New International Version Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. New Living Translation He said to his disciples, “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. English Standard Version Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; Berean Standard Bible Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Berean Literal Bible Then He says to His disciples, “The harvest indeed is much, but the workers are few. King James Bible Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; New King James Version Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. New American Standard Bible Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. NASB 1995 Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. NASB 1977 Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Legacy Standard Bible Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Amplified Bible Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest is [indeed] plentiful, but the workers are few. Berean Annotated Bible Then He said to His disciples (pupils), “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Christian Standard Bible Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is abundant, but the workers are few. Holman Christian Standard Bible Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest is abundant, but the workers are few. American Standard Version Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest indeed is plenteous, but the laborers are few. Contemporary English Version He said to his disciples, "A large crop is in the fields, but there are only a few workers. English Revised Version Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few. GOD'S WORD® Translation Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is large, but the workers are few. Good News Translation So he said to his disciples, "The harvest is large, but there are few workers to gather it in. International Standard Version Then he told his disciples, "The harvest is vast, but the workers are few. NET Bible Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. New Heart English Bible Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest indeed is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Webster's Bible Translation Then saith he to his disciples, The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Weymouth New Testament Then He said to His disciples, "The harvest is abundant, but the reapers are few; Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleThen He said to His disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. World English Bible Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest indeed is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Literal Translations Literal Standard Versionthen He says to His disciples, “The harvest indeed [is] abundant, but the workmen few; Berean Literal Bible Then He says to His disciples, “The harvest indeed is much, but the workers are few. Young's Literal Translation then saith he to his disciples, 'The harvest indeed is abundant, but the workmen few; Smith's Literal Translation Then he says to his disciples, Truly the harvest much, but the laborers few. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleThen he saith to his disciples, The harvest indeed is great, but the labourers are few. Catholic Public Domain Version Then he said to his disciples: “The harvest indeed is great, but the laborers are few. New American Bible Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; New Revised Standard Version Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleSo he said to his disciples, The harvest is great, and the laborers are few; Aramaic Bible in Plain English And he said to his disciples, “The harvest is great, and the labourers are few.” NT Translations Anderson New TestamentThen he said to his disciples: The harvest is abundant, but the laborers are few. Godbey New Testament Then He says to His disciples, Haweis New Testament Then said he to his disciples, The harvest indeed is abundant, but the labourers are few; Mace New Testament the harvest indeed is plentiful, but the labourers are few: Weymouth New Testament Then He said to His disciples, "The harvest is abundant, but the reapers are few; Worrell New Testament Then He saith to His disciples, Worsley New Testament upon which He saith to his disciples, Additional Translations ... Audio Bible (Voice ▾ Musical ▾) Context The Lord of the Harvest…36When He saw the crowds, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. 38Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into His harvest.”… Cross References Then He said to His disciples, Matthew 10:1 And calling His twelve disciples to Him, Jesus gave them authority over unclean spirits, so that they could drive them out and heal every disease and sickness. Mark 6:7 Then Jesus called the Twelve to Him and began to send them out two by two, giving them authority over unclean spirits. Luke 10:1 After this, the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of Him to every town and place He was about to visit. “The harvest is plentiful, John 4:35 Do you not say, ‘There are still four months until the harvest’? I tell you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are ripe for harvest. Revelation 14:15 Then another angel came out of the temple, crying out in a loud voice to the One seated on the cloud, “Swing Your sickle and reap, because