Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few;
Parallel translations
- WEB Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest indeed is plentiful, but the laborers are few.
- BSB Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers 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 10:2Therefore 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 16:15And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
- 1 Cor 3:9For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building.
- John 4:35–36Say 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.
- Matt 28:19Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
- 2 Cor 6:1We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.
- Luke 24:47And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
- Acts 16:9And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us.
- 1 Th 5:12–13And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you;
- Ps 68:11The Lord gave the word: great was the company of those that published it.
- 1 Tim 5:17Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.
- Phil 2:19–21But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timotheus shortly unto you, that I also may be of good comfort, when I know your state.
- Acts 18:10For I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city.
- Col 4:11And Jesus, which is called Justus, who are of the circumcision. These only are my fellowworkers unto the kingdom of God, which have been a comfort unto 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
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