Albert Barnes Commentary Matthew 9:37

"Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest indeed is plenteous, but the laborers are few." — Matthew 9:37 (ASV)

The harvest truly is plenteous, etc. Another beautiful image. A waving field of golden grain invites many reapers and demands haste.

By "the harvest" here, He meant that the multitude of people that flocked to His ministry was great. The people expected the Messiah. They were prepared to receive the gospel.

But the laborers were few. Few were engaged in instructing the multitude. He directed them, therefore, to pray to the Lord of the harvest to send forth reapers.

God is the Proprietor of the great harvest of the world, and only He can send men to gather it in.

REMARKS ON MATTHEW CHAPTER NINE

1. We are presented with an instance of proper perseverance in coming to Christ (Matthew 9:1–2). Nothing was allowed to prevent the purpose of presenting the helpless paralytic to the Savior. So the poor, helpless sinner should come. No obstacle should prevent him. He should lay himself at His feet and feel that Jesus holds over him the power of life and death, and that no other being can save.

2. Jesus has the power to forgive sins (Matthew 9:6). He claimed it and worked a miracle to prove it. If He had this power then, He has it still. To Him, then, the lost sinner may come, with the assurance that just as He freely exerted that power then, He is ever the same and will do it now.

3. Jesus Christ is Divine. Nothing could prove it more clearly than the power to pardon rebels. Only God can pronounce what shall be done with transgressors of His law (Isaiah 43:25). He who claims this right must be either an impostor or God. But no impostor has ever yet worked a miracle. Jesus was therefore Divine. He can save to the uttermost all that come to God through Him.

4. We see here the proper rule to be observed in mingling with the wicked (Matthew 9:10–13). It should not be out of choice or for pleasure. We should not enter into their follies or vices. We should not seek enjoyment in their society. We should mingle with them simply to transact necessary business and to do them good, and no further (Psalms 1:1).

5. In the case of the ruler and the woman who was diseased, we have a strong instance of the nature of faith. They came not doubting His power—fully assured that He was able to heal. So all genuine believers come to Him. They doubt not His power or willingness to save them. Poor, lost, and ruined by sin, and in danger of eternal death, they come. His heart is open. He puts forth His power, and the soul is healed, and the sin and danger are gone.

6. The young must die and may die in early life (Matthew 9:18). Very short graves are in every graveyard. Thousands and millions, not more than twelve years of age, have died. Thousands and millions, not more than twelve years of age, are yet to die. Many of these may be taken from Sunday schools. Their class, their teacher, their parents, sisters, and brothers must be left, and the child carried to the grave. Many children of that age, who have been in Sunday schools, have died happy. They loved the Savior, and they were ready to go. Jesus was near to them when they died, and they are now in heaven. Of every child we may ask: Are you ready also to go when God shall call you? Do you love the Lord Jesus so as to be willing to leave all your friends here and go to Him?

7. Jesus can raise up the dead, and He will raise up all that love Him (Matthew 9:25). Many little children will be raised up to meet Him on the last great day. He shall come in the clouds. The angel shall sound a trumpet, and all the dead shall hear. All shall be raised up and go to meet Him. All that loved Him here will go to heaven. All that were wicked and did not love Him here will go to everlasting suffering.

8. We see the duty of praying for the conversion of the world (Matthew 9:37–38). The harvest is as plentiful as it was in the time of Christ. More than six hundred million are still without the gospel, and there are not yet many laborers to go into the harvest. The world is full of wickedness, and only God can qualify those who shall go and preach the gospel to the nations of the earth still in darkness. Without ceasing, we ought to entreat God to pity the nations and to send faithful men who shall tell them of a dying Savior.