SEV Biblia, Chapter 9:37
Entonces dice a sus discípulos: A la verdad la mies es mucha, mas los obreros pocos.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Matthew 9:37
Verse 37. The harvest] The souls who are ready to receive the truth are very numerous; but the labourers are few. There are multitudes of scribes, Pharisees, and priests, of reverend and right reverend men; but there are few that work. Jesus wishes for labourers, not gentlemen, who are either idle drones, or slaves to pleasure and sin, and nati consumere fruges. "Born to consume the produce of the soil." It was customary with the Jews to call their rabbins and students reapers; and their work of instruction, the harvest. So in Idra Rabba, s. 2. "The days are few; the creditor is urgent; the crier calls out incessantly; and the reapers are few." And in Pirkey Aboth: "The day is short, the work great, the workmen idle, the reward abundant, and the master of the household is urgent." In all worldly concerns, if there be the prospect of much gain, most men are willing enough to labour; but if it be to save their own souls, or the souls of others, what indolence, backwardness, and carelessness! While their adversary, the devil, is going about as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour; and a careless soul, and especially a careless minister is his especial prey. The place of the harvest is the whole earth: it signifies little where a man works, provided it be by the appointment, in the Spirit, and with the blessing of God.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 37. Then saith he unto his disciples , etc.] His heart being drawn out, and filled with pity to these poor people, upon observing the miserable and sad condition they were in; he turns himself to his disciples, whom he was about to call, and send forth in a more public manner to preach the Gospel, of which we read in the following chapter; and in order to quicken them to this service, and engage their hearts in it, says unto them, the harvest truly is plenteous ; meaning the large number of Gods elect, which were in these cities, towns, and villages, and in other places: not that these were maturely prepared by anything in themselves, or done by them, for the grace of God; and much less ripe for the kingdom of glory, and therefore called an harvest: but as there are the appointed weeks of the harvest, or a set time for the harvest to be gathered in, so there is a certain fixed time, settled in the counsel, and by the purpose of God, for the effectual calling and conversion of his elect; and this time being come, with respect to these in Galilee, and other parts, Christ calls them an harvest; and because of their number, a large, or plenteous one. But the labourers are few : Gospel ministers; whose calling is a laborious one; whose business is to labour in the word and doctrine; to be constant in prayer; to give up themselves to meditation and reading; to study to show themselves workmen; to preach the word in season, and out of season; and diligently discharge the several duties of their office, to the glory of Christ, and the good of souls: but such painful and laborious ministers, who are willing to spend, and be spent for Christ and immortal souls, have been but few in all ages; generally speaking, there are more loiterers than labourers.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 35-38 - Jesus visited not only the great and wealthy cities, but the poor obscure villages; and there he preached, there he healed. The souls of the meanest in the world are as precious to Christ, and should be so to us, as the souls of those who make the greatest figure. There wer priests, Levites, and scribes, all over the land; but they were ido shepherds, Zec 11:17; therefore Christ had compassion on the people a sheep scattered, as men perishing for lack of knowledge. To this da vast multitudes are as sheep not having a shepherd, and we should have compassion and do all we can to help them. The multitudes desirous of spiritual instruction formed a plenteous harvest, needing many activ labourers; but few deserved that character. Christ is the Lord of the harvest. Let us pray that many may be raised up and sent forth, wh will labour in bringing souls to Christ. It is a sign that God is abou to bestow some special mercy upon a people, when he stirs them up to pray for it. And commissions given to labourers in answer to prayer are most likely to be successful __________________________________________________________________
Greek Textus Receptus
τοτε 5119 ADV λεγει 3004 5719 V-PAI-3S τοις 3588 T-DPM μαθηταις 3101 N-DPM αυτου 846 P-GSM ο 3588 T-NSM μεν 3303 PRT θερισμος 2326 N-NSM πολυς 4183 A-NSM οι 3588 T-NPM δε 1161 CONJ εργαται 2040 N-NPM ολιγοι 3641 A-NPM
