Lucas 10

Lucas 10

Guzik - Using the analogy of a ripe field of grain, Jesus explained why He felt an increased urgency about His work. He considered the multitude of humanity to be like a harvest field ready for gathering. He thought of the greatness of human need, and saw it as an opportunity. David Thompson - One of the reasons why the labor force was so small is because Christ had just turned down three applicants because they were not willing to abandon everything for Him (Lk 9:57, 59, 61+)!....He does not tell them to get some talented musician to play soft music so they can move or manipulate people to get involved in service. He does not tell them to challenge everybody to get involved; he tells them to pray. Pray that God will raise up His laborers and send them out. This is God’s work, this is God’s ministry and this is God’s harvest and what is needed is men who have actually been called and gifted by God to do the work. God’s ministers are chosen and sent by Him and what God’s people need to do is pray that God will raise up those who will fulfill their responsibilities. MacArthur interprets the harvest differently than most commentators - The Lord’s compassion was prompted by His knowledge of what awaits those who refuse to repent; the harvest of which He spoke was not one of bringing people into the kingdom of God (ED: I AM NOT SURE THAT IS THE BEST INTERPRETATION BASED ON THE CONTEXT BECAUSE THE WAY TO KEEP THEM FROM THE FUTURE BAD HARVEST IS TO BRING THEM INTO THE GOOD HARVEST NOW). It was the gathering of sinners for their final judgment (cf. Joel 3:12-14; Mt. 13:30, 39-43; Rev. 14:14-15 - ED: ALL OF THESE PASSAGES ARE ABOUT HARVEST BUT THEY SEEM TO ME TO BE IN A DIFFERENT CONTEXT - THE END TIMES. Luke 10 CONTEXT IS NOT END TIMES). Compounding the matter, although the harvest is plentiful… the laborers are few. The mass of humanity moving inexorably toward divine judgment and eternal hell, while only few are working to reach them with the saving truth of the Gospel, moved the heart of the Savior as it should move us. True evangelism begins with a proper assessment of the plight of sinners; with an awareness of their desperate condition and with the realization that they all face the terrifying reality of eternal punishment. (See Luke Commentary) Beseech (deomai) is a strong way to ask for something - a leper imploring Jesus to heal him (Lk 5:12), a father's desperate plea to Jesus to cast a demon out of his son (Lk 9:38). To beg in English means to ask for earnestly, urgently or insistently. It implies more urgency than simply asking. The related word deesis, means prayer for a particular need (supplication). The aorist imperative pictures this as an urgent command calling for immediate response (SOULS ARE DYING DAILY WITHOUT CHRIST), for unbelievers are but a single heart beat away from an eternal separation from God if they refuse God's gracious offer of reconciliation. George Wood - Jesus says, "We begin (this missionary effort) by praying." And the people who pray wind up going. And the people who don't pray, never go. We start praying about the need. God lays it on our heart and we go.