John 4:36
Verse
Context
The Disciples Return and Marvel
35Do you not say, ‘There are still four months until the harvest’? I tell you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are ripe for harvest.36Already the reaper draws his wages and gathers a crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may rejoice together.37For in this case the saying ‘One sows and another reaps’ is true.
Sermons
Bakht Singh
James K. Boswell
Mike Bickle
Favell Lee Mortimer
John NewtonSummary
Commentary
- Adam Clarke
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
- John Gill
Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
And he that reapeth receiveth wages - Or, And already the reaper receiveth wages. By making the word ηδη, already, the beginning of this verse, on the authority of some excellent MSS. and versions, a more consistent sense is obtained than from the common arrangement, where ηδη terminates the preceding verse. Already the heavenly sower, Jesus Christ, becomes the reaper of the produce of the seed which he had so lately sown; and receives the wages which he desired, the high gratification of saving immortal souls; and gathers in his fruit unto eternal life. So the sower and the reaper, who are here one and the same person, rejoiced together, having seen the seed time and the harvest take place on the same day. The sower had not time to leave the field which he had sown, till it was full time to gather in the harvest!
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
he that reapeth, &c.--As our Lord could not mean that the reaper only, and not the sower, received "wages," in the sense of personal reward for his work, the "wages" here can be no other than the joy of having such a harvest to gather in--the joy of "gathering fruit unto life eternal." rejoice together--The blessed issue of the whole ingathering is the interest alike of the sower as of the reaper; it is no more the fruit of the last operation than of the first; and just as there can be no reaping without previous sowing, so have those servants of Christ, to whom is assigned the pleasant task of merely reaping the spiritual harvest, no work to do, and no joy to taste, that has not been prepared to their hand by the toilsome and often thankless work of their predecessors in the field. The joy, therefore, of the great harvest festivity will be the common joy of all who have taken any part in the work from the first operation to the last. (See Deu 16:11, Deu 16:14; Psa 126:6; Isa 9:3). What encouragement is here for those "fishers of men" who "have toiled all the night" of their official life, and, to human appearance, "have taken nothing!"
John Gill Bible Commentary
And he that reapeth receiveth wages,.... Angels are sometimes called reapers, and so are ministers of the Gospel here. The works and ministry of the apostles are here expressed by "reaping": for as in reaping, when the corn is ripe, the sickle is put in, and the corn is cut down, and laid to the ground, and then bound in sheaves, and gathered into the barn; so when things are ripe in providence, and God's set time is come to convert any of his people, he makes use of his ministers for the cutting them down, laying low the loftiness and haughtiness of man, stripping him of all his goodliness, and taking him off of a dependence on his own righteousness and works, and for the gathering them into his churches, which is done with a great deal of joy and pleasure: and such as are so employed, and in this way made useful, shall "receive wages", shall not only be taken care of in providence, and have a sufficient and comfortable maintenance, the labourer being worthy of his hire; but shall have pleasure, delight, and satisfaction in their work, that being blessed for the good of souls, and the glory of Christ, and they having the presence God in it; and also shall hereafter receive the crown of righteousness, when they have finished their course, and shall shine like the stars for ever and ever. And gathereth fruit unto life eternal: by fruit are meant sinners converted and turned from the error of their ways which are the fruit of a Gospel ministry, of the efficacy and power of divine grace accompanying it; see Joh 15:16; and these are gathered, by the preaching of the Gospel, out from among the rest of mankind, unto Christ, the Shiloh, or peace maker, and into his churches, and remain, abide, and persevere to the end; that grace, which is implanted in their souls, being a well of living water, springing up to everlasting life; so that they are at last gathered into Christ's garner, into heaven, where they shall live with him for ever: that both he that soweth, and he that reapeth, may rejoice together. The sowers are the prophets of the Old Testament, who sowed that seed in the prophecies, which sprung up in Gospel times, and laid the foundation therein of the great success of the apostles of Christ in preaching the word; for they so clearly described the Messiah, and pointed out Christ, his offices, and his work, in so distinct a manner, that when he was come he was readily known, and cheerfully embraced; they greatly facilitated the work of the apostles, who had nothing to do but to preach Christ, as come in the flesh: and hence they reaped and gathered a vast harvest of souls every where. John the Baptist also was one that sowed; he prepared the way of the Lord, and made straight his paths: and our Lord himself was a sower, that went forth to sow, and who sowed good seed in the field; all which succeeded well, and were ripening apace for a general harvest, which began on the day of Pentecost, after our Lord's ascension to heaven. This was in Judea; and in the Gentile world there was a sowing in providence, which contributed to make the work of the disciples more easy there, and to bring on, in time, a large harvest. The books of the Old Testament were translated into the Greek language; and the Jews were scattered in the several parts of the world; and the Greek tongue, in which the New Testament was to be written, was every where generally spoken; and these providences were ripening apace to bring on a great work there. And now, as before observed, the apostles were the reapers; they were remarkably successful in the gathering in of souls, even more than the prophets, than John the Baptist, or Christ himself; never was such a harvest of souls, either in Judea, or in the Gentile world, before or since; of which the conversion of these Samaritans was a pledge or earnest. Now when the whole harvest is gathered in, at the end of the world, all these will rejoice together, the "patriarchs" and prophets, the forerunner of Christ, and Christ himself, and all his apostles and ministers; the different parts they have had in this work all concurring and agreeing together, and issuing in the glory of God, and the good of souls.
