Matthew 9:38 kjv
Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.
Matthew 9:38 nkjv
Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest."
Matthew 9:38 niv
Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field."
Matthew 9:38 esv
therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest."
Matthew 9:38 nlt
So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields."
Matthew 9 38 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Lk 10:2 | Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore... | Parallel command for prayer for more workers. |
| Jn 4:35 | Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes... | Jesus speaks of spiritual harvest being ripe now. |
| 1 Cor 3:9 | For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building. | Believers are God's fellow workers in His field. |
| Mk 4:29 | But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come. | The timing of spiritual harvest is when readiness is complete. |
| Rev 14:15 | ...Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe. | Eschatological imagery of harvest as gathering or judgment. |
| Col 1:16-17 | For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth... | Acknowledging Christ as Lord over all, including the harvest. |
| Ps 145:15 | The eyes of all wait upon thee; and thou givest them their meat in due season. | God's provision and timing in all things. |
| Isa 40:28 | Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth... | God's absolute sovereignty as the "Lord of the harvest." |
| Eph 4:11 | And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; | God is the giver of specific giftings for ministry and sending out workers. |
| Rom 10:15 | And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach... | The necessity of being sent to proclaim the Gospel. |
| Acts 1:8 | But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me... | The empowering of believers to be God's witnesses/laborers. |
| Matt 28:19-20 | Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them...teaching them to observe all things... | The Great Commission, mandating disciple-making. |
| Mk 16:15 | And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. | Commission to preach the Gospel globally. |
| Jas 5:16 | ...The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. | Emphasis on the power and effectiveness of prayer. |
| Phil 4:6 | Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. | The general command to bring all needs before God in prayer. |
| 1 Th 5:17 | Pray without ceasing. | Continual, persistent prayer is a Christian discipline. |
| 2 Tim 2:15 | Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. | Characteristics of a diligent and accurate worker in God's service. |
| Php 2:25 | Yet I supposed it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, and companion in labour, and fellowsoldier... | Reference to specific individuals as "labourers." |
| Matt 9:36 | But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered... | The immediate context: Jesus' compassion drives the instruction to pray. |
| Mk 6:34 | And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep... | Parallel account emphasizing Jesus' compassion for the lost. |
| Isa 6:8 | Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me. | The call for and willingness of labourers, divine sending. |
| Jer 1:7 | But the LORD said unto me, Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee... | God's divine sending and empowering of His chosen messengers. |
Matthew 9 verses
Matthew 9 38 Meaning
Matthew 9:38 is a direct command from Jesus, arising from His profound compassion upon seeing the spiritual state of the multitudes. It instructs believers to earnestly petition God, the sovereign Lord over the spiritual realm, to raise up and dispatch more workers into His mission field. The verse acknowledges a widespread spiritual readiness ("harvest") but highlights a severe lack of individuals committed to gathering those souls.
Matthew 9 38 Context
Matthew 9:38 is the concluding statement of a section (Matthew 9:35-38) that summarizes Jesus' Galilean ministry. Jesus had just demonstrated His authority and power through numerous miracles—healing the sick, casting out demons, forgiving sins, and even raising the dead (Matthew 8-9). Despite His extensive and powerful ministry, He witnessed the overwhelming spiritual desolation of the crowds. He observed them as "faint" (harassed, troubled) and "scattered" (helpless, without guidance), like "sheep having no shepherd." This deeply moved His compassion, as a true shepherd for His flock. In light of this vast and unattended need, and recognizing that He alone could not physically minister to everyone, Jesus issues the command in verse 38. This call to prayer immediately precedes His sending out of the twelve apostles (Matthew 10), underscoring that prayer for workers is the precursor to effective Gospel dissemination and discipleship. The metaphor of a "harvest" would have been profoundly understandable to an agrarian society, signifying a timely, plentiful, and urgent gathering that requires diligent labor.
Matthew 9 38 Word analysis
- Pray ye (Προσεύχεσθε - Proseuchesthe): A present imperative verb, indicating a continuous and ongoing command. It is not a one-time request but an abiding attitude of petition. This verb emphasizes the deep communion and reverence involved in approaching God.
