What does Luke 10:2 mean?

Explanation

[Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest.] Luke 10:2

This verse is a metaphorical statement made by Jesus to his disciples.

The "harvest" in this verse represents the potential people who are ready to receive the message of God's kingdom.

In the agrarian society in which Jesus lived, harvest time was critical and required ample workforce to gather the crops.

The idea is that just as a large, ripe harvest requires many workers to collect the bounty before it spoils, the spreading of the Gospel message requires many laborers to reach out to the masses who are ready to embrace it.

The "labourers," then, are those willing to undertake the task of spreading the teachings of Jesus.

In a deeper sense, it underscores the urgency and importance of the disciples' mission. It encourages proactive evangelism and reflects Jesus’ compassion for the spiritual wellbeing of the multitudes.

Historical Context

This verse is found in Luke's Gospel in the New Testament. Luke was a physician and a companion of the apostle Paul.

This verse is part of a larger passage where Jesus appoints seventy-two of his followers and sends them two by two to every town and place where he himself was about to go.

The historical context is that of a Palestine under Roman occupation.

The Jewish people at the time were anticipating a Messiah who would deliver them from Roman rule, but Jesus often taught about a spiritual kingdom rather than a political one.

Theological Insights

Different denominations interpret this verse in varied ways.

For the evangelical tradition, this verse is a call for missionary work and evangelism, emphasizing the urgency of spreading the Gospel to every corner of the world.

In more mainline or progressive denominations, this verse can also signify social justice and the call to serve in non-proselytizing ways, responding to the immediate needs of communities.

Others may see it as a call to spiritual vocations, such as the ministry or monastic life.

Practical Applications

In daily life, followers of Christianity might take this verse as a prompt to engage more actively in their community, whether through church activities, charity work, or merely by being more willing to speak about their faith to others.

It can also serve as an inspiration for Christians to support or join missionary efforts or to be spiritually vigilant in recognizing those who may be seeking spiritual guidance.

Cross-References

• Matthew 9:37-38: "Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest."
• John 4:35: "Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest."
• 1 Corinthians 3:9: "For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building."

Language Study

In the original Greek of the New Testament, the key words are:

• "harvest" (θερισμός, therismos): meaning to reap or the time of reaping, indicating the reaping of souls for God's kingdom.
• "labourers" (ἐργάτης, ergates): referring to workers or toilers, denoting those who perform tasks or labor, in this context, the spreading of the Gospel.
• "send forth" (ἐκβάλλω, ekballo): often translated as "send out" or "thrust out," with a sense of urgency or force.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

This verse, while unique to the Christian narrative, can be thematically compared to other religious traditions where there is a call for teachers, prophets, or wise ones to guide others to spiritual truth.

In some ways, it mirrors the Buddhist idea of 'Sangha', a community of monks or nuns who spread the teachings of the Buddha.

In Judaism, there is also the concept of 'Tikkun Olam', or repairing the world, which includes spiritual outreach and guidance.

Scientific Perspectives

From a scientific viewpoint, this verse does not directly interact with any scientific concepts.

However, one might consider the study of sociology or psychology in understanding the drive behind collective human behaviour, such as the spread of religious beliefs and how individuals respond to calls for collective action.

Commentaries

Biblical scholars and theologians offer various interpretations of Luke 10:2.

According to the "IVP New Testament Commentary Series," this verse indicates both the urgency of mission work and the role of prayer in Christian ministry.

John Gill's Exposition of the Bible suggests that "the harvest" refers to elect souls ready to be converted.

In Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary, the author notes the scarcity of faithful ministers and the duty of the church to pray for them.

Overall, experts recognize this verse as underpinning the importance of proactive evangelism and divine dependence through prayer for more workers in the spiritual harvest.