He said to his disciples, “The harvest is great, 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;
- BSB Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.
- ESV Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers 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.
Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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 10:2Then he said to them, “The harvest is indeed plentiful, but the laborers are few. Pray therefore to the Lord of the harvest, that he may send out laborers into his harvest.
- Mark 16:15He said to them, “Go into all the world, and preach the Good News to the whole creation.
- 1 Cor 3:9For we are God’s fellow workers. You are God’s farming, God’s building.
- John 4:35–36Don’t you say, ‘There are yet four months until the harvest?’ Behold, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and look at the fields, that they are white for harvest already.
- Matt 28:19Go, 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 6:1Working together, we entreat also that you not receive the grace of God in vain,
- Luke 24:47and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name to all the nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
- Acts 16:9A vision appeared to Paul in the night. There was a man of Macedonia standing, begging him, and saying, “Come over into Macedonia and help us.”
- 1 Th 5:12–13But we beg you, brothers, to know those who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you,
- Ps 68:11The Lord announced the word. The ones who proclaim it are a great company.
- 1 Tim 5:17Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and in teaching.
- Phil 2:19–21But I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, that I also may be cheered up when I know how you are doing.
- Acts 18:10for I am with you, and no one will attack you to harm you, for I have many people in this city.”
- Col 4:11and Jesus who is called Justus. These are my only fellow workers for God’s Kingdom who are of the circumcision, men who 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.