John 4:38

38 I sent you to reap what you didn't labor for; others have labored, and you have benefited from ^[a] their labor."

John 4:38 Meaning and Commentary

John 4:38

I sent you to reap
To preach the Gospel, and gather in souls by your ministry; referring to the mission of them in ( Matthew 10:6 Matthew 10:7 ) ;

that whereon ye bestowed no labour;
being sent to the Jews, who had the writings of the prophets, and were versed in them; and had learned from them that the Messiah was to come, and were now in general expectation of him; so that they had nothing more to do, than to declare to those persons who were cultivated by the prophets, and were like to ground tilled and manured, that the Messiah was come, and the kingdom of heaven was at hand.

Other men laboured;
the prophets, and John the Baptist:

and ye are entered into their labours;
to finish the work they had begun, and which was almost done to their hands.

John 4:38 In-Context

36 The reaper is already receiving pay and gathering fruit for eternal life, so the sower and reaper can rejoice together.

37 For in this case the saying is true: 'One sows and another reaps.'

38 I sent you to reap what you didn't labor for; others have labored, and you have benefited from their labor."

39 Now many Samaritans from that town believed in Him because of what the woman said when she testified, "He told me everything I ever did."

40 Therefore, when the Samaritans came to Him, they asked Him to stay with them, and He stayed there two days.

Footnotes

• [a]. Lit you have entered into