Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.
Parallel translations
- WEB Pray therefore that the Lord of the harvest will send out laborers into his harvest.”
- BSB Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers 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 these things the LORD appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come.
- Jer 3:15And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.
- 2 Th 3:1Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you:
- Acts 13:2As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.
- John 20:21Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.
- 1 Cor 12:28And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.
- Acts 8:4Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.
- Ps 68:11The Lord gave the word: great was the company of those that published it.
- Mic 5:7And the remnant of Jacob shall be in the midst of many people as a dew from the LORD, as the showers upon the grass, that tarrieth not for man, nor waiteth for the sons of men.
- Eph 4:11And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
- Luke 6:12–13And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.
- Matt 10:1–3And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.
- Ps 68:18Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive: thou hast received gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious also, that the LORD God might dwell among them.
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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