“Jesus told them, “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 NIV

Jesus said it twice! This verse is parallel to the passage in Matthew 9:37-38. But even though it is parallel, Luke seems to make it clear that this is the second time Jesus said the same thing. If Jesus thought it was important enough to say twice…we better listen!

Jesus used a strong contrast! The contrast between the “many crops”/”much harvest” and the “few” workers is a pointed part of the statement. In fact, the word used for “few” here is the same as in Matt 7:14; “But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”

Jesus used strong language! The words in the instructions are not wimpy.

1. The word often translated as “pray” or “ask” is the word BEG or IMPLORE. Begging is something most of us try to stay away from doing…but that is what Jesus tells us.

2. We are to beg the Lord OF THE HARVEST–not anyone else. No one else has control over the harvest like the Lord of it, so we are to ask Him.

3. The word “send out” is the same as “CAST OUT” like what Jesus did to demons. In the context of the Matthew passage after He says “send (cast) out workers”, the text goes on and uses the same word; “Jesus called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to cast out evil spirits…” (10:1) That’s a power packed instruction from Jesus!

I have my cell phone alarm set to 10:02 a.m. and continue to pray the Luke 10:2b prayer where ever I am when the alarm goes off. I have encouraged others to do the same, as I have seen the real results of taking the time to commit to begging the Lord of the harvest for workers! You can do the same, set your alarm to 10:02 a.m, catch the “Luke 10:2b Virus” if you haven’t already and join in begging the Lord of the harvest for workers daily.