Matthew 9:37
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Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.
Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous--His eye doubtless rested immediately on the Jewish field, but this he saw widening into the vast field of "the world" (Mat 13:38), teeming with souls having to be gathered to Him. but the labourers--men divinely qualified and called to gather them in.
Open source ↗We have in this chapter remarkable instances of the power and pity of the Lord Jesus, sufficient to convince us that he is both able to save to the uttermost all that come to God by him, and as willing as he is able. His power and pity appear here in the good offices he did, I. To the bodies of people, in curing the palsy (Mat 9:2-8); raising to life the ruler's daughter, and healing the bloody issue (Mat 9:18-26); giving sight to two blind men (Mat 9:27-31); casting the devil out of one possessed (Mat 9:32-34); and healing all manner of sickness (Mat 9:35). II. To the souls of people; in forgiving sins (Mat 9:2); calling Matthew, and conversing freely with publicans and sinners (Mat 9:9-13); considering the frame of his disciples, with reference to the duty of fasting (Mat 9:14-17); preaching the gospel, and, in compassion to the multitude, providing preachers for them (Mat 9:35-38). Thus did he prove himself to be, as undoubtedly he is, the skilful, faithful Physician, both of soul and body, who has sufficient remedies for all the maladies of both: for which we must, therefore, apply ourselves to him, and glorify him both with our bodies and with our spirits, which are his, in return to him for his kindness to both.
Open source ↗9:37-38 Harvest refers to the multitudes (see also 13:24-30, 36-43; Mark 4:26-29; John 4:35-38; Rev 14:15-20). • the Lord who is in charge of the harvest: All ministries are ultimately under God’s call (see Matt 23:8-10, 13), so Jesus urges his disciples to pray for God himself to call more workers.
Open source ↗Original language
The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).
Cross-references
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And He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into His harvest.
And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.
For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building.
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,
As God’s fellow workers, then, we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain.
and in His name repentance and forgiveness of sins will be proclaimed to all nations, beginning in Jerusalem.
During the night, Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and pleading with him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.”
The Lord gives the command; a great company of women proclaim it:
Elders who lead effectively are worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching.
For I am with you and no one will lay a hand on you, because I have many people in this city.”