Matthew 9:38Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

The Lord would refute by actions the charge of the Pharisees, who said, He casteth out dæmons by the Prince of the dæmons; for a dæmon having suffered rebuke, does not return good but evil to those who have not shewn him honour. But the Lord on the other hand, when He has suffered blasphemy and contumely, not only does not punish, but does not utter a hard speech, yea He shews kindness to them that did it, as it here follows, And Jesus went about all their towns and villages. Herein He teaches us not to return accusations to them that accuse us, but kindness. For he that ceases to do good because of accusation, shews that his good has been done because of men. But if for God’s sake you do good to your fellow-servants, you will not cease from doing good whatever they do, that your reward may be greater.

The one who oversees the harvest is none other than Christ, the Sovereign of both the prophets and the apostles. This is clearly demonstrated by His appointment of the twelve apostles, an action He took without seeking God's approval. Pay attention to this (See Matthew 10:1).

The Redeemer, raising His gaze, addressed them: “The harvest is abundant, but the workers are few; therefore, implore the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest” (Matt. 9:37-38, Luke 10:2), designating the harvest as those who, like the ears of grain, flourish in righteousness through faith in Him. Who, if not the Almighty, can rightfully claim lordship over such souls? Paul similarly entreats those who remain recipients of the divine promises to come together in repentance, exclaiming, “We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God” (2 Corinthians 5:20).

Observe how equally in villages, cities, and towns, that is to great as well as small, He preaches the Gospel, not respecting the might of the noble, but the salvation of those that believe. It follows, Teaching in their synagogues; this was His meat, going about to do the will of His Father, and saving by His teaching such as yet believed not.

He refers to Himself as the Master of the harvest because the harvest belongs to Him, it is to Him that it is gathered, and He holds the power to reap it. He instructed them to pray not out of necessity for their petitions, for no one is more compassionate than He, but to guide the disciples in seeking God's aid for those who have wandered away.

Figuratively; When salvation was given to the Gentiles, then all cities and towns were enlightened by the power and entrance of Christ, and escaped every former sickness and infirmity. The Lord pities the people troubled with the violence of the unclean Spirit, and sick under the burden of the Law, and having no shepherd at hand to bestow on them the guardianship of the Holy Spirit.

Understand, ‘of God;’ for though temporal blessings are also proclaimed, yet they are not called The Gospel. Hence the Law was not called a Gospel, because to such as kept it, it held out not heavenly, but earthly, goods.

The Divine Shepherd looks with compassion on His scattered flock. He then addresses His disciples, stating that while there are many eager to embrace the message of the Kingdom of God, the laborers available are few. Consequently, He instructs them to beseech the Lord of the Harvest for new laborers to be sent forth. St. Chrysostom reflects on this, noting that the Lord was referring to the twelve apostles. However, despite highlighting the scarcity of laborers, He only appointed these twelve. The purpose of this request for prayer is so that, empowered by grace, these apostles might replace the multitude of lost souls. Observe His humility, as He commissions His followers, not merely to gather others in His name, but also for their own spiritual development.

The narrative regarding the commission of the twelve apostles to proclaim the Gospel is intricately linked to the entire public ministry of Jesus, which was outlined in the preceding chapter. Matthew connects this commission with Christ’s broader public endeavors, providing a general overview of His ministry (9:35, nearly identical to 4:23). He illustrates that the considerable following of Christ made it impossible for Him to meet the spiritual needs of the crowd alone. This realization led Jesus to send out twelve of His disciples to preach.

He highlighted the situation to the disciples, indicating the abundant harvest yet the scarcity of workers. Consequently, He instructed them to beseech the Lord of the harvest to raise up suitable laborers from among them. Following this, He dispatched them in pairs throughout the land to instruct the people, affirm His teachings, and perform righteous deeds in His name.

Pray to the Lord of the harvest. God, whose endeavors the Lord upholds through His own actions on earth (cf. Jn. 4:34). - That He may send forth: this is a heightened appeal stemming from a profound compassion for the people and an awareness of the pressing necessity for fresh workers - harvesters. Pray to God that in His benevolence and strength, He might bless the emergence of new figures, untainted by Pharisaic and merely traditional Jewish approaches, to carry out the mission of proclaiming the arrival of the Messiah's kingdom.

As He surveyed the surroundings, it appeared that the God-Man perceived a vast expanse teeming with a rich harvest, eagerly awaiting those who would gather it. He remarked to His disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few;” therefore, they should pray to the Lord of the harvest, urging Him to send forth workers into His harvest. This invitation underscored that He Himself is indeed that Lord. The task of gathering was not meant for another, but rather for what He had sown through the prophets and the entire structure of the Old Testament, which prepared the chosen people to embrace the grace of the Gospel.