Matthew 9:37 KJV
[37] Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few;
As you read the entire chapter from where the verse above is taken, you find a number of interactions and engagements Jesus had with various people. You start with the man who was sick of the palsy, and Jesus' first words to him were 'Your sins are forgiven thee'. That would have been a blasphemous statement if not for the identity and power of the person who said it, and that was the reaction of the crowd as they heard Jesus say this. He moved on to call Matthew, a tax collector at the time, which was a 'cardinal sin' at the time, and asked him to follow Him. Of course, other 'sinners' came to sit and eat with Him, incurring the wrath of the Pharisees. Just as he was dealing with these men, Jairus came with a request that He come and raise up his daughter, who was now dead. As He went with Jairus, the woman with the issue of blood tuned in and got her miracle. So many issues to deal with.
Not once did we see or read of any complaint by Jesus that He was tired of the press of the crowd, or their demands. In fact, in several places, we see where He rebuked, or even corrected the disciples when their intention was just to look out for Him. Recall the incident with the children, as well as when James and John wanted to call down fire from heaven when the people of Samaria would not even make room for Him. This was the heart of a loving Father, who, even in the face of steadfast rejection and rebellion, would still not give up on the object of love. He raised Jairus' daughter from the dead, healed the dumb man who was possessed with a devil, and 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. Race, creed, religion did not matter; only love and mercy did.
The accounts above lay the foundation for the verse above. Picture how many lives would have seen the miracles and wanted to see Jesus. He saw the multitudes, and was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. That was His heart of love at work. That was what led to the comment in the verse above. The harvest is indeed plenteous but very few have the heart to labour the right way to bring in the harvest. Lives are in need of the touch of God but how would they encounter God if those who know God would not take steps to make Him known? God is looking for labourers, who will take instruction from Him and implement His action plan exactly as commanded. I must be content just with securing eternity for myself; I must seek to draw others too. Can God count on me? Can He entrust lives into my hands? God's time of favour is here.
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