Becoming Bridge Builders 

³⁵ And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction. ³⁶ When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. ³⁷ Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; ³⁸ therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” Matthew 9:35-38

How the Gut-Wrenching Compassion of Christ Fuels Gospel Mission

Every one of us knows what it feels like to look at a crowd and see absolute chaos. If you’ve ever stood in the middle of a bustling airport during peak holiday delays or walked through a chaotic emergency room waiting area, you know the feeling. You see faces flushed with anger, eyes heavy with exhaustion, and hands gripping luggage or paperwork like lifelines. It’s overwhelming. Often, our knee-jerk reaction to a crowd like that is self-preservation. We want to put in our headphones, look down at our phones, and tune it all out.

But when Jesus looks at a fractured, hurting crowd, His reaction is fundamentally different. He doesn’t turn away. He doesn’t tune us out.

As we look at Matthew 9:35 through 10:9, we are transitioning from Jesus’ solitary ministry to the moment He commissions His followers. But the engine driving this entire transition—the fuel for the Church’s global mission—is not a corporate strategy or a rigid legal demand. It is the deep, visceral, life-altering compassion of Jesus Christ.

I. The Rhythm of Mercy

Our text begins by showing us Jesus in motion:

³⁵ And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction. 

Before Jesus calls a single disciple to speak on His behalf, He establishes the rhythm of His ministry. He doesn’t sit in a high, detached ivory tower, waiting for the broken to find a way up to Him. Instead, our Savior goes straight to them, gracefully walking into their ordinary, dusty, everyday realities.

Notice the three things He does: Jesus teaches the truth, He proclaims the good news that God’s kingdom has arrived, and He heals every disease.

The Blueprint of Grace:  Think of a doctor who doesn’t just mail you a textbook about your illness but drives to your house, explains the diagnosis, and hand-delivers the cure. That is Jesus. He addresses the whole person. Our Savior doesn’t just preach abstract doctrine to the mind; Jesus brings tangible, physical restoration to the body. This is a beautiful mystery: because Jesus is truly God and truly man, His human hands carry the very healing power of the Creator. His ministry is a relentless downpour of mercy meeting human misery.

But Jesus’ public actions are not born of mere duty. To truly understand why He heals and why He preaches, we have to look beyond the external miracles and into His heart.

II. The Gut-Wrenching Compassion of the King

Look at how Matthew describes the turning point of this passage:

“When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.”

The Greek word used here for compassion is splagchnizomai. It is not a polite, distant pity. Compassion is a gut-wrenching, physical reaction. It means feeling a knot in your stomach and having your heart twist in your chest.

The religious leaders of the day had turned God’s law into a crushing weight. Instead of guiding the people, they drove them into the ground under impossible burdens. As a result, the people were left bleeding, exhausted, and spiritually starving—like sheep wandering aimlessly in predator country, unprotected.

Imagine a flock of sheep caught in a violent briar patch. The more they struggle to free themselves, the deeper the thorns cut into their skin until they finally collapse from sheer exhaustion. That is the picture of a person trying to save themselves by their own efforts. The Law only exposes our deep wounds; it cannot heal them.

And what does Jesus do? He doesn’t scold the sheep for getting lost. He moves toward them with visceral, ache-in-the-chest love.

Then, He turns to His disciples and says:

“The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”

Notice who owns the harvest: the Lord of the harvest. Salvation is entirely God’s work from start to finish. We don’t produce the crop through clever marketing or human effort. God prepares the hearts, grows the seed, and sends the workers. Our first response to a broken world isn’t to panic or to frantically construct human programs—it is to pray that the God of all grace will deploy servants driven by the same Christ-like compassion.

And how does God answer that prayer? He answers it by taking those very disciples who were listening, filling them with His own authority, and sending them out.

III. Delegated Deliverance

In chapter 10, the “disciples” (which means learners) suddenly become “apostles” (which means sent ones).

“And he called to his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every affliction.”

