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MATTHEW 9:37 — KING JAMES VERSION 0
Matt 9:36Matt 9:38
“Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few;”
Then he said to his disciples, The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. The harvest metaphor reframes the crowds from lost sheep (verse 36) to a harvest ready to be gathered. Both images communicate urgency and abundance: many sheep without shepherds, much harvest with few harvesters. The harvest is plentiful indicates that the crowds' receptivity is real — the soil of many hearts is prepared. The laborers are few indicates that the problem is not the harvest's readiness but the workforce's scarcity. John 4:35–38 presents the same harvest image at the Samaritan well — the fields are already white for harvest.

Church Fathers on Matthew 9:37

The Lord would refute by actions the charge of the Pharisees, who said, 'He casteth out daemons by the 'Prince of the daemons;' for a daemon having suffered rebuke, does not return good but evil to those who have not shewn him honour. But the Lord on the other hand, when He had suffered blasphemy and contumely, not only does not punish, but does not utter a hard speech, yea He shews kindness to them that did it, as it here follows, 'And Jesus went about all their towns and…

Chrysostom · 4th century

Observe how equally in villages, cities, and towns, that is to great as well as small, He preaches the Gospel, not respecting the might of the noble, but the salvation of those that believe. It follows, 'Teaching in their synagogues;' this was His meat, going about to do the will of His Father, and saving by His teaching such as yet believed not.

Jerome · 4th century

He taught in their synagogues the Gospel of the Kingdom, as it follows, 'Preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom.'

Gloss (Glossa Ordinaria) · medieval compilation · non occ.
Read all 19 entries in the readerCatena Aurea · St. Thomas Aquinas, tr. J. H. Newman · public domain
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Matthew 9:37 — Community Reflections | HolyStudy