Matthew 9:37

Then saith he. What Christ here (vs. 37, 38) says to the Twelve is almost word for word what He later said to the Seventy under similar circumstances (Luke 10:2). See on Mark 2:10.

Harvest. The harvest was often used as a symbol of the last great judgment (see chs. 3:10, 12; 13:30, 39). More than a year earlier Jesus had used the figure of the harvest in connection with His ministry for the Samaritans of Sychar (see John 4:35-38).

Labourers are few. When there are but few laborers to reap an abundant harvest much good grain will inevitably be lost. Thus far there had been but one gospel harvest crew in the field gathering in the grain for the kingdom of heaven, and it was now apparent that unless broader plans were laid, most of the grain, even in the small region of Galilee, could never be gathered in.