Matthew 9:36-38 “But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.”
Having begun His earthly ministry, Jesus crisscrosses the countryside, healing, teaching and preaching. As He does so, Matthew said that “he saw the multitudes”; this immediately generated a response, “he was moved with compassion on them.” Within His bosom there is the feeling of sympathy so as to move Him to pity or be moved with concern. What is it that generates such a response? While there are multiple answers, I think one is found in the word “harvest.” Note the words of our Lord in reference to what He saw, “Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest.” Jesus saw a harvest that was profitable! The word harvest has the idea of a crop or that which is in need of reaping. In that day, the forms of wealth consisted of gold, garments, and grain; such as corn, wheat, or barley. Only a fool would prepare the ground and plant the seed and then leave the crop in the field to spoil or be eaten by the animals. When Jesus saw the multitudes, he saw the souls of men in need of being harvested for the glory of God. Jesus saw something that was profitable
Jesus saw a harvest that was plenteous, “The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few” (Matthew 9:37). The crop consists of more than an ear of corn and a few handfuls of grain. The word “plenteous” means much in any respect or abundant. Jesus said that in contrast to the vastness of the harvest, the laborers needed to gather and glean that nothing be lost; they are “few.” The word means puny in number or little. For those concerned about the harvest, there is no lack of opportunity!
Jesus saw a harvest that was present, “Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest” (John 4:35). When Jesus told His disciple to “Lift up your eyes”, He was emphasizing that the harvest was already present! It is present with respect to territory; you don’t have to go anywhere to see it, the fields are all around you. Jesus said, “The field is the world” (Matthew 13:38). The harvest is present with respect to time, “for they are white already.” The ground doesn’t need to be prepared, the seed sown, and the rains to come; the husk is pulling away from the kernel and the crop will be lost if someone doesn’t gather the grain soon.
When Jesus saw the multitudes, He saw a harvest that was profitable, plenteous, and present. Jesus was affected by the harvest; does the harvest affect us the same way it did Jesus?