John 4:38

38 I sent you to harvest where you didn’t plant; others had already done the work, and now you will get to gather the harvest.”

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 harvesters are paid good wages, and the fruit they harvest is people brought to eternal life. What joy awaits both the planter and the harvester alike!

37 You know the saying, ‘One plants and another harvests.’ And it’s true.

38 I sent you to harvest where you didn’t plant; others had already done the work, and now you will get to gather the harvest.”

39 Many Samaritans from the village believed in Jesus because the woman had said, “He told me everything I ever did!”

40 When they came out to see him, they begged him to stay in their village. So he stayed for two days,