The Spiritual Harvest is Great is a biblical phrase found in the Gospel of Matthew (9:37). The spiritual harvest is great refers to the plentiful opportunities for Kingdom work, evangelism, and missions.
In the context of Jesus’ teachings, it emphasizes that there are many people in the world need of salvation and a restored relationship with God. But there are few workers or laborers to go and help meet this need.
The phrase often serves as a call to action for believers to share their faith and serve others. Highlighting the urgency and importance of spreading the Gospel and teachings of Jesus.
The Spiritual Harvest Is Great, But The Workers Are Few
What Is The Spiritual Harvest?
Usually when people think of the word harvest, they think of plants and crops. Or vegetables and fruits.
Jesus talked about a harvest in several places in the Bible. But He was not talking about crops, or vegetables and fruits.Â
In Matthew 9:37 Jesus said “The harvest is plentiful (or great)…”Â
He was talking about a spiritual harvest. First I want you to think of the word harvest. It does not mean the time when you prepare the soil for crops. And it does not mean when you plant the seeds in the soil.
The harvest also does not mean when the plants are starting to grow, and you water or feed them. No the harvest is when the plants are ready to be harvested. It is when the plant or vegetables or fruit are ready to be picked or harvested.
The Spiritual Harvest Is Great, But The Workers Are Few
More Words From Jesus About the Spiritual Harvest
In John 4:35 Jesus said “Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months, and then comes the harvest’ ? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look on the fields, that they are white.”
Once again Jesus is referring to a spiritual harvest that is ready to be harvested. In John 4:36 Jesus says “Already he who reaps is receiving wages and is gathering fruit for eternal life. So that he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together.”
Jesus clarifies in John 4:36 that He is talking about a spiritual harvest, and not one of crops. It is interesting to see how Jesus talks about people that sow, and people that reap the harvest. In a spiritual harvest, some people sow the seed of the Gospel. And others that reap are the ones that are the people to finish the process of leading someone to repent from their sins, place their faith in Jesus, and receive Him as their Lord and Savior.
The spiritual harvest Jesus is talking about is one of souls being ready for salvation. There are many people in the world that God has been actively pursuing in His love. He is trying to bring them to a restored relationship with Him, salvation, and to have eternal life with Him later.
The Spiritual Harvest Is Great, But The Workers Are Few
God Is Always At His Work In The World
One of the sad things to see in modern day Christianity is how the vast majority of believers are totally missing seeing God do His mighty work. God is always at work in your local area, in your country, and around the world. There are places in the world where God is amazingly at work doing incredible things. This is because of the humility of the people and their fully acknowledging that they need God. In certain places we have seen, especially in Africa, there is a huge hunger for God in many people.
Jesus said this Himself in John chapter 5. Jesus said in John 5:17 “My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I too am working.” The work Jesus is talking about is God’s kingdom work and mission. Which is trying to reach out to and share the Gospel with as many people as possible. And then once people receive the gift of salvation, the work moves to making disciples and helping them to grow closer to Jesus and more like Him.
The Spiritual Harvest Is Great, But The Workers Are Few
Out of Love & Devotion For God, Jesus Always Joined God In His Work
Jesus of course was and still is perfectly faithful in His relationship with God the Father. His perfect devotion to God is summed up in His prayer before He suffered greatly and died on the cross.
“Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done.” – Luke 22:42
Because of Jesus’ great love and devotion for God, He had a perfect relationship with God the Father. And was in perfect unity and was perfectly one with God. Because of His devotion and close fellowship with the Father, Jesus always knew what God was doing in His kingdom work and mission. Jesus talks about this in John chapter 5:
“For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. Yes, and he will show him even greater works than these, so that you will be amazed.” – John 5:20-21
The Spiritual Harvest Is Great, But The Workers Are Few
Jesus’ Words About The Harvest Are Still Very True Today
The harvest is plentiful. These words spoken by Jesus are still very true here in many parts of the world. God has prepared many hearts, and many are ready for someone to tell them the Good News of Jesus Christ.