the time has come to harvest, for the crop of the earth is ripe.” Mark 4:29 And as soon as the grain is ripe, he swings the sickle, because the harvest has come.” but the workers are few. Luke 10:2 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. Ezekiel 22:30 I searched for a man among them to repair the wall and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, so that I should not destroy it. But I found no one. Romans 10:14-15 How then can they call on the One in whom they have not believed? And how can they believe in the One of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone to preach? / And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” Luke 10:2 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. John 4:35 Do you not say, ‘There are still four months until the harvest’? I tell you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are ripe for harvest. Matthew 13:38 The field is the world, and the good seed represents the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one, John 15:16 You did not choose Me, but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will remain—so that whatever you ask the Father in My name, He will give you. 1 Corinthians 3:9 For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building. 2 Corinthians 9:10 Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your store of seed and will increase the harvest of your righteousness. Galatians 6:9 Let us not grow weary in well-doing, for in due time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Treasury of Scripture Then said he to his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the laborers are few; The harvest. 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: Mark 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. 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. but. Psalm 68:11 The Lord gave the word: great was the company of those that published it. 1 Corinthians 3:9 For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building. 2 Corinthians 6:1 We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain. Jump to Previous Abundant Disciples Enough Few Grain Great Harvest Indeed Laborers Plenteous Plentiful Reapers Workers WorkmenJump to Next Abundant Disciples Enough Few Grain Great Harvest Indeed Laborers Plenteous Plentiful Reapers Workers WorkmenMatthew 9 1. Jesus heals a paralytic9. calls Matthew from the receipt of custom; 10. eats with tax collectors and sinners; 14. defends his disciples for not fasting; 20. cures the sick woman; 23. raises Jairus' daughter from death; 27. gives sight to two blind men; 32. heals a mute man possessed of a demon; 36. and has compassion on the multitude. Then He said to His disciples, Jesus turned to the men He was preparing to carry His message beyond His earthly ministry. Having seen the crowds in their spiritual need, He directed His followers to recognize the work ahead of them. Mat 10:1 And calling His twelve disciples to Him,… “The harvest is plentiful, Many people were ready to hear the good news of the kingdom and to respond to God’s call. The crowds surrounding Jesus revealed both the widespread need and the openness of those who lacked faithful spiritual guidance. Jhn 4:35 Do you not say, ‘There are still four months…… but the workers are few. Jesus’ disciples were few compared with the many people needing to be reached. His words exposed the urgent need for more faithful servants to proclaim the gospel, teach God’s truth, and gather those who would believe. Luk 10:2 And He told them, “The harvest is plentiful,… Persons / Places / Events 1. JesusThe central figure in this passage, Jesus is speaking to His disciples. He is the one who observes the spiritual state of the people and provides insight into the need for more workers in God's kingdom. 2. Disciples The immediate audience of Jesus' statement. They are learners and followers of Jesus, being prepared to carry out His mission. 3. The Harvest A metaphor used by Jesus to describe the readiness of people to receive the Gospel. It implies a time of gathering and reaping the spiritual fruits. 4. Workers Those who are called to labor in God's field, spreading the Gospel and nurturing new believers. 5. The Field While not explicitly mentioned in this verse, it is implied as the world or the community where the harvest is to be gathered. Teaching Points Recognizing the HarvestAs believers, we must be aware of the spiritual readiness around us. The world is full of people who are seeking truth and hope, and we are called to be attentive to these opportunities. The Need for Workers There is a significant need for more laborers in God's kingdom. This is a call to action for every believer to consider their role in spreading the Gospel. Prayer for Laborers Jesus' statement should prompt us to pray earnestly for more workers to be sent into the harvest. This includes praying for ourselves to be willing and equipped to serve. Active Participation Each believer has a part to play in the harvest. Whether through direct evangelism, supporting missions, or discipling others, we are all called to contribute. Dependence on God While the harvest is plentiful, it is God who ultimately brings people to Himself. We must rely on His guidance and power in our efforts. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Matthew 9:37?2. How can we actively participate in the "harvest" mentioned in Matthew 9:37? 