Matthew 9:37

Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly [is] plenteous, but the labourers [are] few;

Then {G5119} saith {G3004} he unto his {G846} disciples {G3101}, The harvest {G2326} truly {G3303} is plenteous {G4183}, but {G1161} the labourers {G2040} are few {G3641};

Then he said to his talmidim, "The harvest is rich, but the workers are few.

Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.

Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest indeed is plenteous, but the laborers are few.

In Matthew 9:37, Jesus speaks to His disciples with profound insight into the spiritual state of the world around them. This verse encapsulates Jesus' compassionate observation of humanity's deep spiritual need and the urgent call for individuals to engage in God's redemptive work.

Context

This pivotal statement by Jesus follows His extensive ministry of teaching, preaching the Gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and disease among the people (Matthew 9:35). Immediately preceding this verse, Jesus is described as having profound compassion on the multitudes, seeing them as "harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd." It is from this vantage point of divine empathy for lost humanity that He issues His poignant observation about the harvest and the laborers. This verse sets the stage for His subsequent instruction to His disciples to "pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest."

Key Themes

  • The Abundant Spiritual Harvest: The phrase "The harvest truly is plenteous" signifies that many people are spiritually ready to receive the Gospel message or are in desperate need of spiritual guidance. Like ripe grain, they are waiting to be gathered into God's kingdom. This highlights the immense opportunity for Gospel ministry.
  • The Scarcity of Workers: Jesus laments that "the labourers are few." This highlights a critical shortage of dedicated individuals willing to serve, teach, and share the good news. It's a call to recognize the immense spiritual opportunity contrasted with the limited number of people actively engaged in ministry and evangelism.
  • Divine Urgency: The imagery of a "harvest" implies a specific season and an urgent window of opportunity. If the harvest is not gathered when ripe, it may spoil, emphasizing the time-sensitive nature of sharing the Gospel and tending to spiritual needs.

Linguistic Insights

The Greek word for "harvest," therismos (θερισμός), literally refers to the act of reaping or the time of harvest, often used metaphorically for a period of gathering or judgment. "Plenteous" comes from polys (πολύς), meaning many, much, or numerous, emphasizing the vastness of the spiritual need. The term for "labourers," ergatai (ἐργάται), denotes those who work, toil, or are engaged in a task, highlighting the active, demanding nature of the spiritual work of discipleship and outreach.

Practical Application

Matthew 9:37 serves as a timeless reminder and challenge for believers today, emphasizing the ongoing need for spiritual workers:

  • Acknowledge the Need: We are called to see the world through Jesus' eyes—recognizing the spiritual hunger and brokenness around us. The "harvest" is still plenteous, even in seemingly secular or spiritually resistant environments.
  • Pray for Workers: As Jesus instructed, prayer for more laborers is paramount. This includes praying for missionaries, pastors, teachers, and everyday believers to be equipped and sent forth into various fields of ministry.
  • Be a Labourer: The verse implicitly challenges each believer to consider their own role in the harvest. Whether through direct evangelism, discipleship, serving the needy, or supporting those on the front lines, every Christian is called to participate in God's work. This aligns with the broader command of the Great Commission to "go and make disciples of all nations." Just as Jesus observed the fields are "white already to harvest" in John 4:35, so too are the spiritual fields of our generation ripe for gathering.
Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Luke 10:2

    Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly [is] great, but the labourers [are] few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest.

  • Mark 16:15

    And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

  • 1 Corinthians 3:9

    For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, [ye are] God's building.

  • John 4:35

    Say not ye, There are yet four months, and [then] cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.

  • John 4:36

    And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together.

  • Matthew 28:19

    Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

  • 2 Corinthians 6:1

    ¶ We then, [as] workers together [with him], beseech [you] also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.

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