Bible Questions and Answers

What does Matthew 9:37,38 mean? How does it affect our life and obedience to God's will?

Matthew 9:37,38 Then He said to His disciples, "The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. 38 "Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.

In context he is talking about preaching the gospel to the ‘lost sheep’ of the ‘house of Israel’.

Matthew 9:36 But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd.

Matthew 10:6 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

Matthew 15:24 But He answered and said, "I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

Jesus first sent out the twelve apostles and then a further seventy, to preach the gospel of the kingdom of God, giving them power to heal disease. The instruction to preach the gospel to the gentiles was not given to the apostles until after Jesus’ resurrection.

Matthew 28:19,20 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.

Mark 16:15 And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.

Those who believe and obey the gospel are to preach the same to others as they find opportunity, and according to their ability.

1 Peter 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear.

In this way the gospel will have been preached in all the world before Jesus returns.

Matthew 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.

With the invention of the internet, this is being fulfilled in a way not previously imagined.

Sadly, as prophesied, there are many who are preaching false gospels.

Matthew 24:11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.

Matthew 24:24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.

Acts 20:30 Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves.

2 Timothy 4:3,4 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; 4 and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.

2 Peter 2:1,2 But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. 2 And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed.

It is therefore important that before we preach to others, we need to be sure that we understand the truth.

Galatians 1:8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. 9 As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed.

I hope you find this helpful.

God bless,
Glenn