PRAY THE LORD OF THE HARVEST TO SEND MORE LABOURERS

Dear Readers:

The Lord Jesus has performed many miracles, as they are described here in this chapter. How is this work of the Lord judged? The Pharisees said: “He casteth out devils through the prince of the devils.” Instead of giving honor to Him, they have dishonored Him. What was the answer of the Lord to this injustice? He went to their cities to preach the Gospel and heal the sick. How true it is, what is written of Him by Peter: “Who, when He was reviled, reviled not again; when He suffered, He threatened not.” No, rather He multiplied His blessings: “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.”

This is the “THEN” of which our text speaks: “Then He said unto His disciples.” How moving is the faithfulness and tender care of the Lord. The physical and spiritual needs don’t escape the attention of the Lord. In His Godhead He knows their needs. He saw Israel as wandering sheep. Isaiah had already spoken of this: “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way.” So the Lord sees Israel, as wandering sheep, which are neglected by their shepherds. Are there no shepherds anymore among Israel? Oh yes, the priests and the Levites labour in the sanctuary, the Pharisees and scribes in the synagogues. They ought to be the shepherds of Israel, but what is the benefit of such unfaithful shepherds? They read the Law and the prophets, but they do not live according to this themselves.

Isaiah received the command of the Lord: “Comfort ye, comfort ye, my people, saith your God.” This is not found among the spiritual leaders of Israel, as they have a different interpretation of God’s Word. They despise the multitude, who don’t know the Law and seek their life in outward piety, which is really to merit salvation out of the their works. There is no food or drink for a poor soul. Now the multitude comes to the great prophet, Who performed such great miracles. This pitiful condition of the multitude has moved the Lord Jesus and He decides to send the disciples through the land to seek the lost sheep of the house of Israel. This command is given by the Lord, shortly after this has happened, as it is written in the next chapter: “But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” Before the Lord sends out His disciples, He first of all will convince his disciples of the great importance of their task and that their labour is indispensible. The Lord wants to make use of man, although He is the Almighty God: faith comes by the hearing of the Word, which is preached by His servants.

“Then saith He unto His disciples: The harvest truly is plenteous.” The Lord uses a parable, which is taken out of daily life, that all His hearers may understand. Here the word harvest does not mean the gathering of the corn or of the grain, but of the standing corn, which is ripening, which soon will be ready to be harvested. The harvest is plenteous, means that a great multitude follows the Lord Jesus, notwithstanding the slander of the Pharisees, the scribes and the priests. The Pharisees even said: “The whole world goes after Him.”

So many people followed the Lord and were interested in His Word, that there was hope for a good harvest. We know that the great extension of the kingdom of heaven came after the ascension of the Lord and the descending of the Holy Spirit. It is understandable that the hundreds and thousands that now follow the Lord, are seen by Him as representatives of the multitude of elect out of all nations of the world.

But the Word must first be preached to the Jews and then later to the whole world. After Pentecost the wall of partition is taken away and also the Gentiles heard the Word as the Poet foretold: “I will make mention of Rahab and Babylon to them that know me; behold Philistia, and Tyre, with Ethiopia; this man is born there.”

In our days there are more modern heathens, than blind heathens. There are still people to be converted, that His house may be filled. Not one will be forgotten of those whose names are written in the Book of Life. “The harvest truly is plenteous.” This word is also applicable to us that live under the Truth. So many are as lost sheep. The Lord looked from heaven, but nobody sought for Him as Paul writes to Titus: “For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.” Do we know ourselves as we were, in the past, but that by the grace of God, a change has come in us? The Lord says it is still the time of grace: “The harvest truly is plenteous.”

What follows is discouraging, for its says: “But the labourers are few.” Both words “harvest” and “labourers” we must see as metaphores. The labourers are also called in God’s Word shepherds, teachers, ministers. They are called “labourers” because it is a heavy task, which is laid upon their shoulders. By many it is underestimated, but it is really very heavy for the body and the spirit. This is understandable when we realise what is entrusted to those labourers; it is not dead material, but living people who have a soul for the never-ending eternity. When we feel something of that weight, then it is only with the help of the Lord, that we are able to do this. Therefore Paul emphasized that much prayer would be sent up to the Lord for help and guidance. Paul used the same expression when he wrote to the Corinthians: “We are labourers together with God. Ye are God’s husbandry.” Who are those labourers of whom the Lord speaks? They cannot be the Pharisees and the scribes, because the Lord called them false prophets: “But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men.” Neither are the disciples labourers, because they are not yet sent out. They were still in the school of the great Prophet. Only a few God fearing, whose names are mostly unknown unto us, are labouring in the midst of Israel. And then to know that Israel is in a great, deep sleep. You understand the meaning, when there are no labourers, then the harvest can not be gathered. When the people are not instructed, don’t hear the Word of God in the right way, then they are deceived.

