Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Luke 10:2

"And he said unto them, The harvest indeed is plenteous, but the laborers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he send forth laborers into his harvest." — Luke 10:2 (ASV)

Although the harvest imagery in Scripture usually refers to God’s intervention in history through gathering his people together (cf. Matthew 13:37–43), here it applies to the urgent missionary task of the present age (cf. Matthew 9:37–38). The imperative “go” anticipates the difficulties of the journey. Wolves are natural enemies of sheep. The disciples are like “lambs”—defenseless and dependent on God alone.