Going into His Harvest – Matthew 9:35–38, A Teaching Summary

What is one of your most difficult Bible verses?  Mine comes from this text. It is not that I did not care about telling people about Jesus. I did care. I told many people about Jesus, but what I experienced was so different than what Jesus says. Jesus said, “The harvest is plentiful.”

A link to my experiences and in-depth exposition (on my newer website) is at the bottom; here I provide a teaching summary of Matthew 9:35-38. Ultimately, I discovered I had the wrong perspective. I couldn’t see things as Jesus did.

The material on the web here is only a small portion of the great media-enriched resources that we have both on the OT and NT. Click here to look at our New Testament resources. This is just the beginning of our extensive library of high-quality biblical training materials, always filled with numerous practical applications.

Let’s look at this passage together and see what Jesus does say. After all, Jesus did more in three short years than all of us together in our lifetime. Let us first look more carefully at this passage of Matthew 9:35-38.

Jesus was going through all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every kind of disease and every kind of sickness. Seeing the people, He felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and dispirited like sheep without a shepherd. Then He said to His disciples, "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. "Therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest." (NASB used unless otherwise noted).

Introduction

Observe the disconnect between Jesus’ words—"The harvest is plentiful"—and our discouraging evangelistic experiences. Despite active outreach, few seemed receptive. Over time, the author realizes the issue lies not in the harvest itself but in perspective and understanding God’s ways.

A. Jesus’ Itinerary (Matthew 9:35)

Jesus modeled an active, outward-focused ministry by going, teaching, proclaiming the Gospel, and healing. These actions reflect His deep commitment to reach people where they are—physically, intellectually, spiritually. Believers are encouraged to similarly go beyond comfort zones and minister actively, recognizing that Christian service is not limited by location or status but propelled by love and obedience.

• Jesus' movement parallels the Great Commission.
• Ministry includes both structured (teaching) and open (proclaiming) engagement.
• Healing was a visible sign of God's kingdom power, often neglected today.
• Our ministry should mirror Christ’s actions, combining word and deed.

B. Jesus’ Insights (Matthew 9:36–37)

Jesus' compassion stemmed from truly seeing the people’s needs—they were distressed, helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. The author emphasizes developing a similar lens of compassion, seeing people not as roles but as souls in need. Jesus knew the harvest was ready even when it didn’t seem obvious. The true problem is not the readiness of the harvest, but the lack of willing workers.

• Compassion begins with seeing people’s spiritual condition.
• Many Christians don’t act because they underestimate human need or overestimate comfort.
• The Father sees a ready harvest and grieves the shortage of laborers.
• Believers must adopt the Father’s urgency for reaching the lost.

C. Jesus’ Instruction (Matthew 9:38)

Jesus commands prayer—"beseech the Lord of the harvest"—as the key starting point for kingdom work. Prayer aligns our hearts with God’s and initiates action. The author emphasizes the importance of obedient, heartfelt, and compassionate intercession. He challenges believers to go themselves and to intercede for more workers, warning against complacency and emphasizing that God responds to our urgent and faithful prayers.

• Prayer is not optional; it is Jesus’ command and the launch point for action.
• God uses our prayers to mobilize others and change hearts.
• Going and praying are linked—we must not merely observe but participate.
• The urgency of the harvest demands immediate and bold responses.

Conclusion

1.   Going: fostering new contacts 

2.   Ministering: serving others

3.   Compassionate: see needs of others

4.    Praying: asking God to send workers.

Did you see that Jesus said that harvest is “His harvest?” He has everything all arranged. He is waiting for us to call upon Him. Are we calling? With compassion? With regularity? With urgency? The harvest is plentiful. May God raise up from here great harvesters for His kingdom! Waves of judgment are threatening the crop. We need to act now.

 

Click here for Paul J. Bucknell's full treatment on Matthew 9:35-38's full development.

Click here for Matthew 9:35-38 Bible Study Questions

Other Matthew articles:

Matthew 1:22-23	Bridge of Life; Immanuel
Matthew 5-7	Sermon on Mount: Introduction, Outline, Bible Study
Matthew 5:1-12	The Eight Beatitudes
Matthew 5:21-48	Sermon on Mount: Six Test Cases of Love
Matthew 5:33-37	Sermon on Mount: Walking in Integrity
Matthew 6:21	Sermon on Mount: Detecting Heart Divisions
Matthew 9:35-38	Going into His Harvest, Questions
Matthew 11:28-30	Finding Rest for Your Weary Souls
Matthew 12:7	'I Desire Compassion'
Matthew 15:21-28	Staying Focused on God's Will
Matthew 17:24-27	Trusting God for money
Matthew 18:21-22	Forgive with Liberality