John 4:38

38 I have sent you to harvest a crop you have not worked for. Other people have done the hard work, and you have followed them in their work."

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 person who harvests the crop is already getting paid. He is gathering grain for eternal life. So the person who plants the grain and the person who harvests it are happy together.

37 In this respect the saying is true: 'One person plants, and another person harvests.'

38 I have sent you to harvest a crop you have not worked for. Other people have done the hard work, and you have followed them in their work."

39 Many Samaritans in that city believed in Jesus because of the woman who said, "He told me everything I've ever done."

40 So when the Samaritans went to Jesus, they asked him to stay with them. He stayed in Samaria for two days.