Slideshow image

Matthew 9:36 — “But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.”

No picture better captures the heart of a true shepherd than Jesus’ response to the multitudes. He saw more than crowds; He saw sheep—confused, weary, and vulnerable. His response was not irritation or indifference but deep compassion. The word means “to be moved in the inward parts,” to feel a gut-level concern that drives action. This is the heart every pastor must strive to reflect.

Sheep without a shepherd are in danger. They wander into harm, lack nourishment, and have no protection from predators. Jesus saw this condition in the people of His day—spiritually malnourished, misled by false leaders, and vulnerable to destruction. He could not look away. His compassion compelled Him to teach, to heal, and ultimately to give His life.

Pastors who walk in Christ’s steps will share this heart. Their ministry is not built on duty alone but on genuine love for the flock. They weep over souls, labor in prayer for their people, and carry burdens that others cannot see. True shepherds are not driven by ambition or applause but by compassion rooted in Christ.

Compassion does not mean weakness. It is not indulgence or tolerance of sin. Jesus corrected, rebuked, and called for repentance. But He did so with a heart that longed for restoration, not destruction. A pastor’s authority is best exercised through love that seeks the good of the sheep.

For the church, recognizing this heart calls for gratitude. Too often, people see only the pastor’s sermons or decisions, not the hidden tears, prayers, and long nights. A compassionate shepherd bears the weight of the flock’s sorrows, and his people should honor that unseen labor.

This heart also sets the standard for how we respond to others. If our pastors model Christlike compassion, we must imitate them. The church is called to be a community marked by tender care for the weary, the broken, and the wandering.

Christ’s compassion moved Him to the cross. A pastor’s compassion moves him to service. And our compassion should move us to love one another as Christ has loved us. The shepherd’s heart is Christ’s heart, and it is one the church must treasure and emulate.