought to destroy them. While the text is not explicit, since Jesus’ focus was on the spiritual and eternal, I am sure he had in mind not just our earthly existence or enemies. He was mindful of the eternal implications and the ways Satan seeks to take advantage of our helplessness. Satan wants to skin us alive.

While the point of the passage, in my opinion, is about the need being so great more workers are needed to bring people into relationship with Jesus, it also reminds us of some important truth. When we don’t know which way to go, we have a shepherd that provides us with direction. When we are anxious and fearful, we have one who calms us. When we feel vulnerable and defenseless, we have one who protects us.