Matthew 9:37 kjv

Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few;

Matthew 9:37 nkjv

Then He said to His disciples, "The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few.

Matthew 9:37 niv

Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.

Matthew 9:37 esv

Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few;

Matthew 9:37 nlt

He said to his disciples, "The harvest is great, but the workers are few.

Matthew 9 verses

Matthew 9 37 Meaning

Jesus identifies a pressing spiritual need in the world, metaphorically described as a ready harvest of souls. He contrasts this vast opportunity for spiritual ingathering with the severe scarcity of people actively working to bring these souls into the Kingdom. It is a direct statement born of compassion for those "harassed and helpless," signifying that many are ripe to receive the message of the Gospel, yet there are too few to share it effectively.

Matthew 9 37 Context

This verse appears in a pivotal section of Matthew's Gospel where Jesus demonstrates His authority and compassion through a series of healings, including a paralytic, and His calling of Matthew, the tax collector. Importantly, directly preceding verse 37, Matthew 9:35-36 describes Jesus tirelessly traveling through "all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction." It concludes with His profound compassion upon seeing the crowds, who were "harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd." This deep empathy for their spiritual and physical state serves as the immediate motivation for His declaration about the plentiful harvest and few laborers, leading directly into His instruction in verse 38 to pray for more workers, and subsequently the commissioning of the twelve apostles in Chapter 10. The historical context reflects a Jewish populace largely neglected by their spiritual leaders, making them receptive to Jesus' ministry.

Matthew 9 37 Word analysis

• Then he said (Τότε λέγει - Tote legei): This serves as a temporal and logical connector, linking Jesus' statement directly to His preceding observation of the suffering crowds (v. 36) and His profound compassion. It marks a decisive moment where Jesus reveals a crucial insight about the state of humanity and the mission ahead.

• to his disciples (τοῖς μαθηταῖς αὐτοῦ - tois mathētais autou): The primary audience are those who are following Jesus and learning from Him. This implies that the call to recognize the harvest and pray for laborers is specifically for those who are committed to Him and His mission, identifying them as potential future laborers.

• "The harvest (ὁ θερισμός - ho therismos):

  • Meaning: Literally refers to the gathering of ripe crops.
  • Significance: Here, it is a powerful metaphor for the abundant number of people ready to hear and respond to the Gospel. It suggests a time of spiritual ripeness and opportunity for ingathering souls into God's Kingdom. It implies readiness, not just a potential future state.
  • Further Depth: In Old Testament prophecy, harvest imagery often denotes a time of divine judgment or gathering of God's people (e.g., Joel 3:13; Jer 8:20). Jesus uses it to highlight a present opportunity for spiritual salvation.

• is plentiful (πολύς - polys):

  • Meaning: Abundant, numerous, much in quantity or number.
  • Significance: This word emphasizes the immense scale of the spiritual need. There is no lack of potential converts or receptive hearts, but rather an overwhelming quantity of people in need of spiritual guidance and the message of Christ.

• but (δέ - de): This conjunction introduces a strong contrast or opposition. It sets up the critical imbalance that Jesus highlights – the vast need versus the limited resources.

• the laborers (οἱ ἐργάται - hoi ergatai):

  • Meaning: Workers, toilers, those who exert effort in a task.
  • Significance: These are individuals dedicated to the work of spiritual ingathering – spreading the Gospel, discipling new believers, and ministering to the needy. They are active participants, willing to engage in the strenuous work required for the "harvest." It signifies commitment, effort, and active participation in the Kingdom's work.

• are few (ὀλίγοι - oligoi):

  • Meaning: Small in number, insufficient.
  • Significance: This indicates a critical shortage of available and willing workers compared to the vastness of the spiritual harvest. It's a statement of an enduring challenge in the mission of God's Kingdom.

• Words-group by words-group analysis:

  • "The harvest is plentiful": This phrase highlights God's initiative and sovereign preparation. The readiness of the people (the harvest) is not something human effort creates, but rather something that God has already prepared. It suggests that there's always an openness to the Gospel somewhere, demonstrating God's continuous work in the world.
  • "but the laborers are few": This contrasting clause pinpoints the human-side limitation in executing God's work. The issue isn't God's provision or the people's receptivity, but the scarcity of individuals committed to and actively engaged in the work of evangelism and discipleship. This directly serves as a call to action for His disciples and for future generations of believers.

Matthew 9 37 Bonus section

The "Lord of the harvest" mentioned in the subsequent verse (Matt 9:38) is God Himself. This means the call for laborers is not merely a request for volunteers, but a plea to God to send out workers into His harvest. It implies a divine enablement and commissioning of these laborers, reinforcing that the mission is ultimately God's, and He calls and equips His workers. This also removes the burden of generating workers through human schemes and places it firmly in the hands of God, while still calling believers to participation through prayer and active service. The harvest imagery also highlights the transient nature of opportunity; a ripe harvest cannot wait indefinitely, underscoring the urgency of the Great Commission.

Matthew 9 37 Commentary

Matthew 9:37 reveals Jesus' compassionate heart and strategic understanding of the Kingdom's expansion. Seeing the spiritual plight of the people as "harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd," He identifies a vast and immediate opportunity for spiritual ingathering, metaphorically "the harvest." The "plentiful" harvest signifies that many people are ready and ripe for the Gospel message, not due to human persuasion, but through divine preparation. The critical problem, however, is not the harvest itself, but the drastic insufficiency of "laborers" – devoted workers committed to preaching, teaching, healing, and discipling. This statement sets the stage for the next verse, where Jesus instructs His disciples to pray for the "Lord of the harvest" to send out more workers, emphasizing that the mission belongs to God and relies on His sovereign provision of dedicated individuals. It is a timeless observation applicable to every generation: spiritual opportunity abounds, but devoted Gospel workers are consistently in short supply, thus urging prayer and personal response to join the ranks of those laborers.