John 4:36
The Disciples Return and Marvel
35Do you not say, ‘There are still four months until the harvest’? I tell you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are ripe for harvest.36Already the reaper draws his wages and gathers a crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may rejoice together.37For in this case the saying ‘One sows and another reaps’ is true.
- Scripture
- Sermons
- Commentary
Jacob's Well
By Bakht Singh3981:54:33JacobMAT 6:33JHN 3:3JHN 4:6JHN 4:31JHN 4:34JHN 4:36In this sermon, the preacher focuses on the story of Jesus and the Samaritan woman at Jacob's well in John chapter 4. He emphasizes the importance of understanding the concept of harvest and how it relates to our spiritual lives. The preacher highlights that Jesus came to the well not only to open the disciples' spiritual eyes but also to teach them how to worship. He emphasizes that true worship is a crucial need among believers today and that coming to the well can satisfy our hunger and thirst.
Week of Meetings 09 7 Facets of Love
By James K. Boswell38855:23JOS 9:2JHN 4:36JHN 17:18JHN 20:21ROM 5:51CO 3:9In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of recognizing our unity with Christ through his death, burial, and resurrection. He encourages the audience to be informed and instructed in their minds, so they can effectively share the message of redeeming love. The speaker also highlights the need for vision and mission to work together, as vision without mission is merely visionary and mission without vision becomes drudgery. The sermon concludes with a reminder of the overflowing love of God, which should lead believers to have a heart for the perishing souls around them.
Abiding in Christ: Committed to Fruitfulness
By Mike Bickle0MAT 5:19JHN 4:36JHN 15:5ROM 1:13ROM 8:28GAL 5:22EPH 3:17PHP 1:22HEB 12:1Mike Bickle preaches on the importance of abiding in Christ as highlighted in John 15, emphasizing the two-way conversation between Jesus as the vine and believers as the branches, resulting in bearing fruit that remains forever. The process of abiding involves talking with God, applying His promises, and obeying His leadership, leading to a life of epic significance as we commune with Him in obedient love. The Father, as the vinedresser, prunes believers to bring forth greater fruitfulness, a process that involves removing distractions and hindrances to our growth in love, not divine discipline for sin.
Demonstration 22 (Of Death and the 50atter Times)
By Aphraates0GEN 2:17DEU 33:6ISA 26:19MAT 5:3MAT 7:12LUK 20:38JHN 4:36JHN 14:21CO 6:31CO 15:55GAL 6:6Aphraates preaches about the concepts of death, judgment, and resurrection, emphasizing how death ruled over humanity due to Adam's transgression but was challenged by Moses proclaiming resurrection. Jesus, as the Life-giver, defeated Death by His crucifixion, bringing hope of resurrection and eternal life. The sermon delves into the different destinies of the righteous and the wicked in the afterlife, highlighting the importance of faith, good works, and repentance. Aphraates encourages believers to remember death, live in righteousness, and prepare for the judgment day when all will be rewarded according to their deeds.
John 4:25-38. the Spiritual Harvest.
By Favell Lee Mortimer0PSA 126:5JHN 4:25JHN 4:361CO 3:6GAL 6:91TH 2:19HEB 4:13Favell Lee Mortimer preaches about the encounter of Jesus with the Samaritan woman at the well, highlighting her transformation from ignorance to belief in Him as the Messiah, and her eagerness to share the good news with others despite her past sins being exposed. Jesus, in His love and compassion, reveals Himself to her, showing that He knows all things about her. He emphasizes the importance of sowing the seeds of the gospel, even if we may not see immediate results, as God appoints some to sow and others to reap, ensuring that our labor in sharing His word is never in vain.
Sowing the Seed--Doubting the Truth
By John Newton0LUK 10:2JHN 4:361CO 3:6HEB 10:231PE 5:8John Newton encourages the recipients of his letter to rejoice in the name of Jesus and witness the spread of His message among the people, despite facing prejudices and hindrances from Satan. He reminds them that even if the results are not immediately visible, sowing the seed of faith patiently will bear fruit in God's timing. Newton emphasizes the importance of being thankful for the work the Lord has already done and expresses hope for new miracles through the power of the Gospel. He reflects on his own struggles with doubt but finds assurance in the faithfulness and compassion of Christ's promises.
