A.T. Robertson Commentary Matthew 9:38

"Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he send forth laborers into his harvest." — Matthew 9:38 (ASV)

That he send forth labourers (οπως εκβαλη εργατας). Jesus turns from the figure of the shepherdless sheep to the harvest field ripe and ready for the reapers. The verb εκβαλλω really means to drive out, to push out, to draw out with violence or without. Prayer is the remedy offered by Jesus in this crisis for a larger ministerial supply. How seldom do we hear prayers for more preachers. Sometimes God literally has to push or force a man into the ministry who resists his known duty.