Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.
Parallel translations
- WEB Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest indeed is plentiful, but the laborers are few.
- KJV Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few;
- NKJV Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few.
- NASB Then He *said to His disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.
- NLT He said to his disciples, “The harvest is great, but the workers are few.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Jesus says the harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Many are ready to receive the gospel, yet laborers are lacking.
Overview
Using a harvest image, Jesus describes a vast number of people ripe for the kingdom but too few to gather them in. The metaphor conveys both opportunity and urgency in mission. It calls his followers to recognize the great need and the priority of laboring for souls.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 14
- Luke 10:2And 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.
- Mark 16:15And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.
- 1 Cor 3:9For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building.
- John 4:35–36Do 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.
- Matt 28:19Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,
- 2 Cor 6:1As God’s fellow workers, then, we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain.
- Luke 24:47and in His name repentance and forgiveness of sins will be proclaimed to all nations, beginning in Jerusalem.
- Acts 16:9During the night, Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and pleading with him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.”
- 1 Th 5:12–13But we ask you, brothers, to acknowledge those who work diligently among you, who preside over you in the Lord and give you instruction.
- Ps 68:11The Lord gives the command; a great company of women proclaim it:
- 1 Tim 5:17Elders who lead effectively are worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching.
- Phil 2:19–21Now I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, that I also may be cheered when I learn how you are doing.
- Acts 18:10For I am with you and no one will lay a hand on you, because I have many people in this city.”
- Col 4:11Jesus, who is called Justus, also sends greetings. These are the only Jews among my fellow workers for the kingdom of God, and they have been a comfort to me.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Matthew presents Jesus as the promised King — son of David, son of Abraham — the new Moses and true Israel in whom every prophecy reaches 'that it might be fulfilled.'
How Matthew 9:37 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.