When Jesus sends these twelve ordinary, flawed men—including a hot-headed fisherman like Peter and a former traitorous tax collector like Matthew—Jesus doesn’t send them out to rely on their own strength, charisma, or intellect. He gives them His exousia—His own personal authority.

The Ambassador’s Signature: Think of an ambassador sent by a president or king to a foreign land. When that ambassador signs a treaty or delivers a message, those words don’t carry weight because the ambassador is rich or powerful. They carry weight because the official seal of the homeland is stamped on the document. The king’s authority stands behind them.

When the Church speaks the Gospel today, we aren’t offering helpful life advice or a new philosophy. We are exercising the delegated authority of Jesus Christ. When we tell a broken, repentant sinner, “Your sins are entirely forgiven because of the cross,” that promise is backed by the full authority of the King of Kings. The Apostles were sent to extend the reach of Jesus’ compassionate hands.

Transition: So, armed with the authority of the Shepherd, where are they supposed to go, and what are they supposed to say?

IV. The Extravagance of Free Grace

Jesus gives them their marching orders:

“Go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And proclaim as you go, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying; give without paying.”

Jesus sends them first to Israel, keeping God’s ancient covenant promises. And the message they carry is pure Gospel: “The kingdom of heaven is at hand.” In other words: The King has arrived, and He isn’t here to crush you—He is here to rescue you. To prove it, they are told to heal, cleanse, and cast out demons. They are bringing the light of Christ into the darkest, most painful corners of human existence.

And then comes the golden thread that binds this entire passage together, the absolute heartbeat of the Christian faith:

“You received without paying; give without paying.”

This is the doctrine of justification in a single sentence. Sola Gratia—by grace alone. You did not earn your seat at Jesus’ table. Furthermore, no amount of money could pay for the forgiveness that washed away your guilt. Instead of working your way into the Shepherd’s arms, He found you bleeding in the briar patch, picked you up, and carried you home on His shoulders for free.

If you have received an infinite ocean of grace without paying a single penny, how can you sell it to others? How can we hold back mercy from the people around us? The Church’s mission is simply to be a beggar telling other beggars where to find free bread. We distribute the treasures of Christ because He has overwhelmingly, extravagantly poured them into our laps.

Conclusion: Becoming the Hands of the Shepherd

If you came here today feeling “harassed and helpless”—bruised by life, exhausted by your own failures, or crushed under the weight of trying to prove your worth—look at Jesus. See the knot in His stomach. Hear His heart beating for you. He does not look at your brokenness with disgust; He looks at you with a deep, visceral compassion that took Him all the way to a rugged cross to pay a debt you could never afford.

And if you have received that free grace, look out at the crowds around you this week. Look at your stressed-out coworkers, your hurting neighbors, and your broken family members. Don’t put your headphones in. Don’t turn away. Look at them through the eyes of the Shepherd.

Let us pray earnestly for the harvest, and let us go out into the world—not with judgment or legalism—but with the authority of the Gospel and the free, unstoppable compassion of Jesus Christ.

1. Why Busyness Without Delegation in Leadership Fails

Moses wasn’t lazy—he was overwhelmed. People lined up for his attention all day. He was committed and doing God’s work. Yet Jethro’s assessment is blunt:

“This is no way to go about it. You’ll burn out, and the people right along with you.” (v.17)

Leadership insight:
Key takeaway: A sustainable structure is necessary for meaningful, lasting impact.

Many leaders fall into this trap, often leading to the chronic exhaustion identified in Harvard Business Review’s guide to overcoming burnout:

• Saying yes to every request
• Becoming the bottleneck for decisions
• Believing they are indispensable

Consequently, when a leader insists on holding every responsibility, the entire system becomes incredibly fragile.

2. Doing It All Yourself Damages Others Too

A man standing at the top of a mountain, taking in the majesty of God.

Moses’ approach didn’t just hurt him—it hurt everyone: People waited all day for help.

• Decisions were delayed
• Frustration likely grew

Jethro points out that both the leader and the people suffer.

Leadership insight:
Key takeaway: Effective delegation enables growth—for both leaders and their teams.

