The Harvest Is Plentiful, the Laborers Few

Matthew 9

³⁵ _n 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. ³⁶ _o When he saw the crowds, _p he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, _q like sheep without a shepherd. ³⁷ _r Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; ³⁸ therefore _s pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to _t send out laborers into his harvest."

1. Cross References
   Matthew 4:23 - 24
   And he went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction among the people.
   
2. Cross References
   Matthew 14:14
   When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick.
   
3. Cross References
   Mark 6:34
   When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And he began to teach them many things.
   
4. Cross References
   Numbers 27:17
   Who shall go out before them and come in before them, who shall lead them out and bring them in, that the congregation of the Lord may not be as sheep that have no shepherd.
   1 Kings 22:17
   And he said, "I saw all Israel scattered on the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd. And the Lord said, 'These have no master; let each return to his home in peace.'
   Ezekiel 34:5
   So they were scattered, because there was no shepherd, and they became food for all the wild beasts.
   
5. Cross References
   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.
   John 4:35
   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.
   
6. Cross References
   2 Thessalonians 3:1
   Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honored, as happened among you.
   
7. Cross References
   Matthew 20:2
   After agreeing with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard.
   Mark 1:12
   The Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness.
   

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.