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Explanation for:
Matthew
9
:
37
Then he saith to his disciples, The harvest indeed is great, but the labourers are few.
8
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{"arr":[{"author-name":"John Chrysostom","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88ea76859f9f8e2ffd3ee_John%20Chrysostom.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"Consider once more how distant He is from arrogance. To prevent everyone from following only Him, He commissions His disciples. However, their mission serves a dual purpose—not only to spread His teachings but also for their own development. During their time in Palestine, akin to participants in a rigorous training program, they are being prepared for wider endeavors throughout the world. Therefore, like young birds learning to soar, He creates a vast opportunity for them to act, aligned with their capabilities, allowing them to initially embark on simpler tasks before progressing to greater challenges. At first, He assigns them the role of healing physical ailments, so that later they may be entrusted with the more significant responsibility of healing souls. Observe how clear the necessity and ease of this task is presented: the harvest is abundant, yet the workers are few. \\"I,\\" He announces, \\"send you not to plant but to gather.\\" Similarly, He states in John, “Others have laboured, and you have entered into their labours” (John 4:38). Through these statements, He prevents them from becoming conceited, inspires them to action, and emphasizes the greater labor that has preceded them. So, who are the laborers the Lord refers to in this context? It is the twelve disciples. And when He declares, “The laborers are few,” did He increase their number? No, He sent forth only the twelve."},{"author-name":"Theophylact of Bulgaria","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c8989296bafed9104677d7_Theophylact%20of%20Bulgaria.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":11,"exegesis-text":"The term 'harvest' refers to those in need of compassion, while 'labourers' signifies those meant to impart knowledge, yet were absent from among Israel at that time."},{"author-name":"Euthymios Zigabenos","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":11,"exegesis-text":"The term \\"harvest\\" here signifies those who were destined to place their faith in Him, as they were primed for the gathering, having already received the seeds of His teachings and miracles. His reputation spread widely, as noted in the scripture: \\"And his fame went throughout all Syria\\" (Matt. 4:24). He designates His disciples as the laborers or harvesters, whom He intended to send forth to reap this ready harvest. This clarification is necessary to show that He is not merely drawing the crowds for Himself, but instead, He sends His disciples to engage in this mission. One might also interpret His calling of the harvest as an indication of the simplicity of this task, since the majority of the groundwork had already been laid by the prophets, who had sown the seeds of faith among the Jewish people through their proclamations regarding Christ. As expressed in the Gospel of John: “He that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal; that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together” (John 4:38). In discussing the harvest and the workers, He evokes the words of John the Baptist, who, when referencing Christ, likened Him to a farmer and mentioned the tools of farming, the threshing floor, along with the wheat and the chaff, as articulated in Matthew 3:12."},{"author-name":"Michail (Lusin)","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c89550c567e172d15b3055_Michail%20(Lusin).png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"The imagery of a bountiful harvest conveys a powerful yet understandable message. The field, abundant with ripe produce, awaits gathering, yet the laborers are scarce. The essence of this statement, devoid of symbolism, is that many individuals are eager for the kingdom of the Messiah, desiring to pursue it and willing to embrace it, but there are only a handful of guides available to lead them. Apart from Christ and His apostles, there were none."},{"author-name":"Abbot Panteleimon about the Trinity","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"The Compassionate Shepherd looks upon His scattered flock with mercy; He instructs His disciples, noting that although there are numerous souls eager to receive the message of the Kingdom, there are only a few who are suitably equipped to share that message. Thus, He urges them to implore the Lord of the Harvest to raise up fresh laborers for His harvest. St. Chrysostom poses the question of which workers the Lord refers to here, answering that it pertains to the twelve disciples. Yet, despite declaring that the workers are few, He did not increase their number but chose only these twelve. So, why does He instruct them to pray for laborers in His harvest? It is so that these twelve, endowed with divine power, may succeed many others. Observe how far He is from seeking glory for Himself; He commissions His disciples not simply to attract followers to Himself but also for their own development. After receiving their training in Palestine, akin to a battleground school, they would prepare for global missions. Therefore, just as young birds learn to fly, He provides them a vast realm of possibilities, facilitating their future endeavors. Initially, He appoints them as healers of the body to later task them with the critical ministry of the soul.