John 4:38

38 I sent you to reap ¹that for which you did not labor. Others have labored, ²and you have entered into 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 Already the one who reaps is receiving wages and gathering fruit for eternal life, so that sower and reaper may rejoice together.

37 For here the saying holds true, ‘One sows and another reaps. ’

38 I sent you to reap that for which you did not labor. Others have labored, and you have entered into their labor. ”

39 Many Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me all that I ever did. ”

40 So when the Samaritans came to him, they asked him to stay with them, and he stayed there two days.

Cross References

• 1. 4:38 Josh. 24:13
• 2. 4:38 [Acts 8:5-17, 25]