The worker of harvest

Acts 17:22–34 NIV

22 Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: “People of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious. 23 For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: to an unknown god. So you are ignorant of the very thing you worship—and this is what I am going to proclaim to you. 24 “The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands. 25 And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else. 26 From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. 27 God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us. 28 ‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’ 29 “Therefore since we are God’s offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone—an image made by human design and skill. 30 In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. 31 For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead.” 32 When they heard about the resurrection of the dead, some of them sneered, but others said, “We want to hear you again on this subject.” 33 At that, Paul left the Council. 34 Some of the people became followers of Paul and believed. Among them was Dionysius, a member of the Areopagus, also a woman named Damaris, and a number of others.

Matthew 9:35–38 NIV

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.”

Introduction

Jesus went through all the towns and villages - everywhere in the whole of Galilee.

Today, we might have the chance to go everywhere as well.

the different purpose between us and Jesus in going everywhere.

the Dimension of Jesus’ ministry

teach - impart skills and knowledge, to give instruction.

proclaim - to make known publicly, to urge, to warn,

heal - to provide care, to improve a situation

The heart of Jesus’ ministry

compassionate - to be deeply moved, identify with the situation of other and prepare to act for their benefit. in Matthew, compassion always addresses the physical needs of people. What does the Bible tell us about His compassion?

sensitivity to the hurt - harrassment and helplessness. “worried and helpless” (GNB); “distressed and downcast” (NASB);

Morris, L. (1992). The Gospel according to Matthew (p. 239). Grand Rapids, MI; Leicester, England: W.B. Eerdmans; Inter-Varsity Press.

sensitivity to the need - sheep without shepherd. The imagery is that of shepherdless sheep, sheep wounded and torn either by hostile animals or by thornbushes and the like, and then prostrate and helpless

Morris, L. (1992). The Gospel according to Matthew (p. 239). Grand Rapids, MI; Leicester, England: W.B. Eerdmans; Inter-Varsity Press.

sensitivity to the time. The harvest is big’ presumably means more than that there are lots of Israelites to be dealt with. The size of the crop suggests that much has already been accomplished in bringing such a crop to the point of harvest (through the prophets? the exile experience? John the Baptist? the ministry of Jesus to this point?). The present sign of the readiness of a large crop is the coming of eager crowds to Jesus. It is time for us. “Be prepared in season and out of season”

The harvest is big’ presumably means more than that there are lots of Israelites to be dealt with. The size of the crop suggests that much has already been accomplished in bringing such a crop to the point of harvest (through the prophets? the exile experience? John the Baptist? the ministry of Jesus to this point?). The present sign of the readiness of a large crop is the coming of eager crowds to Jesus

Nolland, J. (2005). The Gospel of Matthew: a commentary on the Greek text (pp. 407–408). Grand Rapids, MI; Carlisle: W.B. Eerdmans; Paternoster Press.

The desire of Jesus’ ministry

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There is an urgent need for sufficient workers to be able to harvest the crop before it spoils. at the same time, it shows the opportunity.

There is an urgent need for sufficient workers to be able to harvest the crop before it spoils

Nolland, J. (2005). The Gospel of Matthew: a commentary on the Greek text (p. 408). Grand Rapids, MI; Carlisle: W.B. Eerdmans; Paternoster Press.

to have more people to involve. No matter how great our personal exertion, we will not be able to gather in the whole harvest. Therefore we are to pray to him who can send out the workers who are needed

to have more people to involve.

Morris, L. (1992). The Gospel according to Matthew (p. 240). Grand Rapids, MI; Leicester, England: W.B. Eerdmans; Inter-Varsity Press.

ask to send

ask to send

pray for workers, including ourselves.

my own testimony on this verse - my first ministry calling passage.

2 Timothy 4:1–8 NIV

1 In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: 2 Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. 3 For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4 They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. 5 But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry. 6 For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.