Matthew 9:35 - 38

35 Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.

36 But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd.

37 Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few.

38 Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.”

When Jesus, and, as recorded in the book of “Acts of the Apostles”, the apostle Paul would go to the local synagogues because that was the place to meet the Jews who would be familiar with the scriptures. Jesus taught the Gospel of the kingdom means the “good news.” that the kingdom of heaven was near.

Jesus also was healing “every” sickness, meaning he did not just select certain ailments, but healed all kind of sickness.

We know that the casting out of demons and the healing was to bring attention to the powers of Jesus, which affirmed the relationship he had with God, being the “only Son of God. But this shows us the compassion Jesus had for the multitudes, He was moved with pity, this fulfilled many prophecies which said He was to be a man who could “be touched with feeling of our infirmities.” (Hebrews 4:15)

He saw the multitudes were very large and like sheep without a leader. He knew even with His powers, there were so many he could not physically touch and cure every one needing his care.

Therefore Jesus will call for a remedy of the situation. We will find in the next chapter the fulfillment to the prayer he asks God to send out more workers into the fields.