Autumn brings gorgeous fall leaves, pumpkins, hayrides, and harvests of crops. For many people, local fairs occur in this season with contests, rides, and delicious food. We enjoy the harvest that autumn ushers in with beauty.
However, all these joyful events should point us back to God, who provides all we have and need. He is the reason for the harvest and the season so many enjoy.
In Scripture, God is called “the Lord of the Harvest,” both in reference to earth’s crops and spiritual fruit. He causes the seeds to grow and the rains to come, resulting in harvests of food around the world.
Likewise, the Lord also works to bring people to salvation. As we enjoy the season of autumn and all its beauty, we should also remember the spiritual harvest that God is working to bring to fruition and how we can participate in His mission.
Biblical Context
Multiple passages mention God’s title as the Lord of the Harvest. In Matthew 9:35-38, Jesus sees the crowds of people “harassed and helpless” and has compassion on them.
He told the disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field” (Matthew 9:37-38).
In this verse, Jesus is not specifically referring to physical crops but to the crowds of people as the “harvest field.”
The Lord is sovereign over the harvest of the land, but He is also Lord over the “spiritual harvest” of the lost. Scripture teaches that God is responsible for the growth of His spiritual harvest even as He uses workers to spread the gospel to Jews and Gentiles (1 Corinthians 3:7).
Another passage that applies to the title of the Lord of the Harvest is Luke 10:1-3. Based on Luke’s account, we know that Jesus sent out workers ahead of Him “to every town and place where he was about to go” (Luke 10:1).
To these 70 or 72 workers, depending on the version of the Bible, Jesus gave them instructions to also pray for more workers.
Using the same words as Matthew records, Jesus said, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field” (Luke 10:2). God brings about the harvest, but He uses workers to do so.
Harvest in Bible Times
In Bible times, the harvest was a significant event. Edwin Blum, in the Bible Knowledge Commentary: New Testament Edition, states that “Harvesttime in the ancient world was a time of joy (Ruth 3:2, 7; Isaiah 9:3).”
The Lord even had special festivals for the year’s harvests: The Festival of Harvest with the first fruits and the Festival of Ingathering with the final crops of the year (Exodus 23:16).
These festivals reminded the Israelites that God provided for them. He is the one who sends rain to make the grass grow for livestock and crops grow for people to eat (Psalm 104:14).
As the psalmist declares, “You take care of the earth and send rain to help the soil grow all kinds of crops. Your rivers never run dry, and you prepare the earth to produce abundant grain” (Psalm 65:9, CEV).
The Lord is responsible for the harvest, including providing people the ability to prepare the soil, plant the seeds, and harvest the crops.
A proper response to God’s provision of harvest is worship and praise. We should express gratitude for the God-given ability to plant and harvest crops since everything that is good in life comes from Him (James 1:17).
In Psalm 67, the psalmist urges the people to praise the Lord because “the land yields its harvest; God, our God, blesses us” (Psalm 67:6). We should also offer our praises to God as our Provider and Sustainer, the Lord of the Harvest.
Connection to Salvation and Ministry
In John’s gospel, he records Jesus’ words to the disciples about the harvest. He told them:
“Don’t you have a saying, ‘It’s still four months until harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest. Even now the one who reaps draws a wage and harvests a crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together. Thus the saying ‘One sows and another reaps’ is true. I sent you to reap what you have not worked for. Others have done the hard work, and you have reaped the benefits of their labor” (John 4:35-38).
In context, the ripe harvest Jesus referred to is the Samaritans. Moments earlier, He had talked to the Samaritan woman, who had hurried away to tell others about Jesus (John 4:28-30).
The people in town were walking toward Jesus and the disciples when He spoke about the fields being ripe for harvest (John 4:30-31).
Scripture tells us that many Samaritans believed in Jesus as the Messiah that day, professing Him as “the Savior of the world” (John 4:42).
As Christ regularly did when He taught, He used common illustrations to explain spiritual truths. Like a field of wheat ready for harvest, people were ready to receive the good news.
The preparations were already made for the disciples, as illustrated by the imagery of sowing. Harvesting “a crop for eternal life” was the job of the disciples, a task that joined them to the work of the Lord of the Harvest.
Just as God is responsible for the harvest of crops, He deserves all glory and praise for those who receive salvation. God the Father sent the Son to die in our place (John 3:16).
We receive the gift of salvation when we believe in Jesus’ finished work on the cross and His resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:1-4; Ephesians 2:8-9).
Furthermore, the Holy Spirit actively works to encourage us to receive the gift of salvation by convicting us of sin (John 16:8). He also baptizes us at salvation (1 Corinthians 12:12-13; Titus 3:5).
However, the Lord still chooses to use humans to spread the gospel and make disciples. Believers have the wonderful task of entering the harvest field and seeing people come to faith in Christ.
We are not responsible for their salvation, but we have a significant role in sharing the good news and helping new believers grow in their relationship with Jesus.
The Lord of the Harvest and the Need for More Workers
Jesus specifically said, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few” (Luke 10:2). According to this verse, there is a need for more workers to bring in the “harvest” for the Lord. Numerous people are ready for the good news of Christ, but believers must take the gospel to them.
The Apostle Paul describes this need in his epistle to the Roman believers: “But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them?” (Romans 10:14, NLT).
We must take the gospel to others so they can hear about the life-changing news of Jesus. God, the Lord of the Harvest, has entrusted this task to His followers so that others can become children of God and members of His Kingdom (John 1:12; Colossians 1:13).
As we enjoy the season of fall and its associated harvest, may we remember the fields of ministry that are ripe and ready for workers.
Not only can we pray for more workers, but we can join in God’s mission to take the gospel to others and make disciples of all nations. Christ gave His disciples, including us, the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20). Let us open our eyes and see the opportunities to participate in the Lord’s harvest.
Why Does This Matter?
God is the Lord of the Harvest, which means He is Sovereign over the earth’s production of crops and the spiritual harvest of salvation.
In response to God’s work, believers should offer praise and thanksgiving to the Lord for His gracious provision. He is responsible for the harvests of crops, including the ability to work.
Similarly, the Lord is also responsible for saving people from their sins. God, not humans, initiated salvation when the Father sent the Son to die for the sins of all people.
Also, the Holy Spirit convicts individuals of their sins and baptizes them when they place faith in Jesus’ death and resurrection.
As the Lord of the Harvest, God uses His disciples as workers of the harvest. We can participate in God’s work by obeying His command to take the gospel to others and make disciples of all nations.
For further reading:
Does God Care about Our Success?
What Happened on Each Day of Creation?
Why Does Jesus Share a Parable about Wheat and Tares?
Photo Credit: ©iStock/Getty Images Plus/AlexRaths