3. What does "the harvest is plentiful" imply about the world's spiritual needs? 4. How does Matthew 9:37 connect with the Great Commission in Matthew 28:19-20? 5. In what ways can we become "workers" as described in Matthew 9:37? 6. How can prayer support the call for more "workers" in God's harvest? 7. What does Matthew 9:37 mean by "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few"? 8. How does Matthew 9:37 challenge our commitment to evangelism and mission work? 9. Why does Jesus emphasize the scarcity of workers in Matthew 9:37? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Matthew 9? (37) Then saith he unto his disciples.--No where in the whole Gospel record is there a more vivid or more touching instance of the reality of our Lord's human emotions. It is not enough for Him to feel compassion Himself. He craves the sympathy of His companions and disciples, and needs even their fellowship in prayer. A great want lies before Him, and He sees that they are the right agents to meet it, if only they will pray to be made so; or, to put the case more clearly, if only they will pray that the work may be done, whether they themselves are or are not the doers of it. The harvest truly is plenteous.--This is the first occurrence in the record of the first three Gospels of the figure which was afterwards to be expanded in the two parables of the Sower and the Tares, and to reappear in the visions of the Apocalypse (Revelation 14:14-19). We find, however, from the Gospel of St. John--which here, as so often elsewhere, supplies missing links and the germs of thoughts afterwards developed--that it was not a new similitude in our Lord's teaching. Once before, among the alien Samaritans, He had seen the fields white as for the spiritual harvest of the souls of men, and had spoken of him that soweth and him that reapeth (John 4:35-36). Verses 37, 38. - The utterance is given word for word (except one transposition) at the beginning of the address to the seventy in Luke 10:2. But while serving there as an introduction to the rest of the speech, the reason for it is so much more self-evident here that St. Matthew seems to have recorded it in its original connexion. Our Lord himself, feeling the shepherdless condition of the people, desires to call out the interest of his disciples in it. He wants them to realize both the need of the people and the possibility that lay before the workmen. Changing the metaphor, he bids them pray him, who alone has the right and power, to send more workmen to reap these fields. Verse 37. - Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest - of human souls (John 4:35-38). Truly. So also the Revised Version; too strong a rendering of μέν. Is plenteous (cf. Matthew 10:23; Bengel), but the labourers are few. Who besides himself? John the Baptist, some who had been healed, e.g. the Gadarene demoniac (Mark 5:20, possibly also the blind men of ver. 31), and perhaps a few unknown true believers. Not the twelve, for these are evidently distinguished, and only to be included under the labourers spoken of in the end of the next verse. If, however, the utterance was originally spoken to the seventy (vide supra), the reference would be to the twelve. Matthew 9:37 declares that while God has prepared a vast harvest of souls, He looks for committed disciples to bring it in. Jesus speaks directly to His followers, assuring them the opportunity is enormous yet underscoring the urgency of more laborers. The verse challenges every believer to see the abundance, feel the need, and step into the Lord’s field with confidence that He has already made it ready.Parallel Commentaries ... Greek ThenΤότε (Tote) Adverb Strong's 5119: Then, at that time. From ho and hote; the when, i.e. At the time that. He said λέγει (legei) Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular Strong's 3004: (a) I say, speak; I mean, mention, tell, (b) I call, name, especially in the pass., (c) I tell, command. to τοῖς (tois) Article - Dative Masculine Plural Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the. his αὐτοῦ (autou) Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons. disciples, μαθηταῖς (mathētais) Noun - Dative Masculine Plural Strong's 3101: A learner, disciple, pupil. From manthano; a learner, i.e. Pupil. “The Ὁ (Ho) Article - Nominative Masculine Singular Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the. harvest θερισμὸς (therismos) Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular Strong's 2326: Reaping, harvest; met: the harvest, crop. From therizo; reaping, i.e. The crop. [is] plentiful, πολύς (polys) Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular Strong's 4183: Much, many; often. but δὲ (de) Conjunction Strong's 1161: A primary particle; but, and, etc. the οἱ (hoi) Article - Nominative Masculine Plural Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the. workers ἐργάται (ergatai) Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural Strong's 2040: A field-laborer; then: a laborer, workman in general. From ergon; a toiler; figuratively, a teacher. [are] few. ὀλίγοι (oligoi) Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural Strong's 3641: Puny; especially neuter somewhat. Additonal Resources Matthew 9:37 Blue Letter BibleMatthew 9:37 Bible Gateway Matthew 9:37 Bible.com Matthew 9:37 NIV |
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