What a Harvest: Lots to be done.

Matthew 9:37-38 “...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...”

Luke 10:2 "...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..."

What had taken place in Chapter 9 leading up to this verse?

9:22 - Woman with issue of blood for 12 years was healed.

9:25 - The ruler's daughter was raised from the dead.

9:30 - Two blind men received their sight.

9:33 - A demon was cast out of a mute man and he spoke.

Context:

- Jesus is now on His third circuit around Galilee.

- He went through the cities and villages.

- He taught in their synagogues

- He proclaimed the gospel of the kingdom

- He healed every disease and every affliction.

- He had compassion on the helpless, harassed crowds.

What is now needed?

- laborers.

To do what?

- Is He looking for someone to make converts?

- Is He looking for someone to make disciples?

- Is He looking for someone to take care of hurting people?

- Jesus has compassion on the helpless, harassed crowds.

Are there any helpless, harassed crowds in our world today?

- laborers are needed to teach, preach, and heal.

Was Jesus being religiously theoretical, or practical and real?

The next section should clarify the request and prevent any misunderstanding of intent.

What labor:

Matthew 10:5-8 "...These twelve Jesus sent out, instructing them, “Go nowhere among the Gentiles and enter no town of the Samaritans, but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And proclaim as you go, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying; give without pay..."

What did Jesus expect his disciples to do?

How can disciples be expected to do these things?

- only by the power and authority of Jesus Himself.

Does Jesus provide supernatural power to His followers?

What provisions:

Matthew 10:9-11 "...Acquire no gold nor silver nor copper for your belts, no bag for your journey, nor two tunics nor sandals nor a staff, for the laborer deserves his food. And whatever town or village you enter, find out who is worthy in it and stay there until you depart..."

Luke 9:3 “...Take nothing for your journey, no staff, nor bag, nor bread, nor money; and do not have two tunics..."

Did Jesus expect his disciples to be well funded?

What results:

Matthew 10:12-15 "...As you enter the house, greet it. And if the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it, but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. And if anyone will not receive you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet when you leave that house or town. Truly, I say to you, it will be more bearable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah than for that town..."

Mark 6:10-11 “...Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you depart from there. And if any place will not receive you and they will not listen to you, when you leave, shake off the dust that is on your feet as a testimony against them...”

Luke 9:4-5 "...And whatever house you enter, stay there, and from there depart. And wherever they do not receive you, when you leave that town shake off the dust from your feet as a testimony against them...”

Would it always be easy?