“When He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion, because they fainted and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.” (Matthew 9:36). This was not how it was at creation. But Sin entered the world. With it came, death, heartache, sorrow, pain, suffering and chaos. As Jesus walked about this world healing those whom He met; sorrow rose heavily in His heart. That is why later at the tomb of Lazurus, He wept with a harrowing sigh and loud wale. Sin’s destruction was the very reason He came to die. His love would not permit all to perish.
Even if only a few accepted Him, those few were enough to give His life to save them. Enough for Him to pay the price for their sin. His love demanding such. Yet, as He looked upon this crowd of broken hearts with spirits separated from the joy He meant for them to have; He felt compassion. If only they knew.
Who will be the laborers?
This task would require laborers. Those willing to take up their cross and follow Him wherever He leads them. Until this point in Matthew there had been a careful weaving of the facts proving Jesus as the true Messiah. From His lineage to David to the miracles presented. Fulfillments of Old Testament Prophecy presented an unmistakable truth—Jesus was the Messiah rejected by His own. They wanted a reigning King who brought peace, prosperity and freedom from prison. All this promised by Isaiah. Yet, now John the Baptist sat in prison. Pain, suffering and sorrow still filled the earth. Roman rulership still reigned. Yet, Jesus asks His disciples to look at the field white for harvest and pray for laborers to be sent out. Did they realize, He would then send them. God’s answer to their prayers was, “You, go”.
The Fields are White for Harvest—Look, weep, pray, and go
Is that not the plea to us today? Look around you. All the masses of people who do not know Him. Feel the pain, the sorrow, the suffering—look, weep for the sin that wreaks havoc on our world. Pray. And go witness wherever you are.
Certainly, we can look around us and see the brokenness. But does our heart break for what breaks His? Or do we just complain about their destruction of what is good and righteous? Not realizing we are just as broken as they. Our only salvation did not come from our own volition. Instead, it came with a very heavy price. A price paid by Jesus Christ Himself on the cross. So, as we look at Matthew 10, let us consider the cost of discipleship. Weigh it in our own hearts and answer the question. “Am I willing to pay the price to follow Him?” What will it take to have a heart like His?
Then Came the Call to Action
And when He had called His twelve disciples to Him, He gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease. Matthew 10:1 (NKJV)
He had them first see the crowd in their suffering state. Then, pray for them—preparing their hearts to be called. After that, He called them and gave them power. We too need these steps. Unless we truly see the lost as lost sheep in need of a Shepherd, a Savior; then we walk right past without a thought for them.
Then came prayer for the lost. Once the heart is opened by compassion for the lost, prayer provides a means of opening our hearts to action. We need the help of the Holy Spirit and too often we wander around forgetting we have this power within us. Our natural state is inclined to push Him aside, ignoring the truth of His power within us.
Though the Fields Are White for Harvest, There Are Risks One Must Accept
The initial trip for the Apostles was one of Training. Initially they were to only go to the lost sheep of Israel. Although given the prophecies and the fact they were Jews, this should have been the easier crowd. Go where you are. Sometimes though these are the hardest crowd—family, friends, and co-workers. After all, they know you with all your warts and mess ups.
These twelve Jesus sent out and commanded them, saying: “Do not go into the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter a city of the Samaritans. But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7 And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give. Matthew 10:5-8 (NKJV)
Often we are rejected. The truth that Jesus is the Way, the only way often brings strife within families and friends. This is the harsh reality, they had to face. And we as well. If my desire is to be loved by everyone, I too will fail. Neither do I mean, we are to be harsh and brow beating. We are to present the truth in love. Yet, we must not compromise the truth. Even if we are rejected by those around us.
Jesus said to them
“Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword For I have come to ‘set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law’; and ‘a man’s enemies will be those of his own household.’ He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it. Matthew 10:34-39 NKJV
Wait a minute! Did not the Angels sing “peace on earth, good will to men?” They did. And Jesus brought the only hope of Peace on Earth, good will to men. But that was on the cross where He bore our sins. It was at a great cost to Him, but He is our only hope of Peace with God.
