The harvest is Plenty the works are few
Notes
9:37–38 Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.” Jesus looked at the crowds following him and referred to them as a field ripe for harvest, but the laborers to bring in the harvest are few. These “laborers” were the disciples, then few in number. Jesus commanded his disciples to pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers. The “Lord of the harvest” refers to God. The verb translated “send out” is a strong term, meaning to “thrust forth.” In this context it speaks of a strong push to get workers into the field. These laborers must warn people of coming judgment and call them to repentance. Many people are ready to give their lives to Christ if someone would show them how. We are to pray that people will respond to this need for workers. Often, when we pray for something, God answers our prayers by using us. Be prepared for God to use you to show another person the way to him. Chapter 10 will describe this mission and what it will involve in more detail.
9:36 But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd. Wherever Jesus went, crowds gathered. But when Jesus saw these multitudes, he was moved with compassion for them. The word “compassion” describes the deep inner mercy of God, often described in the Old Testament. The prophet Ezekiel compared Israel to sheep without a shepherd (Ezekiel 34:5, 6; see also Numbers 27:17; 1 Kings 22:17); Jesus saw the weary and scattered people as sheep having no shepherd. The word for “weary” can also mean “troubled,” “bewildered,” or “despondent.” The word for “scattered” is also “prostrate” or “thrown to the ground.” The two words are near synonyms that stress man’s helplessness without God. Jesus came to be the Shepherd, the one who could show people how to avoid life’s pitfalls (see John 10:14; 1 Peter 2:25). Jesus considered the Pharisees to have failed in leading the people to God, who were therefore left without a shepherd.
Today I noticed for the first time that Jesus’ compassion on the multitudes was not only because they were many, but because they were scattered, divided, and distressed
9:36 he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. As Jesus healed the multitudes of all their diseases, taught in the synagogues, and preached the rule of God, there were many occasions for his compassion to be manifested (cf. 14:14; 15:32; 20:34). But the needs of the multitudes were not the only reason for the compassion of Jesus—his pity for the crowds was heightened because their state of distress and helplessness was similar to that of sheep without a shepherd (cf. Mark 6:34). The language pictures a predator mangling the sheep and throwing them to the ground. This metaphor recalls many passages in the Heb. Bible that speak of Israel as God’s flock and Israel’s leaders as shepherds (e.g., Num 27:17; 2 Sam 5:2; 1 Kgs 22:17; Jer 3:15; 10:21; 23:1; Ezek 34:5; Zech 10:2–3; 11:16; Jdt 11:19). Matthew himself used this imagery elsewhere (2:6; 25:32; 26:31). Thus, the comparison of Israel to sheep without a shepherd implies that the religious leaders of Israel were not faithful shepherds of Israel but vicious predators. On this point, Matthew echoes the prophetic critique of the Jerusalem establishment and prepares the reader for the sustained polemics against the leaders yet to come.
Matthew 9:35–38 serves two functions. It not only looks back to 4:22, it also looks ahead to the mission discourse of chapter 10. Matthew 8–9 presents three sets of three miracle stories, and interspersed before and after the second set are stories emphasizing discipleship (8:18–22; 9:9–17). These discipleship stories prepare the reader for the need for mission workers, expressed through the dual metaphor of shepherds for Israel who work in the harvest fields (9:36–38). Such workers count the cost of serving Jesus (8:18–22). They could perhaps come from the undesirable elements of the culture (9:9–13), and they understand the newness of Jesus’ Kingdom message (9:14–17). Such are the kind of workers for whom the disciples were told to pray in 9:38. Judging from the sobering instructions in the mission discourse just ahead in the narrative, these workers will endure much opposition
36. But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted [ἦσαν ἐκλελυμμένοι]. This reading, however, has hardly any authority at all. The true reading doubtless is, ‘were harassed’ [ἦσαν ἐσκυλμένοι], and were scattered abroad [ἐῤῥιμμένοι]—rather, ‘lying about,’ ‘abandoned,’ or ‘neglected’—as sheep having no shepherd—their pitiable condition as wearied and couching under bodily fatigue, a vast disorganized mass, being but a faint picture of their wretchedness as the victims of Pharisaic guidance; their souls uncared for, yet drawn after and hanging upon Him. This moved the Redeemer’s compassion. 37. Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous. His eye doubtless rested immediately on the Jewish field, but this he saw widening into the vast field of “the world” (ch. 13:38), teeming with souls having to be gathered to Him. but the labourers—men divinely qualified and called to gather them in—are few;
9:35 Jesus traveled through all the cities and villages of that area. The Good News about the Kingdom was that the promised and long-awaited Messiah had finally come. His healing miracles were a sign that his teaching was true.
9:36 Wherever Jesus went, crowds gathered, and Jesus felt great pity for them. The word “pity” describes the deep mercy of God. The prophet Ezekiel compared Israel to sheep without a shepherd (Ezekiel 34:5–6; see also Numbers 27:17; 1 Kings 22:17); Jesus saw that the people didn’t know where to go for help. These words stress people’s helplessness without God. Jesus came to be the Shepherd, the one who could show people how to avoid life’s pitfalls (see John 10:14; 1 Peter 2:25).
9:37–38 Jesus looked at the crowds following him and referred to them as a field ripe for harvest, but the workers to bring in the harvest are so few. These “workers” were the disciples, then few in number. Jesus commanded his disciples to pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send out more workers for his fields. These workers must warn people of coming judgment and call them to repentance. Many people are ready to give their lives to Christ if someone would show them how. We are to pray that people will respond to this need for workers. Often, when we pray for something, God answers our prayers by using us. Be prepared for God to use you to show another person the way to him. Chapter 10 will describe this mission and what it will involve in more detail.