Something Important About The Harvest

Everything in scripture is equally true, but everything in scripture is not equally important. That is not trying to take away anything from scripture, but trying to reflect what the Bible teaches about itself. Some issues in the law are more "weighty" (Matt 23:23) than others.  There are "greater" commandments (Matt 22:38). Paul said, "I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified (I Cor. 2:2).

So how do we know if something is really important? One way, among many, is to recognize when something is repeated again and again in a variety of contexts. That is exactly what we see with Jesus' remarks about the harvest and our responsibility to carry out the mission.  He says some version of this 3 times, in 3 different situations. But with the same meaning and implications.  How important is this?

Luke 10:2  "And he said to them, “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."

Matt 9:37 "Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; 38 therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” 

John 4:35- in the context of Jesus conversation with the Samaritan woman and the disciples question about why he is talking to her rather than worrying about lunch. "31 Meanwhile the disciples were urging him, saying, “Rabbi, eat.” 32 But he said to them, “I have food to eat that you do not know about.” 33 So the disciples said to one another, “Has anyone brought him something to eat?” 34 Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work. 35 Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months, then comes the harvest’? Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest. 36 Already the one who reaps is receiving wages and gathering fruit for eternal life, so that sower and reaper may rejoice together. 37 For here the saying holds true, ‘One sows and another reaps.’ 38 I sent you to reap that for which you did not labor. Others have labored, and you have entered into their labor.” 

Why You Should Respond To Truth

This morning we looked at Luke 8:16-18.  Below is a great passage from Bock’s commentary on the book of Luke.

“No one after lighting a lamp covers it with a jar or puts it under a bed, but puts it on a stand, so that those who enter may see the light. 17 For nothing is hidden that will not be made manifest, nor is anything secret that will not be known and come to light. 18 Take care then how you hear, for to the one who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he thinks that he has will be taken away.” (Luke 8:16-18, ESV)

“Luke 8:16-18 calls people to respond to the light because of the dire consequences of not doing so. Jesus’ message is portrayed as light. He notes that one does not light a lamp to hide it, but to make its light available by placing it on a lampstand. The function of light is to make visible that which was previously hidden in darkness. So it will be with Jesus’ message. Everything that is hid will be made known, and all secrets will be brought to light. One must therefore listen with care, since we are all accountable. There is much at stake, for whoever has, in terms of responding to revelation, will get more. On the other hand, those who do not have because they refuse to respond will lose what they seemed to have, ending up with nothing.”

Bock, Darrell L. Luke. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1996. Print. The NIV Application Commentary.

Photo Courtesy of the George Eastman House