Charles Ellicott Commentary John 4:38

"I sent you to reap that whereon ye have not labored: others have labored, and ye are entered into their labor." — John 4:38 (ASV)

I sent you to reap . . .—The pronouns are again emphatic. I sent you to reap; and the statement is of wide meaning. He is ever the Sower. All others are more or less fully reapers, though to the degree that they really reap, they will become likened to Him, and will become sowers too. We all inherit from the past the greatest part of our mental and spiritual knowledge. The child of today knows more than the philosopher of early history.

Other men laboured, and you are entered into their labours.—Or, others have laboured. In the immediate application to the present case, the “others” is to be interpreted as Christ Himself, who had been sowing during their absence, and it may be the woman who has sown this seed by her testimony to the Samaritans. Or the plural may be chosen as in contrast with the plural you, and as pointing to the general truth, while the immediate reference is to Christ only.