OTKC 23: Pray for Workers of the Harvest

When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into his harvest. Matthew 9:36-38 (ESVUK)

What Did Jesus Mean?

In the bustling ministry of Jesus Christ, amidst the crowds pressing in for healing and teaching, we find one of His most profound and urgent commands. This command to pray for labourers remains as vital today as it was two millennia ago, calling every believer to participate in God’s great mission through intercession.

When Jesus commanded His disciples to “pray for labourers,” He was addressing a fundamental crisis in Kingdom work that persists to this day. The Greek word for “labourers” (ergatas) suggests not casual workers, but skilled craftsmen who understand their trade. Jesus wasn’t merely asking for more volunteers; He was calling for dedicated, equipped workers who would labour in God’s harvest field with purpose and skill.

The context reveals Jesus’ heart of compassion as He observed the multitudes who were “harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd”. The harvest metaphor is particularly significant—it speaks of urgency and opportunity. A harvest cannot wait; when the grain is ripe, immediate action is required, or the crop will be lost. Jesus recognised that the spiritual harvest of souls was ready, but the workers were insufficient for the task.

The command to pray reveals God’s sovereign design that human intercession plays a crucial role in mobilising Kingdom workers. This isn’t because God lacks knowledge or power, but because He invites us into partnership with His purposes through prayer. Jesus identifies Himself as the “Lord of the harvest,” establishing His divine authority over the mission field whilst acknowledging that workers must be called and sent by Him.

Furthermore, this command demonstrates that effective ministry flows from compassionate observation of human need. Jesus didn’t issue this instruction from a position of detached observation, but from a heart moved with compassion for the spiritual destitution He witnessed.

Jesus, the Early Church and Praying for Labourers

Throughout Scripture, we see this principle of prayer for workers consistently demonstrated. Jesus Himself embodied this command through His prayer life. Luke 6:12-13 records that before choosing the twelve apostles, “he went out to the mountain to pray, and all night he continued in prayer to God. And when day came, he called his disciples and chose from them twelve, whom he named apostles”.

The pattern is seen in the Old Testament. When Moses felt overwhelmed by leadership responsibilities, God provided the seventy elders after Moses’ cry for help: “Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘Gather for me seventy men of the elders of Israel…And I will take some of the Spirit that is on you and put it on them'”. Isaiah’s response to God’s call, “Here I am! Send me”, came after he had encountered God’s holiness in worship.

The early church followed this pattern faithfully. In Acts 1:14, before Pentecost, “All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers”, preparing for the outpouring of the Spirit that would empower them as witnesses. When faced with the need to replace Judas, they prayed: “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen”.

The church at Antioch provides a powerful example of this principle in action. Acts 13:2-3 describes how “While they were worshipping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, ‘Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.’ Then, after fasting and praying, they laid their hands on them and sent them off”. Their prayer and fasting created the spiritual atmosphere in which God’s calling was heard and obeyed.

Paul’s ministry demonstrates the ongoing need for such prayer. He consistently requested prayer for open doors and bold proclamation of the gospel, writing to the Colossians: “pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ”. Similarly, he asked the Ephesians to pray “that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel”.

Importance of the Command in the Believer’s Life

This command holds profound significance for every follower of Christ because it aligns our hearts with God’s concern—the salvation of the lost. When we pray for labourers, we participate in God’s eternal purposes and develop His compassion for the unreached multitudes.

Prayer for workers transforms our perspective on evangelism and missions. Rather than viewing these as optional church programmes, we begin to see them as urgent necessities. As we intercede, the Holy Spirit burdens our hearts with the same compassion that moved Jesus when He saw the crowds as “sheep without a shepherd.”

This command also serves as a safeguard against self-reliance in ministry. Human strategies and programmes, whilst valuable, cannot substitute for God-sent, Spirit-empowered workers. Praying for labourers acknowledges that “unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labour in vain”.

Moreover, consistent prayer for workers often results in a personal calling. Many missionaries and ministers testify that their calling came through seasons of prayer for the harvest. As we pray, God may reveal that we ourselves are part of His answer to our prayers. This was certainly true for Isaiah, who, after crying “Woe is me!” and receiving cleansing, heard God’s call and responded willingly.

The command also builds spiritual maturity in believers. It moves us beyond self-centred prayers towards Kingdom-focused intercession. When we regularly pray for labourers, we develop a global perspective and an eternal mindset that characterises mature disciples.

Practical Steps to Follow the Command

• Establish regular intercession for labourers: Create a specific time daily to pray for labourers. Keep a prayer journal with names and specific requests, celebrating answers as God provides workers for various fields.
• Incorporate strategic praying: Pray for unreached people groups, asking God to raise up workers who can effectively reach them. Research specific mission fields and pray knowledgeably for the workers needed in those harvest fields.
• Join or initiate prayer groups focused on missions: Organise prayer walks through your community, asking God to send labourers to reach your neighbours.
• Pray with expectation and faith: Remember that Jesus promised, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you”. Expect God to answer by raising up and sending forth labourers in response to your faithful intercession.
• Combine prayer with action: Support efforts financially and in any resourceful way. Your prayers and giving work together to answer the very petitions you’re making.
• Remain open to personal calling. As you pray for labourers, maintain a surrendered heart that’s willing to respond when God calls you. Remember, those who pray most fervently for workers often become the answer to their own prayers.

The command to pray for labourers isn’t merely about addressing a staffing shortage in Christian ministry—it’s about aligning our hearts with God’s redemptive purposes and participating in His eternal plan to seek and save the lost. As we faithfully obey this command, we join the great company of believers throughout history who have seen God answer their prayers by raising up mighty labourers for His harvest. The fields remain white unto harvest, and the call to prayer remains as urgent today as when Jesus first spoke these words to His disciples.

For His Name’s Sake

C. L. J. Dryden

Shalom

Questions for Reflection

• Has your heart ever been full of compassion for others who are helpless and harassed? Is this something you recognise in the world around you?
• Why is prayer such a key role in the response to seeing the sad situation around you? How can you be mindful of this when you pray?
• After the disciples heard this command, Jesus would commission them to fulfil it – how ready are you to be God’s response to your prayers? What can you do to be prepared just in case?