John 4:38

38 I sent you to reap a harvest which is not the result of your own labours. Others have laboured, and you are getting benefit from 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 The reaper gets pay and gathers in a crop in preparation for the Life of the Ages, that so the sower and the reapers may rejoice together.

37 For it is in this that you see the real meaning of the saying, `The sower is one person, and the reaper is another.'

38 I sent you to reap a harvest which is not the result of your own labours. Others have laboured, and you are getting benefit from their labours."

39 Of the Samaritan population of that town a good many believed in Him because of the woman's statement when she declared, "He has told me all that I have ever done."

40 When however the Samaritans came to Him, they asked Him on all sides to stay with them; and He stayed there two days.