Jesus preaches throughout the country. He went into large wealthy cities and into the poor, obscure villages. He preached and healed both rich and poor. He taught in the synagogues. He had compassion on them, but in a spiritual way. His concern was that they were ignorant with a lack of spiritual vision.

Listed in today's reading is the verse containing "sheep without a shepherd"…can you imagine a field of sheep with no direction and no shepherd?
This would be a sad condition of those who are without Christ. Sheep when they have gone astray are helpless and exposed to danger. They are not capable of finding their own way. They need shepherds to bring them into the fold and give them direction and protection. When Jesus spoke of false shepherds, they not only led the sheep away from the fold but they also fleeced the flock. They didn’t feed them. They didn’t nourish them with the word of truth.

“Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”
People obviously wanted the teaching that Jesus was giving them. They needed it, they desired it, and they went out of their way to get it. There were few teachers who were teaching the truth. Jesus sent out his disciples.

Work is to be done now. Are there enough laborers to do the work?

“Shake the dust” is mentioned. When we are unwelcome, at times we need to just walk away.

To just be left alone as sheep where they may be in danger from wolves was one thing, but to send them out among known wolves was something else. They could expect from this warning that they would be like a helpless sheep among a herd of ravenous wolves to be devoured and destroyed. But because He sends them forth, He will protect them. Be aware of the dangers but be meek and mild.

Who can kill the soul? Rejecting Jesus and salvation through Him...that will kill our souls.

Jesus calls His disciples “little ones”. Is that because they were “babes in the faith”?

John the Baptist is beheaded. He had completed his mission on earth. Herod thought Jesus was John the Baptist who had risen from the dead - Herod was a Sadducee: and the Sadducees denied the resurrection of the dead. They also denied the existence of angels. So Herod was shaken by Jesus. This says he didn’t know much about Jesus.

As we reflect on the Scripture readings for today, let's take to heart the words of the Lord of the Harvest, let's go out as workers into His harvest field!