Sending Laborers to the Harvest

Sending Laborers to the Harvest

“And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the laborers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth laborers into his harvest.” (Matthew 9:35-38)

It is quite common in prayer meetings to ask for “prayer requests.” Matthew records for us the prayer request of Jesus. Jesus was moved with compassion on the multitudes for they were like sheep without a shepherd. Therefore Jesus requested that we pray that the Lord of the harvest would send forth laborers into his harvest!

The Greek word translated as “pray” in this passage is “deomai” which means to “pray earnestly” or to “beg”. It is used 22 times in the N. T. Scriptures and frequently referred to people begging Jesus to be healed (See Luke 5:12; 8:28; 9:38; 9:40; 21:36; 22:36; etc.)

W. E. Vine in his Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words lists 12 different Greek words which are all translated in the N.T. Scriptures as “send.” Each of these words, of course, has its own particular flavor and special meaning and significance.

When Jesus asked His disciples to pray for the Lord of the harvest to “SEND” forth laborers he chose to use a form of the Greek word “ekballo.”The word “ballo” means to “throw” and “ek” before it signifies “out.”

The word “ekballo” means literally, to “throw out.” It is used over 80 times in the N.T. Scriptures. The KJV translates it “cast out” (52 times).

Thayer defines the word “with the included notion of more or less violence.”

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This is the word which the Holy Spirit used to describe the cleansing of the temple when Jesus “cast out” the money- changers (Matt. 21:12, Mark 11:15 and John 2:15).

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This is the word which describes the way that Paul and Barnabas were driven out of Antioch in Pisidia (Acts 13:50).

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This is the word used to describe the way that Sarah wanted Abraham to cast out Hagar (Gal. 4:30).

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This is the word describing Diotrephes who prated against the apostles with malicious words, He would not receive the brethren and “cast out” those who did (I11 John 10).

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This is the word used to describe the way that Jesus was “driven” into the wilderness to be tempted of the Devil (Mark 1:12).

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The word is also used of the way that Rahab sent out the spies another way (James 2:25). I thought perhaps this example lacked the notion of violence. After reflecting upon the story, however, there was considerable pressure for those men to leave when Rahab sent them out. The soldiers of Jericho were searching intently for them and would certainly have killed them if only given the chance.

This, then, is the way that our Lord sometimes “sends” forth laborers into the harvest. He may find us so utterly complacent that it is difficult for Him to get our attention. He, therefore, lovingly increases the pressure until we may start to feel a bit uncomfortable. Ultimately we may find ourselves literally “thrown out” into the harvest.

Almost everyone knows of some Christian worker whose ministry was founded on something that initially seemed to be a tragedy. For example, when Stephen became the first Christian martyr a great persecution broke out against the church (Acts 8:1). As a result of this persecution, however, “Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went.” (Acts 8:4) What initially seemed to be a tragedy God turned into a blessing.

The 32nd Psalm teaches that we should not be like the horse or the mule which have no understanding. God doesn’t want to jerk us around like some dumb animal in order that we might do His will. He wants to guide us with his eye and instruct us gently in the way that we should go (Psalm 32:8-9).

THE EXAMPLE OF JONAH

Jonah is a classic example of initially rejecting the call of God in his life. “The word of the Lord came to Jonah son of Amittai: “Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me.” But Jonah ran away from the Lord and headed for Tarshish. He went down to Joppa, where he found a ship bound for that port. After paying the fare, he went aboard and sailed for Tarshish to flee from the Lord.” (Jonah 1:1-3)

• Jonah apparently hated the gentiles and didn’t want to preach to the people of Nineveh.
• Instead to going East to Nineveh, he got on a ship and sailed West for Tarshish.
• God, as you know sent a great storm and the ship was about to sink.
• The sailors cast lots and determined that Jonah was the reason God sent the storm.
• Jonah fearlessly volunteered to be cast into the sea so that the ship would be saved.

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After three days in the stomach of a great fish, however, Jonah changed his mind. With sea weeds wrapped around his head, and the stomach acids of the great fish seeking to digest him, Jonah decided to do what God told him to do and preach to the gentiles in Nineveh.

• Perhaps God put the story of Jonah in the Bible for you and me!

THE EXAMPLE OF PETER

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Jesus had specifically commanded Peter to go into all the world and make disciples of all “nations” (Matthew 28:18-20).

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The Greek word translated as “nations” is “ethnos”. It is translated as “gentiles” 93 times in the KJV of the Bible.

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God was commanding Peter, and the other apostles, to go into all the world and preach to the gentiles. None of them, however, did it for approximately ten years. And then they had to be almost forced to do it!

