John 4:37 - Printer Friendly

ESV: For here the saying holds true, ‘One sows and another reaps.’

NIV: Thus the saying 'One sows and another reaps' is true.

NASB: For in this case the saying is true: ‘One sows and another reaps.’

CSB: For in this case the saying is true: 'One sows and another reaps.'

NLT: You know the saying, ‘One plants and another harvests.’ And it’s true.

KJV: And herein is that saying true, One soweth, and another reapeth.

NKJV: For in this the saying is true: ‘One sows and another reaps.’

Depending on the timing, it's entirely possible for crops in a field to be planted by one person, and harvested by another. Jesus is describing the approaching crowd of Samaritans (John 4:30) by using the imagery of a wheat field, white and ready to be harvested (John 4:35). In this specific case, the people are being brought by the Samaritan woman Jesus was just speaking to (John 4:7–26).

This same woman mentioned the Messiah in her conversation with Jesus (John 4:25). She also referred to Messiah when speaking to the townspeople (John 4:29). At the time, the ministries of Jesus and John the Baptist were not only successful, they were attracting attention from the local religious leaders (John 1:19; John 4:1). This means that the Samaritan woman, and the other townspeople, might have been "planted" with gospel seed by others.

Now, with the chance to hear and learn more about Jesus, these men and women were ready to be spiritually "harvested" and brought into a relationship with Christ (John 4:30–42). This should be both encouraging and challenging to believers. Our efforts to plant the gospel are never wasted: others may well complete what we've begun. And, we should be sensitive to those who have been "seeded" with the gospel, so we can take opportunities to lead them to Christ.

John 4:27–45 is an object lesson for the disciples. Jesus has just finished a conversation with a Samaritan woman, while the disciples were in town buying food. As it turns out, this supposedly unclean woman will soon bring back many people to meet Christ, while the disciples have brought no one. Jesus explains that some work to plant spiritual seeds, while others might be the ones collecting the harvest. Both are valuable and we should be ready for opportunities in either case.

Jesus speaks to a Samaritan woman who is drawing water from a well. Jesus both confronts her about her sin, and comforts her with the truth of the gospel. In particular, He explains that even though He knows her sins, He still seeks after her, and those like her. The woman returns to town, eventually bringing many people to meet Jesus. The disciples, meanwhile, have to be reminded of the purpose of their mission. Jesus also heals the son of a government official in a way that demonstrates the importance of trusting faith, rather than reliance on spectacle.

John chapter 4 continues the use of contrast. Jesus goes from conversing with an educated, powerful, prestigious man to talking to an outcast, unlearned, self-conscious woman. The combination of this passage, along with Jesus' conversation with Nicodemus, makes an important spiritual point. The gospel is for all people, in all places, and all times. Christ can reach each person exactly where he or she needs to be reached.

The gospel of John was written by the disciple John, decades later than the gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke. The author assumes that a reader is already familiar with the content of these other works. So, John presents a different perspective, with a greater emphasis on meaning. John uses seven miracles—which he calls “signs”—in order to prove that Jesus is, in fact, God incarnate. Some of the most well-known verses in all of the Bible are found here. None is more famous than the one-sentence summary of the gospel found in John 3:16.