- Adam Clarke
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
- John Gill
Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
And he that reapeth receiveth wages - Or, And already the reaper receiveth wages. By making the word ηδη, already, the beginning of this verse, on the authority of some excellent MSS. and versions, a more consistent sense is obtained than from the common arrangement, where ηδη terminates the preceding verse. Already the heavenly sower, Jesus Christ, becomes the reaper of the produce of the seed which he had so lately sown; and receives the wages which he desired, the high gratification of saving immortal souls; and gathers in his fruit unto eternal life. So the sower and the reaper, who are here one and the same person, rejoiced together, having seen the seed time and the harvest take place on the same day. The sower had not time to leave the field which he had sown, till it was full time to gather in the harvest!
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
he that reapeth, &c.--As our Lord could not mean that the reaper only, and not the sower, received "wages," in the sense of personal reward for his work, the "wages" here can be no other than the joy of having such a harvest to gather in--the joy of "gathering fruit unto life eternal." rejoice together--The blessed issue of the whole ingathering is the interest alike of the sower as of the reaper; it is no more the fruit of the last operation than of the first; and just as there can be no reaping without previous sowing, so have those servants of Christ, to whom is assigned the pleasant task of merely reaping the spiritual harvest, no work to do, and no joy to taste, that has not been prepared to their hand by the toilsome and often thankless work of their predecessors in the field. The joy, therefore, of the great harvest festivity will be the common joy of all who have taken any part in the work from the first operation to the last. (See Deu 16:11, Deu 16:14; Psa 126:6; Isa 9:3). What encouragement is here for those "fishers of men" who "have toiled all the night" of their official life, and, to human appearance, "have taken nothing!"
John Gill Bible Commentary
And he that reapeth receiveth wages,.... Angels are sometimes called reapers, and so are ministers of the Gospel here. The works and ministry of the apostles are here expressed by "reaping": for as in reaping, when the corn is ripe, the sickle is put in, and the corn is cut down, and laid to the ground, and then bound in sheaves, and gathered into the barn; so when things are ripe in providence, and God's set time is come to convert any of his people, he makes use of his ministers for the cutting them down, laying low the loftiness and haughtiness of man, stripping him of all his goodliness, and taking him off of a dependence on his own righteousness and works, and for the gathering them into his churches, which is done with a great deal of joy and pleasure: and such as are so employed, and in this way made useful, shall "receive wages", shall not only be taken care of in providence, and have a sufficient and comfortable maintenance, the labourer being worthy of his hire; but shall have pleasure, delight, and satisfaction in their work, that being blessed for the good of souls, and the glory of Christ, and they having the presence God in it; and also shall hereafter receive the crown of righteousness, when they have finished their course, and shall shine like the stars for ever and ever. And gathereth fruit unto life eternal: by fruit are meant sinners converted and turned from the error of their ways which are the fruit of a Gospel ministry, of the efficacy and power of divine grace accompanying it; see Joh 15:16; and these are gathered, by the preaching of the Gospel, out from among the rest of mankind, unto Christ, the Shiloh, or peace maker, and into his churches, and remain, abide, and persevere to the end; that grace, which is implanted in their souls, being a well of living water, springing up to everlasting life; so that they are at last gathered into Christ's garner, into heaven, where they shall live with him for ever: that both he that soweth, and he that reapeth, may rejoice together. The sowers are the prophets of the Old Testament, who sowed that seed in the prophecies, which sprung up in Gospel times, and laid the foundation therein of the great success of the apostles of Christ in preaching the word; for they so clearly described the Messiah, and pointed out Christ, his offices, and his work, in so distinct a manner, that when he was come he was readily known, and cheerfully embraced; they greatly facilitated the work of the apostles, who had nothing to do but to preach Christ, as come in the flesh: and hence they reaped and gathered a vast harvest of souls every where. John the Baptist also was one that sowed; he prepared the way of the Lord, and made straight his paths: and our Lord himself was a sower, that went forth to sow, and who sowed good seed in the field; all which succeeded well, and were ripening apace for a general harvest, which began on the day of Pentecost, after our Lord's ascension to heaven. This was in Judea; and in the Gentile world there was a sowing in providence, which contributed to make the work of the disciples more easy there, and to bring on, in time, a large harvest. The books of the Old Testament were translated into the Greek language; and the Jews were scattered in the several parts of the world; and the Greek tongue, in which the New Testament was to be written, was every where generally spoken; and these providences were ripening apace to bring on a great work there. And now, as before observed, the apostles were the reapers; they were remarkably successful in the gathering in of souls, even more than the prophets, than John the Baptist, or Christ himself; never was such a harvest of souls, either in Judea, or in the Gentile world, before or since; of which the conversion of these Samaritans was a pledge or earnest. Now when the whole harvest is gathered in, at the end of the world, all these will rejoice together, the "patriarchs" and prophets, the forerunner of Christ, and Christ himself, and all his apostles and ministers; the different parts they have had in this work all concurring and agreeing together, and issuing in the glory of God, and the good of souls.