Charles Ellicott Commentary Matthew 9:36

"But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion for them, because they were distressed and scattered, as sheep not having a shepherd." — Matthew 9:36 (ASV)

He was moved with compassion — The words that follow are so vivid and emphatic that we may well believe they originated in our Lord’s own expression of His feelings. We find Him using the identical words: I have compassion on the multitude (Matthew 15:32; Mark 8:2).

They fainted — This English translation reflects the received text of the Greek Testament from the early seventeenth century. There is, however, an immense preponderance of manuscript authority for another reading. This reading uses the passive participle of the verb translated as “trouble” in Mark 5:35 and Luke 7:6, which literally means “flayed,” and therefore figuratively “tormented,” “worried,” or “vexed.” They were not merely like sheep that have grown weary and faint, hungry and looking up but not fed, but were like those that have been harassed by the wolf—the prey of thieves and robbers .