Luke 10:2 - Then he said to them, “The harvest is indeed plentiful, but the laborers are few. Pray therefore to the Lord of the harvest, that he may send out laborers into his harvest.

Generated Verse: Luke 10:2

What does "Luke 10:2" mean?


This verse, Luke 10:2, is part of Jesus' instruction to his seventy-two disciples as he sends them out to prepare the way for him in the towns and villages he plans to visit. Let's break down the meaning:

"The harvest is indeed plentiful...": This refers to the spiritual condition of the people. Jesus recognizes that many people are ready and willing to receive his message of salvation and the good news of the Kingdom of God. They are like ripe crops ready to be gathered. There is a great need and opportunity for spiritual transformation.

"...but the laborers are few.": This highlights the shortage of people available and willing to actively share the message and work to bring people into the Kingdom of God. "Laborers" represents those who dedicate themselves to spreading the gospel, teaching, and helping others to follow Jesus.

"Pray therefore to the Lord of the harvest...": Jesus instructs his disciples (and us) to pray specifically that God, the "Lord of the harvest," will address this shortage. God is the one who ultimately owns and orchestrates the harvest.

"...that he may send out laborers into his harvest.": The prayer is not just for anyone, but for God to send out qualified and willing individuals. This implies a calling and divine appointment. These "laborers" are needed to actively participate in bringing in the spiritual harvest. It's not simply about attracting people to a building, but actively going out and engaging with them, as Jesus did.

In Summary:

The verse is a call to acknowledge the immense spiritual need in the world, the scarcity of workers to meet that need, and to earnestly pray that God will raise up and send out more people to share the Gospel and help people come to know him.

Key takeaways:

Urgency: The harvest metaphor emphasizes the urgency of the situation. Opportunities can be missed.
Divine Initiative: It acknowledges that God is ultimately in control and that He is the one who sends and equips workers.
Prayer: Prayer is essential for addressing the shortage and seeking God's guidance.
Action: It implicitly calls those who pray to consider whether they themselves are being called to be laborers. It's a verse that often leads to self-reflection and a consideration of how one can participate in the harvest.
Kingdom Focus: The "harvest" is specifically related to the Kingdom of God, meaning the spread of God's rule and influence in people's lives.