Good Evening, Greetings… Series of “Lessons From Matthew.” Last week we left off with Jesus being accused of “casting out demons by the prince of demons.” (SLIDE) This week we will be looking at a powerful observation Jesus makes concerning all the multitudes of people He calls the “Harvest.” (SLIDE)

Read (Matthew 9:35-38). There are two key observations I’ve made here from our text. First the “Harvest is plentiful” Second the “Laborers are few.” Lets look at our first point now…(SLIDE)

The Plentiful Harvest As Jesus looked out and saw the multitudes after multitudes of “harvest” i.e. people He made some important observations about the harvest. The harvest was miserable. (SLIDE)

Matthew 9:36 “When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.” The word “harassed” derives from the idea of “plucking or pulling ones hair out.” The word “helpless” means to be “thrown down” and “rejected.” These people are so distressed and oppressed that Jesus has compassion for them. The word “compassion” here literally means “a pain in the bowls at seeing the misery of others.” Thus Jesus could see the misery they were in spiritually. The harvest was also without adequate leadership. Why were they so miserable, because they had no one leading them in the way they should go. This is obvious when Jesus looks over Jerusalem and declares…(SLIDE)

Matthew 23:37 “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!” Wherever there is leadership lacking there will be sheep failing. This isn’t a problem limited to this time frame, no it still happens today!!! Another observation Jesus makes concerning the harvest is that it is plentiful. (SLIDE)

Matthew 9:37 “…The harvest is plentiful…” I think it is important not to lump the “harvest” in with the “weeds.” The word harvest here indicates potential. Sometimes we can get caught up in the fact that more will “not” obey the gospel then “will” obey it. However Jesus points out here there are a lot of people in the world that are willing to obey if only they have a “teacher.” Remember the words of Paul…(SLIDE)

Romans 10:14 “How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?”

The Plentiful Harvest Brothers and sisters the harvest is in misery and wondering about without anyone leading them where they ought to go. It isn’t that many are not willing to obey God it’s that there are only a few labors…(SLIDE)

The Few Laborers

Matthew 9:37-38 “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.’ ” The truth is there are fewer laborers. This is clearly illustrated in the parable of the “Sower and the Seed.” (SLIDE)

Matthew 13:23 “As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.” Out of the four soils where seed falls three obey receive i.e. accept the seed and start growing. However out of those three soils that receive the Word (Matthew 13:20-23) only one actually become productive labors for God. The other three are “unfruitful.” (SLIDE)

Matthew 9:37-38 “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.’ ” This is why Jesus says pray for more labors!!! Now it should be pointed out that from time to time there are some that think if they “pay others to labor for them” and/or “pray for more laborers” on a consistent basis that this someone exempts them from being laborers themselves. This couldn’t be further from the truth. In our text here Jesus is “preparing” these disciples to “go out” in what is called the limited commission. He isn’t telling them pray for others to do your job!!! (SLIDE)

Brethren the harvest is indeed plentiful and the labors are indeed few. Let’s make certain we are doing our part and be workers for the Lord!!!

God’s Plan of Salvation Study God’s Word Have Faith In Jesus Repent/Turn To God Confess Jesus As Lord Obey The Gospel Live A Faithful Life Romans 10:17 Hebrews 11:6 Luke 13:3 Matthew 10:32 Romans 6:3-5 1 John 1:7