When leaders hold responsibilities too tightly, others do not develop.

• Responsibility isn’t shared.
• Capacity remains small

3. Wise Leaders Accept Outside Counsel

One of the most powerful moments in this passage is simple:

“Moses listened to the counsel of his father-in-law and did everything he said.” (v.24)

Moses didn’t defend himself. He didn’t justify his workload. He listened.

Key takeaway: The best leaders remain open to learning and outside insight.

Sometimes the clearest perspective comes from someone outside the system. Pride resists that; wisdom embraces it.

4. Leadership Requires Prioritization

Jethro reframes Moses’ role:

“Your job is to teach them… to show them how to live…” (v.20)

Moses couldn’t do everything, so he needed to focus on what only he could do.

Key takeaway: Prioritize what only you can do. Delegate the rest—to maximize value.

• What they are uniquely called to do.

Not every task requires your direct involvement.

5. How Delegation in Leadership Is a Spiritual Discipline

Jethro instructs Moses to appoint qualified leaders:

• Capable
• God-fearing
• Trustworthy

Then gives them responsibility at different levels—thousands, hundreds, fifties, tens.

This wasn’t random delegation—it was intentional structure. To apply this practically today, leaders often use frameworks like the Eisenhower Matrix on MindTools to categorize tasks before passing them on.

Leadership insight:

Key takeaway: Delegation builds systems that reflect integrity and accountability.

• Integrity
• Competence
• Accountability

Healthy leadership multiplies leadership.

6. How Delegation in Leadership Promotes Group Flourishing

The result of Jethro’s plan was powerful:

“They will share your load… you’ll have the strength… and the people… will flourish.” (v.22–23)

Notice the outcome:

• Moses gained endurance.
• The people benefited.
• The system became sustainable.

Key takeaway: Leadership aims for group flourishing, not personal control.

A healthy leader builds a structure where:

• Responsibility is shared.
• Leaders are developed.
• People are served more effectively.

Final Takeaway

Exodus 18 challenges a leadership myth: “If I don’t do it, it won’t get done right.”

Moses learned that the opposite is often true. When leaders try to do everything:

• They burn out.
• Others stagnate.
• The mission suffers.

But when they:

• Listen to wise counsel.
• Focus on their core calling.
• Develop and trust others.

They create something far greater than personal effort can achieve.

Leadership isn’t about being needed everywhere—it’s about building something that thrives even when you’re not.

If you are passionate about breaking down barriers, growing in your leadership journey, and uniting the Body of Christ, you don’t have to do it alone. Join a community of like-minded leaders dedicated to this vital mission.  

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⁹ As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him.

¹⁰ And as Jesus reclined at table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and were reclining with Jesus and his disciples. ¹¹ And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” ¹² But when he heard it, he said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. ¹³ Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”

There Is Still Room at the Table

Long before a famous tech startup redefined hospitality by offering an unexpected room at the table, Jesus was completely transforming how we welcome people into the kingdom of God. “It started in 2007 with an air mattress in a crap San Francisco apartment. The rent was due, hotels were booked up for a design conference, and two roommates had an idea. What if they charged guests to sleep on the floor? That weekend three strangers stayed in their living room and an industry was quietly born ….” ¹

            Those words were the beginning of a podcast with one of the founders of Airbnb. Their idea has helped redefine lodging while traveling. .That small beginning has since grown into a global network with over 8 million active listings and 5 million hosts, spanning more than 150,000 cities in 220 countries according to the official Airbnb Newsroom.”

            Airbnb welcomes people from all walks of life into other people’s homes to stay for a defined period. It’s a great idea that has obviously blossomed. But not without problems. Sometimes the guests take advantage. Google “Airbnb horror stories” and you’ll find no shortage of incidents where things got way out of hand. Property damage, fights, police being called, arrests made, and all sorts of people with less-than-stellar behavior.

            Our scripture today hints at the problem of people welcomed by Jesus but quickly judged by others. All that helps us to think about the dynamics of welcome in the kingdom of God!

The Unexpected Call: Grace that Transforms (v. 9)

⁹ As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him.

