What is the meaning of Matthew 9:36-37?

Question

Gramps,

Could you please explain to me the verses 36 and 37 of Matthew Chapter 9?  Why did Jesus say those words and how does it match with the questions asked by people about fasting?

kwrwmdao

Answer

Dear kwrwmdao,

Thank you for your question.  I’ll start with the second part first.  The question about fasting was asked in verse 14, and answered in verses 15 through 17.  In those verses, the Lord explains, basically, that His disciples aren’t fasting because He is with them – something He likens to a wedding celebration – and that after He is gone, they will have time and cause to fast.

Immediately thereafter, almost interrupting the Lord’s answer about why His disciples weren’t fasting, four separate healings are recounted.  Verse 35 then appears to be a summary of what the Lord did in His ministry: traveling extensively, teaching, preaching, and healing.  This leads into verses 36 through 38, where the Lord tells His disciples that there is much work to do (as we’ve just seen) and few “labourers” to do it.  In the very next chapter, we see the Lord calling His twelve apostles, and giving them power to help Him minister to those who will receive them.  Before long, the Seventy are also called to help in the work.

I don’t see much connection between the two sets of verses, except that we might apply them together in our own lives.  The Lord is no longer with us in person, thus giving us cause to fast on occasion; and there are still few to do the work of the ministry.  As advised in verse 38, we can pray that the Lord will send laborers to help us, and we can fast for ourselves and them as we all strive to serve where the Lord has called us.

I hope this helps in your effort to understand this chapter.

Gramps