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Peter, by inspiration, said at Pentecost: “The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.” (Acts 2:39) Apparently Peter, and the others, didn’t practice what they preached.

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Years later Luke wrote: “Now those who had been scattered by the persecution in connection with Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch telling the message only to the Jews.” (Acts 11:19)

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As we have said, approximately ten years after Peter preached at Pentecost he staying at Joppa in the house of a man named Simon the Tanner (Acts 10:6).

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An angel of God had appeared to a gentile centurion named Cornelius and said: “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God. Now send men to Joppa to bring back a man named Simon who is called Peter. He is staying with Simon the tanner, whose house is by the sea.” (Acts 10:4-6)

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Philip, the evangelist, lived in Caesarea (Acts 8:40; 21:8). God, however, wanted Peter to be the first to preach to the gentiles, just as he had been the first to preach to the Jews.

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“About noon the following day as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray. He became hungry and wanted something to eat, and while the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance. He saw heaven opened and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners. It contained all kinds of four-footed animals, as well as reptiles and birds. Then a voice told him, “Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.” “Surely not, Lord!” Peter replied. “I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.” The voice spoke to him a second time, “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.” This happened three times, and immediately the sheet was taken back to heaven.” (Acts 10:9-16)

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Peter, however, still didn’t understand these visions. He either didn’t understand, or didn’t want to preach to the gentiles. “While Peter was still thinking about the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Simon, three men are looking for you. So get up and go downstairs. Do not hesitate to go with them, for I have sent them.” (Acts 10:19-20)

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When Peter obeyed, and went to the home of Cornelius in Caesarea, he finally said: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right.” (Acts 10:34-35)

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Later, however, Peter was still prejudiced against gentiles and had to be publicly rebuked by Paul: “When Cephas (Peter) came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. For before certain men came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles. But when they arrived, he began to draw back and separate himself from the Gentiles

because he was afraid of those who belonged to the circumcision group. The other Jews joined him in his hypocrisy, so that by their hypocrisy even Barnabas was led astray.” (Galatians 2:11-13)

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Sometimes laborers are reluctant to work in the harvest and have to be “sent” with some pain and inconvenience.

THE EXAMPLE OF PAUL

The Apostle Paul, as you know, was originally known as Saul of Tarsus. He too had to be “sent” into the harvest fields.

• Saul was a Roman citizen born in Tarsus of Cilicia (Acts 21:39)
• He was thoroughly trained in the law by a famous teacher named Gamaliel (Acts 22:3)
• He advanced in Judaism beyond many Jews of his own age (Galatians 1:14).
• He was faultless concerning legalistic righteousness (Philippians 3:6).

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On the authority of the chief priests he put many saints in prison when they were put to death he cast his vote against them (Acts 26:10).

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Many times he went from one synagogue to another having them punished and compelling them to blaspheme (Acts 26:11).

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The story of Saul’s conversion is recorded three times in the book of Acts: (Acts 9:1-19; 22:1- 21; 26:1-18).

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God got Saul’s attention by striking him blind and personally calling him to preach. Jesus spoke to him and said: “‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,’ the Lord replied. ‘Now get up and stand on your feet. I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen and will see of me. I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’” (Acts 26:15-18)

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The man whom God used to heal Saul of his blindness was named Ananias. “But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.” Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, and after taking some food, he regained his strength.” (Acts 9:15-19)

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Saul’s name was changed to Paul on the Island of Cyprus just after he had blinded a false prophet named Bar-Jesus (Acts 13:6-12).

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Paul wrote more books of the Bible than anyone else and labored more abundantly than any other of the apostles (1 Corinthians 15:9-11).

• God has many ways to get our attention, and taking away our eyesight is just one of them.

COUNTING THE COST

Before following Jesus we must count the cost! When a teacher of the law wanted to follow Jesus, Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.” Another disciple said to him, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.”But Jesus told him, “Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead.” (Matthew 8:20-22)

On another occasion Jesus said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self? Whoever is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.” (Luke 9:23-26)

Not everyone is willing to pay the price to follow Jesus. When large crowds were traveling with Jesus, he turned to them and said: “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters – yes, even his own life – he cannot be my disciple. And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it? For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you, saying, ‘This person began to build and wasn’t able to finish.’ “Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Won’t he first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand? If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace. In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples.” (Luke 14:25-33)

The word “hate” in this passage does not mean to “despise” but merely to love less (see Deuteronomy 21:15-17). The Scriptures not only command us to love our families, but even to love our enemies. Matthew recorded it like this: “Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” (Matthew 10:37-39)

The most important commandment in the Bible is to “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12:30-31)

For those of you who love this way, be ready to be “sent” forth into the harvest!