The call of Matthew is told with striking brevity—just one sentence. His response is just as concise. Jesus calls, and Matthew follows. That’s it. No buildup, no debate, no delay. Jesus simply says, “Follow me,” and Matthew gets up and follows Him.

It almost feels too simple.

In a world where we analyze every decision, weigh every cost, and negotiate every commitment, Matthew’s response feels abrupt. But that’s the nature of grace—it doesn’t always come with a long explanation; sometimes it comes with a clear invitation. Come, follow me.

It’s like receiving a call that changes your life forever—a job offer you weren’t expecting, a diagnosis that shifts everything, or a voice that says, “This is your moment.” You don’t always get time to process it fully. You just know: If I don’t respond now, I may miss it.

That’s Matthew. Sitting at his tax booth, surrounded by money, records, and the machinery of corruption—and then Jesus walks by. Just two words: “Follow me.”

And Matthew leaves it all.

But beneath that simplicity lies something deeper. The story takes an unexpected turn. The one who gives the invitation becomes the guest in Matthew’s home. The calling leads to a table.

And that’s where things get uncomfortable.

Jesus and His disciples are reclining at Matthew’s table when the guest list starts to expand. Tax collectors. People with sketchy reputations. Those labeled “sinners.” These are Matthew’s old coworkers, his former circle, people who lived the same kind of life he had just walked away from.

Do you see what Matthew is doing? He doesn’t just follow Jesus privately—he introduces Jesus publicly.

It’s like someone who experiences real change—maybe freedom from addiction or a life transformed by faith—and the first instinct is, “I’ve got to bring my friends into this.” Not cleaned-up friends. Not church-ready friends. You know your actual real friends.

Matthew throws a banquet, and the table fills with people, your church friends might avoid.

And right in the middle of them—sits Jesus.

Not on the edge. Not observing from a distance. He is with them, eating, talking, present—as if they belong there.

And to the Pharisees, this is a problem.

Because in their thinking, holiness looks like separation. Avoidance. Distance. If you want to be right with God, you stay far away from people like that. From the culture that distracts us from the One True God.

But Jesus shows a different picture: holiness that moves toward brokenness, not away from it.

Think of a doctor. A doctor doesn’t stay away from the sick to remain healthy. The very nature of the calling is to move toward sickness in order to bring healing. Distance doesn’t cure the patient—presence does.

Jesus is at that table because that’s where healing needs to happen.

The Pharisees see it, but instead of speaking directly to Jesus, they go to His disciples.
“Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”

It’s indirect. It’s critical. It’s safer than confrontation.

Even today, this still happens. People don’t always go straight to the source—sometimes they talk around the issue instead of through it.

But Jesus doesn’t allow the conversation to stay indirect. He steps right into it and addresses them openly. He refuses to let misunderstanding define the moment.

And all of this unfolds because of one simple encounter:

The Target of Grace

Matthew was a tax collector—an outsider, seen as a traitor, someone who built wealth at the expense of others. If anyone seemed disqualified, it was him.

Application

And here’s the truth—we all know what it feels like to think, “I’m too far gone,” or “God wouldn’t choose someone like me.”
But the story of Matthew reminds us: grace doesn’t go looking for the qualified; it goes looking for the willing.

The Simplicity of the Command

Jesus offers just two words: “Follow me.” No checklist. No probation period. No demand to clean up first.

It’s not “fix your life and then come.”
It’s “come, and I will change your life along the way.”

Some of us are waiting until we “get it together” before we respond to God. But Jesus never said, “Fix yourself and follow me.” He simply said, “Follow me.”

The Immediate Response

Matthew gets up. He walks away. He leaves security, income, and identity behind.

He trades profit for purpose. Comfort for calling. Control for surrender.
Imagine leaving your career mid-day, not knowing where the next paycheck will come from, because something—or rather, Someone—is worth more.

That’s what Matthew does.

And the question for us becomes:
What are we still holding onto that keeps us from fully following?
Because you can’t hold onto your old life and take hold of Jesus at the same time.

