Matthew 9: 35 36 – God’s Love And Mercy

Target year level: Year Ten

Scripture text

Introduction

Matthew 9:35-36 is situated in that section of the Gospel of Matthew dealing with the ministry of Jesus in Galilee (Mt.4:12-14:12). Specifically, the text is located within Matthew Chapters 8 and 9 which contain narratives of a series of ten miracles performed by Jesus. These miracles of healing individually and collectively provide examples of God’s love and mercy in action. Matthew is making the point that these miraculous healings and cures are evidence of the Messianic character of Jesus’ ministry.

See the The New American Bible, Revised Edition (NABRE), Introduction to Matthew, for further information on the background, characteristics and structure of Matthew’s Gospel.

World behind the text

Many scholars believe Matthew’s Gospel was written at Antioch, a Greek speaking city with a number of Jewish synagogues. Antioch became the capital of the Roman province in Syria in 64 BCE and in the first century CE was the third largest city in the Roman Empire. Christianity had become well established in Antioch by 80 CE. A number of other possible locations with a similar demographic to Antioch are also suggested as possible sites for the writing of Matthew’s Gospel.

Scripture scholars think that the Gospel of Matthew was written in the last part of the first century CE sometime after 70 CE. Matthew’s intended audience was Jewish Christians and Gentile Christians who were familiar with Jewish culture, religious belief and religious practice.

For further information, see the teacher background information, Who Wrote the Gospels and When?

World of the text

Matthew 9:35-36 is part of a summary statement Matthew 9:35-38 that makes it clear that the cures and healings in chapters 8 and 9 are merely some examples of the many works of healing and mercy that Jesus performed. Matthew had a similar summary statement at 4:23-25. This summary statement comes at a strategic transition point of Matthew’s Gospel that introduces what is called the Mission Discourse/Apostolic Discourse (Mt 10).

In Matthew 10, Jesus’ followers are commissioned to carry on Jesus’ works of mercy and love. In Matthew 8 and 9, Jesus makes visible the Kingdom of God through his miraculous works of healing and mercy. Now Jesus’ disciples are to do the same (Mt 10:8).

The communities for whom Matthew is writing are thus led to see that the mission of God’s love and mercy which Jesus carried out is also the mission of Jesus’ disciples and the Christian Church which is founded on Jesus Christ. For Matthew, the emphasis is not so much on what Jesus did in the past but rather on the current significance of the model of love and mercy which the historical mission of Jesus in Galilee provides.

Old Testament texts related to sheep and shepherds have inspired Matthew as he makes his point about the compassion that Christians should have for their fellow human beings who are so often “like sheep without a shepherd.” (Mt 9:36). Old Testament texts related to sheep and shepherding are available on Bible Gateway Search to enrich understanding of Matthew 9:36.

World in front of the text

On the Sunday following Easter Sunday, the Second Sunday of Easter, the Roman Catholic Church celebrates what is called Divine Mercy Sunday. Pope Francis, in particular, places great emphasis on the need for Christians as individuals, and the Church as a community and institution, to be merciful.

According to Pope Francis, Christians through their attitudes and their actions are to be characterised by their compassion for others and the pastoral care they show to those in need.

The Pope’s injunction applies in an even more forceful way to the manner in which the Church at an individual, communal and institutional level treats those who are on the margins of the Church and who tend to be despised and neglected by mainstream society.