- therefore (οὖν - oun): A logical connector, signaling that the command to pray is a direct consequence of the observed spiritual need (plentiful harvest, few laborers) and Jesus' compassion.
- the Lord (τὸν Κύριον - ton Kyrion): Refers to God the Father or Jesus Christ Himself, emphasizing His supreme authority and ownership over the spiritual harvest. He is the ultimate sovereign and source of all workers.
- of the harvest (τοῦ θερισμοῦ - tou therismou): "Harvest" signifies the field of people spiritually ready to receive the Gospel, ripe for salvation. It highlights the vast spiritual opportunity. The genitive "of the harvest" specifies that the Lord owns and orchestrates this spiritual reaping. This term can also carry an eschatological meaning, referring to the final gathering of people or judgment.
- that he will send forth (ὅπως ἐκβάλῃ - hopōs ekbalē): The Greek verb ekballō (from which ekbalē derives) is particularly strong. It means "to cast out," "to drive out," or "to send forth with force or urgency." It implies a divine compulsion and energetic deployment. It suggests that laborers are not merely "called" but vigorously "dispatched" into a crucial task. This is the same word used for casting out demons (e.g., Matt 8:31, 9:33) and for Jesus "driving out" money changers (Matt 21:12), highlighting the divine initiative and forceful commissioning of those called to serve.
- labourers (ἐργάτας - ergatas): Literally "workers" or "toilers." These are active participants, committed and diligent individuals dedicated to the work of the harvest. They are not idle observers but those who actively proclaim the Gospel, make disciples, and build up the church.
- into his harvest (εἰς τὸν θερισμὸν αὐτοῦ - eis ton therismon autou): Emphasizes divine ownership. The harvest is God's, the purpose is His, and the work is for His glory. The laborers are not working for themselves or a human institution, but for the Lord of the harvest.
Matthew 9 38 Bonus section
The juxtaposition of "plentiful harvest" and "few labourers" (Matt 9:37) is a stark call for attention. A harvest ready for reaping implies ripeness and opportunity; if not gathered promptly, it risks decay and loss. This urgency is transferred to the spiritual realm: souls are ready, but delay through lack of workers can lead to spiritual stagnation or loss. Jesus' teaching here implies a symbiotic relationship between divine provision and human prayer: God, as the Lord of the harvest, can send forth laborers, but He waits for His people to pray for them. This reveals a remarkable invitation for humanity to participate actively in the fulfillment of God's redemptive plan through the potent act of intercessory prayer. It highlights the divine wisdom in making humanity's petitions integral to His mission.
Matthew 9 38 Commentary
Matthew 9:38 encapsulates a profound paradox and a crucial mandate for believers. Jesus observes a spiritual reality where an overwhelming number of souls are ready to receive the Gospel ("the harvest truly is plentiful"), yet there is a critical shortage of dedicated workers to reach them. This is not merely an observation but an urgent call to action through prayer.
The passage stresses divine sovereignty: God is "the Lord of the harvest," owning the field and being the ultimate authority to dispatch workers. Prayer is thus an acknowledgment of His sovereignty and an appeal for Him to act in His unique capacity to raise and equip such laborers. The strong verb "send forth" (ekballō) indicates that these laborers are not casually appointed, but powerfully impelled and commissioned by God Himself, perhaps overcoming personal hesitations or obstacles, driven by a divine urgency into the work.
This verse compels Christians to understand that the spiritual need is immense, requiring divine intervention, which is triggered through their persistent prayer. It implies that raising up laborers is not primarily a task for human institutions or recruitment efforts, but a spiritual enterprise empowered by God. Therefore, individual believers and churches are called to intercede faithfully for more committed workers, recognizing that the Spirit alone empowers individuals to enter this urgent work. Practical applications include forming prayer groups specifically for mission and ministry, dedicating time in personal prayer for this request, and recognizing that one might also be called to be one of those laborers.