God has gone ahead of his people, and has done the work of preparing and opening hearts. He normally does the preparation work through His Holy Spirit, and through faithful servants. Faithful people who pray for the lost. And faithful people who show God’s love to them. And faithful people who share the Gospel with them, even though they may not accept Christ at the time.
The Spiritual Harvest Is Great, But The Workers Are Few
A Great Number Of People Are Ready To Hear The Gospel
Many of us do not really believe that God is mightily at work today. Our perception or opinion is that most people do not want to hear about Jesus these days. So many Christians today do not even bother to try to share Jesus with them.
I can tell you that Jesus words in John 5:17 about how God is always at His work is still true today. And I can attest to the fact that the harvest is truly great today, as it was when Jesus lived in this world. We see it every time we are on a mission trip. Jesus’ words about a great spiritual harvest are true even today!
The Spiritual Harvest Is Great, But The Workers Are Few
How Many Lost People Are In The World Today?
Statistics show that there are over 7 billion lost people in the world today. The statistics show that approximately 1 billion people attend a “Christian” church.Â
The problem with that statistic is that not everyone who attends a Christian church are saved and true believers. Statistics that are approximately 22-23 years old show that at least 50% of people attending Christian evangelical churches in the US are lost.
Being that there are now over 8 billion people in the world, it is safe to say that there are over 7 billion people in the world that are without Jesus as their personal Savior.
The Spiritual Harvest Is Great, But The Workers Are Few
God Is At Work In The World Drawing People To Himself
A great number of people are ready and willing to listen to someone tell them about God’s love and salvation through Jesus. God is working in their hearts and lives, showing them their need for a Savior.Â
They are waiting for someone to tell them how they can have peace with God, and a restored relationship with Him. And eternal life in heaven with God. They desire to have these things, thanks to the Holy Spirit’s work in their hearts, but they do not know how to have them.
They need someone to love them enough to tell them about Jesus and the Gospel.
The Spiritual Harvest Is Great, But The Workers Are Few
A Sad Truth –Â The Workers Are Few
The harvest is great, but the workers are few. This verse holds a great truth, even today, that the spiritual harvest is great or plentiful. But it also holds a very sad truth also. But the workers are few.
These words are unfortunately very true today also. Far too few Christians are actively sharing Jesus with others in their daily lives. And actively participating in God’s work and mission of reaching the lost and making disciples.
Research shows that there are over 7 billion lost people in the world today. And the number of lost people in the world is constantly increasing. Meaning that we are losing ground to our spiritual enemy, not gaining ground.
Research shows that less than 2% of Christians today are sharing Jesus with others in their daily lives. Jesus commanded all of His followers in Matthew 4:19 to “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” But a very small percentage of Christians today are obeying Jesus’ command to share the Gospel and make disciples.
A true disciple and follower of Jesus obeys all He commands. Including to share Him and the Gospel with as many as possible. A true disciple and follower of Jesus is a fisher of men and a faithful witness.
The Spiritual Harvest Is Great, But The Workers Are Few
Most Christians Today Are Totally Missing What God Is Doing In The World
As Jesus said in John 5:17, God is always at His work. And because Jesus was fully devoted to The Father, He too was actively involved in God’s work and mission.
John 5:17 – “My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I too am working.”
John 5:19 – “Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does.“
Most Christians today are completely missing God’s activity in the hearts and lives of the people all around them. In most churches maybe the pastor(s) and some leaders, and a small group of church members are actively sharing Christ with others. In many churches even these are not doing God’s work of sharing the Gospel. Many churches have their own work and mission, and it is very different than the one shown in the Bible. Many are oblivious to the great harvest that is all around them.
The Spiritual Harvest Is Great, But The Workers Are Few
A Shortage Of Fishers of Men And Disciple Makers
There is a great shortage of workers that faithfully share the Gospel with others in their daily lives. And there is also a shortage of workers who are willing to do the important follow up work that is necessary to help new believers to grow in their relationship with Jesus. And to disciple them to become faithful & fruitful servants of Jesus.
