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Explanation for:
Matthew
9
:
38
Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he send forth labourers into his harvest.
10
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{"arr":[{"author-name":"Jerome of Stridon","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88dcd3432c6dd41375498_Jerome%20of%20Stridon.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"He instructs us to pray to the Lord of the harvest for workers to be sent into His fields. These workers are described by the Psalmist when he writes, ‘Those who sow with tears will reap with joy. He who bears seed with weeping shall return with joy, bearing his sheaves’ (Psalm 125:5-6). To clarify, the many who reap represent the entire community of believers. The few who labor are the apostles along with their followers, tasked with going out into the harvest."},{"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":"Why did He instruct, ‘Pray to the Lord of the harvest, that He may send out workers into His harvest,’ without adding to the number of the apostles? This is because later He replaced many for the twelve, not by increasing their count but by strengthening them. In order to demonstrate the magnitude of this blessing, He told them, ‘Pray to the Lord of the harvest,’ subtly indicating that He Himself was that Lord."},{"author-name":"Cyrill of Alexandria","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88a8ea5c988a4fc073480_Cyrill%20of%20Alexandria.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":5,"exegesis-text":"The Redeemer, raising His gaze, addressed them: “The harvest is abundant, but the workers are few; therefore, implore the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest” (Matt. 9:37-38, Luke 10:2), designating the harvest as those who, like the ears of grain, flourish in righteousness through faith in Him. Who, if not the Almighty, can rightfully claim lordship over such souls? Paul similarly entreats those who remain recipients of the divine promises to come together in repentance, exclaiming, “We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God” (2 Corinthians 5:20). Thus, since God is the sole Lord of the harvest, the Sovereign and Creator of all, the Redeemer asserted that it is fitting for Him alone to designate the workers; and having done so Himself, He reveals His divinity through this authority, commanding Philip to follow Him (John 1:43). Consequently, it is evident that He is indeed the true God, for He is also the Lord of the harvest, having made Himself known through this very act."},{"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 one who oversees the harvest is none other than Christ, the Sovereign of both the prophets and the apostles. This is clearly demonstrated by His appointment of the twelve apostles, an action He took without seeking God's approval. Pay attention to this (See Matthew 10:1)."},{"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":"He refers to Himself as the Master of the harvest because the harvest belongs to Him, it is to Him that it is gathered, and He holds the power to reap it. He instructed them to pray not out of necessity for their petitions, for no one is more compassionate than He, but to guide the disciples in seeking God's aid for those who have wandered away."},{"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":"Pray to the Lord of the harvest. God, whose endeavors the Lord upholds through His own actions on earth (cf. Jn. 4:34). - That He may send forth: this is a heightened appeal stemming from a profound compassion for the people and an awareness of the pressing necessity for fresh workers - harvesters. Pray to God that in His benevolence and strength, He might bless the emergence of new figures, untainted by Pharisaic and merely traditional Jewish approaches, to carry out the mission of proclaiming the arrival of the Messiah's kingdom."},{"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 Divine Shepherd looks with compassion on His scattered flock. He then addresses His disciples, stating that while there are many eager to embrace the message of the Kingdom of God, the laborers available are few. Consequently, He instructs them to beseech the Lord of the Harvest for new laborers to be sent forth. St. Chrysostom reflects on this, noting that the Lord was referring to the twelve apostles. However, despite highlighting the scarcity of laborers, He only appointed these twelve. The purpose of this request for prayer is so that, empowered by grace, these apostles might replace the multitude of lost souls. Observe His humility, as He commissions His followers, not merely to gather others in His name, but also for their own spiritual development. He aims for them to gain experience in their homeland, akin to training in a school of warfare, preparing them for broader missions around the world. Just as young birds learn to fly, He provides them with ample opportunities for action, equipping them initially as healers of the body, so that they may later wield the profound task of healing souls.\\n\\nConsider how He emphasizes the ease and necessity of this mission by declaring that \\"the harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few.\\" He reassures them, saying, “I send you not to sow but to reap,\\" indicating that the groundwork has been laid by others. The labor of sowing, He reminds them, is significant, as the harvest represents the culmination of a farmer's efforts. Why, then, does He speak of the harvest at such an early stage? At that moment, wickedness dominated, idolatry was rampant, and true worship of Jesus was absent. Darkness enshrouded the earth, with only the Jewish nation holding fragments of divine knowledge, yet even they struggled to impart true piety and often caused stumbling blocks.\\n\\nSo why does Christ speak of a plentiful harvest? He did so because He planned to send His disciples into the world, who may have felt intimidated and questioned their ability to transform established customs and ideas. They wondered how they could uproot thorns, plant new seeds, and nurture them amidst such chaos, and who might confront or harm them in this endeavor. To alleviate their fears, He described the gospel as a harvest, meaning that they were to gather the fruit that was already ripe, reassuring them that they would not need to labor from the ground up; they were stepping into a situation where preparation had already been made.\\n\\nWith the joy of a farmer reaping his harvest, they too were to preach with the expectation of gathering the fruits of their labor. He promised them, “Serve Me through your words, and you will see the abundant harvest brought into the King's storehouses.” Furthermore, when sending them out, He affirmed, “And behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” By calling upon the Lord of the Harvest for more workers, He acted without their request, showing His sovereign authority in ordaining them, and invoking the imagery of the wheat and tares from John’s teaching about the threshing floor. One interpreter notes that this call to \\"pray\\" teaches to seek God on behalf of 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 the disciples, indicating the abundant harvest yet the scarcity of workers. Consequently, He instructed them to beseech the Lord of the harvest to raise up suitable laborers from among them. Following this, He dispatched them in pairs throughout the land to instruct the people, affirm His teachings, and perform righteous 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 surveyed the surroundings, it appeared that the God-Man perceived a vast expanse teeming with a rich harvest, eagerly awaiting those who would gather it. He remarked to His disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few;” therefore, they should pray to the Lord of the harvest, urging Him to send forth workers into His harvest. This invitation underscored that He Himself is indeed that Lord. The task of gathering was not meant for another, but rather for what He had sown through the prophets and the entire structure of the Old Testament, which prepared the chosen people to embrace the grace 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 commission of the twelve apostles to proclaim the Gospel is intricately linked to the entire public ministry of Jesus, which was outlined in the preceding chapter. Matthew connects this commission with Christ’s broader public endeavors, providing a general overview of His ministry (9:35, nearly identical to 4:23). He illustrates that the considerable following of Christ made it impossible for Him to meet the spiritual needs of the crowd alone. This realization led Jesus to send out twelve of His disciples to preach. In verses 36-38, it is noted that He was moved with compassion for the people, likened to sheep without a shepherd, suffering (εσκυλμένοί from σκυλλλειν, meaning to torment) under the weight of spiritual burdens imposed by the many rules and ceremonies of their Pharisaic leaders, and left adrift (ερριμένοι, cf. Lk. 4:35; 17:2; Mt. 15:30; 27:5). A brief introduction is also provided by Mark (Mk. 6:6b.) regarding the sending of the twelve apostles to minister."}]}
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