Matt 9:36: “And seeing the multitude, He felt compassion for them because they were distressed and downcast like sheep without a shepherd.”
When we see the distressed and downcast, we tend to identify their situation in a physical sense – their hunger, poverty and or lack. This approach leads us to assist them in the physical only, by giving them clothes, food, etc.
But Jesus tends to see more than that. He saw the spiritual need as the reason for being distressed and downcast – similar to that of sheep without a shepherd. It’s not that physical hunger is not an issue, but what is more important is that we identify the spiritual need and deal with it accordingly.
This is re-enforced in Mark 14:7 For you always have the poor with you, and whenever you wish you can do good to them; but you do not always have Me
We pray that the eyes of our heart will be enlightened so that we may see with our spiritual eyes, and not just our physical eyes…in Jesus’ name, Amen!