Final Movement Toward Invitation

Matthew’s story doesn’t end with him leaving the table—it continues with him filling a table.

That’s the beauty of grace.
It doesn’t just change you—it sends you.

It turns followers into hosts.
It turns testimonies into invitations.

Because the same voice that said, “Follow me,”
is still calling today.

And there is still room at the table.

We talked earlier about the early days of Airbnb—the idea of opening your home to strangers and watching it grow into something massive. It’s an incredible success story. But every host will tell you the same thing: not every guest treats your home the way you hoped. Some ignore the rules. Some leave a mess behind. Some become stories you wish you didn’t have to tell.

Opening your door always comes with a measure of risk.

And in a different way, the same can be said when you say yes to God’s call.

When God enters your life and begins to move through it, things don’t always unfold the way you expect. The path is not always neat or predictable. Just look at the story of Scripture—Abraham leaves home without a map, Moses argues with God at a burning bush, David is anointed king but spends years running for his life, Paul is blinded before he can see clearly, Peter steps out in faith and then sinks in doubt.

Following God is not a straight, polished road—it’s a journey filled with surprises, interruptions, and moments that stretch you beyond your comfort.

It’s less like walking a well-lit sidewalk and more like stepping into a fog where you can only see a few feet ahead—but you keep walking because you trust the One leading you.

One of the biggest misconceptions we carry is this: when God calls someone, it must mean stepping into formal ministry—preaching, pastoring, or working in a church.

Sometimes that’s true.

But more often than we realize, God calls people right where they already are.

The problem is we’ve created a false divide—sacred over here, secular over there. Church work counts. Everything else… not so much.

But that’s not how God sees it.

In the 1970s, a man named William Diehl reflected on his 30-year career as a sales manager in the steel industry. He was successful, respected, and deeply committed to his faith. But he shared something striking: in all those years, not once did his church ask how God was at work through him in his job.

No one asked how he ministered to coworkers.
No one asked what challenges he faced living out his faith in that environment.
No one asked how the church could equip him to be a light in his workplace.

It was as if the only place ministry happened was inside the church walls.
Imagine being sent onto a mission field every day—a workplace filled with relationships, pressures, decisions—and yet no one ever acknowledges it as a place where God is active.

That’s how many people live.

But then there’s another story.

Betty was a young parent in 1970, simply trying to help make ends meet. She took a job at a newspaper, planning to stay for just one year.

One year turned into thirty-six.

Day after day, she walked into that newsroom—not as someone clocking in, but as someone sent. She built relationships with interns, reporters, and editors. She looked for small ways to serve, encourage, and reflect her faith—not always in dramatic moments, but in consistent ones.

A kind word here. A steady presence there. Integrity when no one was watching.

Over time, her life became a quiet testimony.

And when asked if she believed God had placed her there, she didn’t hesitate—“Yes.”
She didn’t leave her faith at the door when she walked into work. She carried it with her like a light—and over decades, that light touched countless lives.

And that raises a powerful question for us:

What if your workplace isn’t just a job—but an assignment?

What if your neighborhood, your routines, your relationships—aren’t random, but intentional placements by God?

What if the call of God on your life isn’t about going somewhere else—but about seeing where you already are differently?

Because here’s the truth:

God doesn’t just call pastors to pulpits.
He calls people to offices… classrooms… job sites… hospitals… homes… and conversations.

He calls people to tables—just like Matthew’s.

Because the same God who said, “Follow me,”
is still calling people—not just to leave where they are,
but to live differently where they already are.

Final Things for You to Ponder:

Closing Challenge

• Have you responded to the call—or just admired it?
• Are you sitting with Jesus—but keeping others away from the table?
• Or are you, like Matthew, saying: “Come and meet the One who changed my life”?

So what is God calling you to do—or to be?

And are you simply working there… or are you sent there?

Where has God placed you right now?

Who is sitting at your table?

What if your workplace isn’t just a job—but an assignment?… You can find more resources and encouragement for living out your faith in the workplace in our dedicated article archive.”