Sadly many are too busy pursuing their own interests. Or doing church things instead of doing the things that are most important to God. To reach lost people with the love and Good News of Jesus Christ. And then to work hard and invest their lives to help them become faithful disciples and servants of Jesus.
Paul wrote about these types of people in the churches that are not actively involved in God’s kingdom work and mission. “But I hope, in the Lord Jesus, to send Timothy to you shortly, so that I also may be encouraged when I learn of your condition. For I have no one else of kindred spirit who will genuinely be concerned for your welfare. 21 For they all seek after their own interests, not those of Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 2:19-21
The Spiritual Harvest Is Great, But The Workers Are Few
Too Many People & Churches Pursue Their Own Interests And Mission
In Philippians 2:19-21 Paul is writing about people in the churches, not unbelievers. It is human nature to pursue our own interests and desires, and not those of Jesus. But being a Christian is all about being changed and transformed by the love and grace of Christ.
Our human nature ought to be transformed so that we are more and more like Jesus. And so that we are more like Him in our faithfulness and devotion to God, and to His kingdom work and mission.
May God touch and change our hearts, so we will be more like Jesus.
The Spiritual Harvest Is Great, But The Workers Are Few
God Is At Work All Around The World & More Need To Join Him
In our missions ministry we have had the privilege of serving in Brazil and in many other countries in the world. We have had 48 mission trips to 33 countries to date. We have seen again and again Jesus’ words in Matthew 9:37 come alive before our eyes. That the harvest truly is great. God is doing great things in the world.
God has prepared a great harvest in the world. Especially in certain parts of the world. Many many people are seeking for God, and they know they need Him in their lives.
They are ready, and they are waiting for us to tell them about God’s love and Jesus. I pray that God will touch and convict and break more Christians’ hearts for a lost world.
And that God will send more workers into the spiritual harvest. Time is running out, and we need to have a great urgency in going out to spread the Gospel to as many as we possibly can.
Continue Growing Closer to God
Explore these related resources on Intimacy With God(opens in new tab):
- Intimacy With God(opens in new tab) — Discover how to develop a deeper relationship with God.
- Prayer(opens in new tab) — Learn how to develop a deeper and more meaningful prayer life.
- Reading the Bible and Bible Study(opens in new tab) — Learn how to read, understand, and apply God’s Word.
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- Spiritual Growth(opens in new tab) – What is spiritual growth? How can you grow closer to God and more like Jesus?
- Waiting on God(opens in new tab) — Learn how to trust God during seasons when you are waiting for His direction.
- The Holy Spirit(opens in new tab) – Learn who the Holy Spirit is, what the Holy Spirit does…
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- Sharing the Gospel of Jesus: How Sharing Your Faith Deepens your Intimacy With God(opens in new tab)
The goal isn’t simply to learn more about God.
The goal is to know God personally, love Him deeply, hear His voice, walk with Him daily, and experience a growing intimacy with Him.
Kevin Bart has been a follower of Jesus for over 40 years. Kevin has taught Bible study classes, small groups, and discipleship classes for many years. He developed Pursuing Intimacy With God Bible studies website and book after many years of seeking God and studying His word. Kevin and his wife Nancy have 3 sons and 2 precious grandchildren.
Kevin is a former business owner, and current international missions ministry leader with more than four decades of combined business and ministry experience. After building and running a successful business for 23 years, with God’s guidance and blessings, he sold his company to dedicate himself to full-time global missions.
For over 20 years, Kevin and his wife Nancy have led a self funded international missions ministry. Utilizing learned business and financial management skills, as well as knowledge and experience in travel points and miles, to date they have had more than 5o mission trips to 36 countries in the Caribbean, Central America, South America, Europe, Africa, and Asia.
After many years of studying the Bible and the Book of Revelation, and writing many Bible studies and articles, Kevin finally finished Unraveling The Mysteries of the Book Of Revelation. Hopefully it will be a blessing to many people.
