Matthew 9:37 Meaning and Explanation
“Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few;”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →The Context of Matthew 9:37
Jesus speaks this after moving through the cities with compassion for the weary crowds, immediately before urging His disciples to pray for laborers.
What Does Matthew 9:37 Mean?
Jesus describes the multitude of people ready to receive God's mercy as a vast harvest, but laments that too few are working to gather it. This statement comes right after He looks on the crowds with compassion, seeing them as sheep without a shepherd, scattered and weary. The harvest image is rich: the people are a ripe field, full of those longing for the truth and care that only God can give, rather than a problem to be managed. The harvest itself is ready; what is lacking is workers willing to labor in it. Jesus' words carry both urgency and tenderness: urgency because the harvest waits, tenderness because He cares deeply for every soul in the field. The very next verse turns this observation into a prayer request: ask the Lord of the harvest to send forth laborers. So this verse is a summons to compassion and to action, more than an observation about need. The fields are full; the question is who will go and gather.
Matthew 9:37 in the Original Language
The Greek therismos means "harvest," and ergates means "laborers" or workers, evoking the urgent, seasonal work of reaping ripe grain.
Bible Verses Related to Matthew 9:37
“Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest.”
- Luke 10:2
“Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.”
- John 4:35
“But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.”
- Matthew 9:36
How to Apply Matthew 9:37 Today
See the people around you as a ripe harvest, and ask God how He would have you labor in gathering them with compassion.
Frequently Asked Questions About Matthew 9:37
What is the harvest in Matthew 9:37?
The harvest pictures the many people ready to receive God's mercy. Jesus sees the crowds as a ripe field full of those longing for truth and care, waiting to be gathered.
Why are the laborers few in this verse?
The shortage is of willing workers, not of receptive people. Jesus turns this into a call to prayer and action, urging His followers to ask God to send laborers into the harvest.