Matthew 9:35-38
A Plentiful Harvest
Read the passage
35Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness.
36When He saw the crowds, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.
37Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.
38Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into His harvest.”
Berean Standard Bible
Read aloud
Jesus travels through towns and villages, teaching in synagogues, announcing the kingdom and healing disease and sickness. When He sees the crowds, He is moved with compassion. They are harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.
His response is not irritation at how many needs remain. He sees people who need care and direction. The image of unprotected sheep prepares us to hear why more workers are needed: people must receive the good news and care of His kingdom.
Jesus tells His disciples that the harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Then He tells them to ask the Lord of the harvest to send workers into His harvest. The need is large, yet it belongs to a Lord who can provide those who will serve.
The disciples begin by praying. They do not have to pretend that they can meet every need themselves, but neither should they look away because the need is great. Jesus brings them into His concern for the crowds and directs that concern toward a request to God.
In the next chapter, He calls the twelve and sends them out. The people told to pray will also receive work to do. Compassion, prayer and service belong together under the Lord’s direction.
How We Know
Matthew follows the command to pray for harvest workers with Jesus calling and sending the twelve. He gives them authority and tells them to proclaim the kingdom to Israel’s lost sheep. The sequence joins prayer for workers with the Lord’s provision of workers; the disciples who ask are also drawn into the work.
Questions
1 What does Jesus see when He looks at the crowds?
AnswerHe sees harassed and helpless people, like sheep without a shepherd, and is moved with compassion for them.
2 What problem does the harvest picture describe?
AnswerThe harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. There are many people to be reached and cared for.
3 What does Jesus tell His disciples to ask?
AnswerThey are to ask the Lord of the harvest to send workers into His harvest. The work belongs to Him.
4 How can this command guide our prayers?
AnswerPray for people who need the gospel and ask God to send faithful workers. Be willing to receive a part in the service He provides.
What This Means for Us
A great need can make us feel either indispensable or useless. Jesus gives His disciples a different beginning: ask the Lord to send workers. His compassion teaches us to care, and His lordship keeps us from imagining the whole harvest depends on us.
Name a place where people need the gospel and faithful care. Pray for those who serve there and for more workers to be sent. Then consider how you can encourage, support or join that work according to the opportunities God gives.
Prayer
Lord of the harvest, give us your compassion for people who are harassed and helpless. Send faithful workers, protect them from pride and exhaustion, and show our household how to serve with humility and care. Amen.