Word Pictures in the New Testament - David Cox

Word Pictures in the NT [Matthew: Chapter 9].
9:34 {By the prince of the devils} (\en t•i archonti t•n
daimoni•n\). Demons, not devils. The codex Bezae omits this
verse, but it is probably genuine. The Pharisees are becoming
desperate and, unable to deny the reality of the miracles, they
seek to discredit them by trying to connect Jesus with the devil
himself, the prince of the demons. They will renew this charge
later (Mt 12:24) when Jesus will refute it with biting sarcasm.
9:35 {And Jesus went about} (\kai peri•gen ho I•sous\). Imperfect
tense descriptive of this third tour of all Galilee.
9:36 {Were distressed and scattered} (\•san eskulmenoi kai
erimmenoi\). Periphrastic past perfect indicative passive. A sad
and pitiful state the crowds were in. Rent or mangled as if by
wild beasts. \Skull•\ occurs in the papyri in sense of plunder,
concern, vexation. "Used here of the common people, it describes
their religious condition. They were harassed, importuned,
bewildered by those who should have taught them; hindered from
entering into the kingdom of heaven (23:13), laden with the
burdens which the Pharisees laid upon them (23:3). \Erimmenoi\
denotes men cast down and prostrate on the ground, whether from
drunkenness, Polyb. v. 48.2, or from mortal wounds" (Allen): This
perfect passive participle from \rhipt•\, to throw down. The
masses were in a state of mental dejection. No wonder that Jesus
was moved with compassion (\esplagchnisth•\).
9:38 {That he send forth labourers} (\hop•s ekbal•i ergatas\).
Jesus turns from the figure of the shepherdless sheep to the
harvest field ripe and ready for the reapers. The verb \ekball•\
really means to drive out, to push out, to draw out with violence
or without. Prayer is the remedy offered by Jesus in this crisis
for a larger ministerial supply. How seldom do we hear prayers
for more preachers. Sometimes God literally has to push or force
a man into the ministry who resists his known duty.
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Word Pictures in the New Testament
(Matthew: Chapter 9)