Matthew 9:37-38

✝️ Matthew 9:37–38 (NKJV)

“Then He said to His disciples, ‘The harvest truly is plentiful, but the labourers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into His harvest.’”
— Matthew 9:37–38 NKJV

📖 Contextual Overview: Matthew Chapter 9

Matthew 9[i] presents a series of miracles and moments of ministry by Jesus Christ. He heals the paralytic, calls Matthew the tax collector, raises a girl from the dead, heals the blind and mute, and casts out demons. These acts reveal His divine authority and compassion. The chapter culminates in verses 36–38, where Jesus, moved by the spiritual and physical needs of the crowds, expresses a deep concern for the lack of gospel workers.

🧠 Exegetical Insights

1. The Plentiful Harvest

• The “harvest” symbolises the multitude of people ready to receive the gospel. Jesus sees beyond physical needs to the spiritual hunger of the crowds.
• In Christian theology, this reflects the doctrine of election: God has chosen many for salvation, and the gospel must be preached so that the elect may respond in faith (Romans 10:14–17).

2. The Few Labourers

• The scarcity of workers highlights the urgency of gospel ministry. Jesus does not call for more spectators but for active participants in the mission.
• This aligns with the Christian emphasis on the priesthood of all believers (1 Peter 2:9). Every Christian is called to witness, not just pastors or missionaries.

3. Pray to the Lord of the Harvest

• Jesus commands prayer, not recruitment. This affirms God’s sovereignty in calling and sending workers.
• In Christian thought, this underscores divine initiative. Ministry is not man-made; it is God-ordained. We pray because God alone raises up faithful servants (Ephesians 4:11–12).

4. Send Out Labourers

• The Greek word for “send out” (ἐκβάλλω) carries forceful connotations—like thrusting out. It suggests urgency and divine compulsion.
• This reflects the Christian understanding of calling: God not only invites but compels His servants into gospel work (Jeremiah 20:9).

🪶 Application for Modern Christian Living

🔹 Cultivate Gospel Urgency

Christians today must recognise the spiritual need around them. The harvest is not limited to foreign missions—it includes neighbours, colleagues, and communities. Gospel urgency should shape our priorities.

🔹 Pray for Workers

Rather than lamenting the lack of ministers, believers are called to pray earnestly. Churches should regularly pray for God to raise up faithful preachers, teachers, and evangelists.

🔹 Be Willing to Go

This passage challenges passive Christianity. Every believer should ask, “Am I willing to be sent?” Whether through formal ministry or everyday witness, we are all labourers in God’s field.

🔹 Trust God’s Sovereignty

The Lord of the harvest is in control. This brings comfort and confidence. We do not labour in vain—God is at work, gathering His people through the faithful proclamation of His Word.

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[i] Matthew 9

New King James Version

Jesus Forgives and Heals a Paralytic

9 So He got into a boat, crossed over, and came to His own city. 2 Then behold, they brought to Him a paralytic lying on a bed. When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, be of good cheer; your sins are forgiven you.”

3 And at once some of the scribes said within themselves, “This Man blasphemes!”

4 But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, “Why do you think evil in your hearts? 5 For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Arise and walk’? 6 But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins”—then He said to the paralytic, “Arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.” 7 And he arose and departed to his house.

8 Now when the multitudes saw it, they marveled and glorified God, who had given such power to men.

Matthew the Tax Collector

9 As Jesus passed on from there, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, “Follow Me.” So he arose and followed Him.

10 Now it happened, as Jesus sat at the table in the house, that behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat down with Him and His disciples. 11 And when the Pharisees saw it, they said to His disciples, “Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”

12 When Jesus heard that, He said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. 13 But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice.’ For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”

Jesus Is Questioned About Fasting

14 Then the disciples of John came to Him, saying, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but Your disciples do not fast?”

15 And Jesus said to them, “Can the friends of the bridegroom mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast. 16 No one puts a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment; for the patch pulls away from the garment, and the tear is made worse. 17 Nor do they put new wine into old wineskins, or else the wineskins break, the wine is spilled, and the wineskins are ruined. But they put new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved.”

A Girl Restored to Life and a Woman Healed

18 While He spoke these things to them, behold, a ruler came and worshiped Him, saying, “My daughter has just died, but come and lay Your hand on her and she will live.” 19 So Jesus arose and followed him, and so did His disciples.

20 And suddenly, a woman who had a flow of blood for twelve years came from behind and touched the hem of His garment. 21 For she said to herself, “If only I may touch His garment, I shall be made well.” 22 But Jesus turned around, and when He saw her He said, “Be of good cheer, daughter; your faith has made you well.” And the woman was made well from that hour.

23 When Jesus came into the ruler’s house, and saw the flute players and the noisy crowd wailing, 24 He said to them, “Make room, for the girl is not dead, but sleeping.” And they ridiculed Him. 25 But when the crowd was put outside, He went in and took her by the hand, and the girl arose. 26 And the report of this went out into all that land.

Two Blind Men Healed

27 When Jesus departed from there, two blind men followed Him, crying out and saying, “Son of David, have mercy on us!”

28 And when He had come into the house, the blind men came to Him. And Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?”

They said to Him, “Yes, Lord.”

29 Then He touched their eyes, saying, “According to your faith let it be to you.” 30 And their eyes were opened. And Jesus sternly warned them, saying, “See that no one knows it.” 31 But when they had departed, they spread the news about Him in all that country.

A Mute Man Speaks

32 As they went out, behold, they brought to Him a man, mute and demon-possessed. 33 And when the demon was cast out, the mute spoke. And the multitudes marveled, saying, “It was never seen like this in Israel!”

34 But the Pharisees said, “He casts out demons by the ruler of the demons.”

The Compassion of Jesus

35 Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. 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. 37 Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. 38 Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.”