Jesus is Preparing Them for the Fields White for Harvest Yet to Come
Before the apostles would be able to carry on after Christ’s death and resurrection, they needed some training in faith. They needed to see the task before them. For that reason, He sent them without money or extra clothing. They would need to learn to live by faith for even their food.
Provide neither gold nor silver nor copper in your money belts, nor bag for your journey, nor two tunics, nor sandals, nor staffs; for a worker is worthy of his food. Matthew 10: 9-10 NKJV
You will have to rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment as well.
And whatever city or village you enter, inquire who is worthy in it, and stay at his house until you leave that city. As you enter the house, give it your greeting. If the house is worthy, see that your blessing of peace comes upon it. But if it is not worthy, take back your blessing of peace. And whoever does not receive you nor listen to your words, as you leave that house or city, shake the dust off your feet. Truly I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment, than for that city. Matthew 10:11-15 NASB
Although the Fields are White for Harvest, there will be persecution
“Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves. But beware of men, for they will deliver you up to councils and scourge you in their synagogues. You will be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles. But when they deliver you up, do not worry about how or what you should speak. For it will be given to you in that hour what you should speak; for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you. Matthew 10: 16-20 NKJV
Wise as serpents, but harmless as doves. We need the discernment of the Holy Spirit always with us. As well as we need love, compassion, and mercy. These are only empowered by the Holy Spirit as well. If left to my own ability to forgive and show mercy. Well, that would not go so well indeed. Yet, despite that, we can expect persecution. By this I mean there will be those that try to lock us up or take away our jobs because we speak for Jesus. Don’t let that surprise you. In some areas of the world, to speak the name of Jesus may mean certain death.
Yet, what are we to fear as we labor for the fields are white for Harvest?
All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father. Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him. Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” Matthew 11:27-30 NKJV
Yes, we are to take up our cross and follow Him. No. My cross is not my family. Nor is my cross my physical ailments. My cross is to die to my selfish desires, my pride, and my constant thoughts of me. We are to die to self that we might live to Him. Yes, this world is burdensome. But yoked to Christ, I know He lifts me up as He carries the burden for me.
A Poem for Today
Lord, Lift Me High
Chorus
Oh, lift me high above the fray
That I might see and go today
To Follow you, I must not stray
Amidst the darkness of this day
Your light to shine along the way
The world around so filled with pain
I cannot bear my tears restrain
Your heart dear Lord, in me remain
The Strength And love to always reign
Above this heart of mine, so vain
Chorus:
Oh, lift me high above the fray
That I might see and go today
To Follow you, I must not stray
Amidst the darkness of this day
Your light to shine along the way
Oh, help me Lord, my cross to bear
Die to myself, Become aware
That as I lift my heart in prayer
You lift away my burden, care
Your Spirit’s Joy You freely share
Chorus:
Oh, lift me high above the fray
That I might see and go today
To Follow you, I must not stray
Amidst the darkness of this day
Your light to shine along the way
So, Lord do not let me forget
The Grace You gave that day we met
Along this road, filled with regret
You paid for me my heavy debt
And freed my soul from any threat
Chorus
Oh, lift me high above the fray
That I might see and go today
To Follow you, I must not stray
Amidst the darkness of this day
Your light to shine along the way
Transform this heart that I might be
A beacon light that all may see
Your love shine from inside of me
By faith, You set the captives free
Their heart may then be filled with glee
by Effie Darlene Barba
DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR AND LORD? He is our only Hope in Life and Death! Our Joy is found in Him.
Therefore if you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord: I urge you today. Go to my page titled How to Be Saved by clicking on this link. There is nothing more important than this; because He is the way, the truth and the life. Therefore, I urge you to seek Him today.
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©Effie Darlene Barba, 2025
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. Furthermore, I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned except for my own books. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.
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New King James Version (NKJV)Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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