And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” (Matthew 9:35-38 ESV)
During His earthly ministry, Jesus expressed his compassion for the harassed and helpless crowds who flocked to Him. Noticing the great size of this harvest of souls, and realizing the need to multiply the impact of His Gospel ministry upon them, Jesus directed His disciples to pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out more Gospel workers into His harvest.
After Jesus’ death, resurrection and ascension, the Holy Spirit came upon Jesus’ disciples on Pentecost, and the Church was born. Over the past two thousand years, our compassionate Lord Jesus has spoken through the above-quoted passage, directing His disciples of every generation to pray the same prayer to the Lord of the harvest.
And in this present time, as you and I hear these words of compassion from Jesus, He also directs us to pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest. As we pray in obedience to Jesus’ command, may we be willing to be among those sent to help Him bring in this most-precious harvest of souls!
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