Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into His harvest.”
Parallel translations
- WEB Pray therefore that the Lord of the harvest will send out laborers into his harvest.”
- KJV Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.
- NKJV Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.”
- NASB Therefore, plead with the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest.”
- NLT So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.”
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 tells his disciples to pray that the Lord of the harvest will send out workers. Mission begins with dependent prayer to God.
Overview
Jesus directs his disciples to ask God, the owner of the harvest, to thrust out laborers into his field. The command shows that the work belongs to God and depends on his sending. Strikingly, those told to pray will themselves become the answer, as the next chapter sends them out.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 13
- Luke 10:1–2After 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.
- Jer 3:15Then I will give you shepherds after My own heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding.”
- 2 Th 3:1Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may spread quickly and be held in honor, just as it was with you.
- Acts 13:2While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”
- John 20:21Again Jesus said to them, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent Me, so also I am sending you.”
- 1 Cor 12:28And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, and those with gifts of healing, helping, administration, and various tongues.
- Acts 8:4Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went.
- Ps 68:11The Lord gives the command; a great company of women proclaim it:
- Mic 5:7Then the remnant of Jacob will be in the midst of many peoples like dew from the LORD, like showers on the grass, which do not wait for man or linger for mankind.
- Eph 4:11And it was He who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers,
- Luke 6:12–13In those days Jesus went out to the mountain to pray, and He spent the night in prayer to God.
- Matt 10:1–3And 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.
- Ps 68:18You have ascended on high; You have led captives away. You have received gifts from men, even from the rebellious, that the LORD God may dwell there.
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 9:38 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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