Matthew 9:37

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

Matthew 9:37 in Other Translations

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

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

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

37 "What a huge harvest!" he said to his disciples. "How few workers!

37 Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest indeed is plenteous, but the laborers are few.

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

37 Then He said to His disciples, "The harvest is abundant, but the workers are few.

37 Then Jesus said to his disciples, "The harvest is huge. But there are only a few workers.

Matthew 9:37 Meaning and Commentary

Matthew 9:37

Then saith he unto his disciples
His heart being drawn out, and filled with pity to these poor people, upon observing the miserable and sad condition they were in; he turns himself to his disciples, whom he was about to call, and send forth in a more public manner to preach the Gospel, of which we read in the following chapter; and in order to quicken them to this service, and engage their hearts in it, says unto them,

the harvest truly is plenteous;
meaning the large number of God's elect, which were in these cities, towns, and villages, and in other places: not that these were maturely prepared by anything in themselves, or done by them, for the grace of God; and much less ripe for the kingdom of glory, and therefore called an harvest: but as there are the appointed weeks of the harvest, or a set time for the harvest to be gathered in, so there is a certain fixed time, settled in the counsel, and by the purpose of God, for the effectual calling and conversion of his elect; and this time being come, with respect to these in Galilee, and other parts, Christ calls them an "harvest"; and because of their number, a large, or "plenteous" one.

But the labourers are few:
Gospel ministers; whose calling is a laborious one; whose business is to labour in the word and doctrine; to be constant in prayer; to give up themselves to meditation and reading; to study to show themselves workmen; to preach the word in season, and out of season; and diligently discharge the several duties of their office, to the glory of Christ, and the good of souls: but such painful and laborious ministers, who are willing to spend, and be spent for Christ and immortal souls, have been but few in all ages; generally speaking, there are more loiterers than labourers.

Matthew 9:37 In-Context

35 Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness.

36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.

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

38 Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”

Cross References

• 1. John 4:35
• 2. Luke 10:2