\\n\\nNotice how He highlights the urgency and ease of the task at hand! He states, \\"The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few.\\" He reassures them, \\"I send you not to sow but to gather.\\" Others have planted, and you will reap the benefits (John 4:38). These words temper any arrogance, invigorate their spirit, and illustrate that the previous work of planting was far greater. The harvest signifies the culmination of all the farmer's toil. Yet, why would He speak of the harvest being plentiful while the work has only just begun? At that time, wickedness enveloped the world; false idols were worshipped, Jesus was unrecognized, and darkness prevailed—human desires reigned and overwhelmed everything. Only one group, the Jews, appeared outwardly devout, possessing prophets and seeds of divine knowledge, yet even those were mostly buried in obscurity. Their spiritual leaders not only failed to impart piety but also contributed to temptation (Isaiah 52:5).\\n\\nWhy does Christ then proclaim the harvest as abundant? It is because He plans to send His disciples across the world, knowing they might feel overwhelmed and doubt their ability to transform people from long-held traditions to new beliefs. They wonder, \\"When will we clear away the thorns? When will the seed be sown? When will it take root? Who will defend us from harm?\\" To quell these anxieties, He refers to the gospel as a harvest, suggesting, \\"Everything is in place; you are being sent to collect the ripened fruit. On the same day, you can both sow and reap; just as the farmer delights in gathering the harvest, you too should rejoice in preaching the good news, for this task yields abundant blessings.\\" He encourages them to serve Him through their words, promising they would witness the bounty being gathered into the barns of the King. Later, as He sends them forth, He assures them, \\"And behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age\\" (Matt. 28:20). Having called them to \\"pray to the Lord of the harvest,\\" He Himself, without their entreaty, ordains and commissions them and reminds them of John's insights about the threshing floor, tares, and wheat. An interpreter remarks that the Lord's call to \\"pray\\" emphasizes the importance of seeking God's intervention for those who have strayed."},{"author-name":"Lopuchin A.P.","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c891400ee1341634d2276d_Lopuchin%20A.P..png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"He highlighted the situation to His disciples, acknowledging the abundant harvest yet recognizing the scarcity of workers. Consequently, He instructed them to beseech the Lord of the harvest to raise up suitable laborers from their midst. Following this, He sent them out in pairs across the land to instruct the populace, reinforce His teachings, and perform good deeds in His name."},{"author-name":"Paul Matwejewski","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c8969f5be0d592d5a10576_Paul%20Matwejewski.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"As He observed the surroundings, the God-Man perceived a vast expanse filled with ripe grain, ready for harvest. \\"The harvest truly is abundant, but the laborers are few,\\" He instructed His disciples, urging them to beseech the Lord of the harvest to send forth workers into His field, subtly identifying Himself as this Lord. If He commissioned them to gather the crop, it was undoubtedly not from another's field, but from that which He had sown through the prophets and throughout the entirety of the Old Testament's framework, preparing the chosen nation to accept the blessings of the Gospel."},{"author-name":"Bogolepow D.P.","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"The narrative regarding the commissioning of the twelve apostles to proclaim the Gospel is intrinsically linked to the entirety of Jesus’ public ministry, as outlined in the preceding chapter. Matthew correlates this sending with the broader scope of Jesus’ mission, offering a concise summary of His work (9:35, which closely mirrors 4:23). He emphasizes how this ministry attracted a vast multitude of followers, making it clear that their spiritual needs could not be met by Him alone. This situation led Jesus to send out twelve of His disciples to share the Good News. In verses 36-38, it is noted that He was moved with compassion for the people, who resembled sheep without a shepherd, weighed down (εσκυλμένοί from σκυλλλειν, to torment) by the burdensome spiritual demands and countless rituals imposed by their Pharisaic leaders, and felt forsaken (ερριμένοι, cf. Lk. 4:35, 17:2, Mt. 15:30, 27:5). Additionally, a brief introduction by Mark (Mk. 6:6b) precedes the account of the apostles’ commissioning to preach."}]}
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