John 4:38

38 I have sent you to reap that on which ye have not laboured; others have laboured, and ye have entered into their labours.

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 He that reaps receives wages and gathers fruit unto life eternal, that both he that sows and he that reaps may rejoice together.

37 For in this is [verified] the true saying, It is one who sows and another who reaps.

38 I have sent you to reap that on which ye have not laboured; others have laboured, and ye have entered into their labours.

39 But many of the Samaritans of that city believed on him because of the word of the woman who bore witness, He told me all things that I had ever done.

40 When therefore the Samaritans came to him they asked him to abide with them, and he abode there two days.