John 4:38

38 I sent you to reap, that that ye have not travailed; other men have travailed, and ye have entered into their travails.

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 And he that reapeth taketh hire, and gathereth fruit into everlasting life; that both he that soweth, and he that reapeth, have joy together.

37 In this thing is the word true, For one is that soweth, and another that reapeth.

38 I sent you to reap, that that ye have not travailed; other men have travailed, and ye have entered into their travails.

39 And of that city many [of the] Samaritans believed in him, for the word of the woman, that bare witnessing, That he said to me all things that I have done [For he said to me all things, whatever I did].

40 Therefore when Samaritans came to him, they prayed him to dwell there [they prayed him, that he should dwell there]; and he dwelt there two days.