Solomon said: “Where is no vision, the people perish.” Therefore it is so serious what the Lord says: “But the labourers are few.” Also in our days the labourers who seek the spiritual welfare of their hearers are few. They are few, who direct the poor and miserable souls, who hunger for the bread of life and the water of life to Him, who said: “My flesh is food indeed.” There are few who speak to the people, that labour and are heavy laden of Him Who is able to give the true rest. They are few who really seek the welfare of Sion and emphasize the true conversion of the sinner. In our days there are so few who feel the great responsibility of the office and realize that the blood of the hearers will be required of their hands. I am afraid that many shepherds are no more than hirelings.

Also for God’s servants it is so necessary to examine themselves in the light of God’s Word. When we see what the Lord requires and what we are, then we must condemn ourselves time and again. But the Lord requires that we, according to His institution, will speak and act. “The labourers are few.” That is also applicable for us as a church. There is a great want, as most of the congregations are without a minister. We don’t despise the old fathers, who received so much light in the Truth, but the office is missing. May there be much sighing and supplication that the Lord may give labourers, who are called and instructed by Him, but also enabled by Him to lead in the paths of righteousness and beside still waters.

When we look upon ourselves as a church, then we have no worthiness, our sins testify against us and it would be righteous if the Lord passed us by. He cannot do it for anything in us, but only for His Name’s sake. Thereto the Lord shows the way: “Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest that He will send forth labourers into His harvest.”

Who is the Lord of the harvest? Some say it is God the Father, others God the Son, but most theologians think it is the Holy Spirit, for which they have scriptural proof. In Acts 13 we read that the Holy Spirit separated Paul and Barnabas for the work whereunto they were called. In Acts 20 we find: “Take heed unto yourselves and the flock over which the Holy Ghost made you overseers.” So it is also the Personal work of the Holy Spirit to call and separate the office-bearers.

It is by human, meek, persevering prayer we must supplicate the Lord to give men in His favour to labour in the church, especially to administer Word and Sacrament. Luther said: “I don’t know a better advice, than to pray in meekness.” By nature we don’t know how to pray, and we are always praying toward ourselves, but when the Lord teaches us how to pray, then our prayers will be first of all to the honor of God, but also to seek the welfare of His church here on earth.

Do we feel this need, readers? Is this our prayer, that the Lord may remember us in mercy, because the need is so great in our midst? The curatorium meets only once a year, but it is a need which should be remembered the year around. When the Lord gives prayer, then it is not only to fold our hands, but by reason of His great Name and compassion with our fellow travellers to eternity, that we cannot let the Lord go. Then it is the Spirit of prayer which is given to us.

Must we not often condemn ourselves: Is my prayer really a needing of the Lord? It is the Holy Spirit Who must instruct us how to pray. “Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that He will send forth labourers into His harvest.” The verb “send”, suggests alike His constraining power and their separation from their previous position. In the word “send” lies a great compulsion, although it is impossible when we see the great work and our own inability. Notwithstanding the great opposition inside and outside, the Lord by the irresistible work of the Holy Spirit wins them over for His cause and will enable them to do that work.

First of all it is necessary to be called by the Lord from death to life, but also to the office, otherwise we have nothing to plead upon. We must know personally the breach between God and our soul. Think of the vision of Isaiah, who said: “Woe is me, for I am undone, because I am a man of unclean lips.” It cannot be missed to know our misery, unholiness, and condemnation; otherwise we are not able to preach Law and Gospel. When we don’t know the way ourselves then we can talk about it, but not further. How should we draw the way of salvation? When we may preach of God’s grace, then it is necessary to know something of that ourselves. We must receive personally a calling to the office; we may not confer with flesh and blood, because then we will not be able to take up our cross and follow after Him.

May prayer be made without ceasing in the congregations, that the Lord may give men who are called by Him, lead by the Holy Spirit, who may know sin and grace as it is explained in the catechism in the three well known chapters: misery, deliverance and gratitude.

Those labourers will preach the Word, glorify the
Lord and seek the eternal welfare of the hearers.
“Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that
He will send forth labourers into His harvest.”

Rev. A.M. den Boer
Norwich

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