Happy Friday, {{first_name | everyone}}!
We’re so grateful you’ve come along with us this week! We pray that you are moved to action and catch the urgency of what Jesus is inviting us into.
In today’s email…
🎓 A recap of our week in Matthew 9:37-38
👷 How to put what we’ve learned into practice
📚 In case you missed it…
MEMORIZE 🧠
_____ __ ____ __ ___ _______, “___ _______ __ _________, ___ ____ ________ ___ ___;
________ ____ ________ __ ___ ____ __ ___ _______ __ _____ ___ _______ ____ ___ _______.”
Matthew 9:37-38
(Use our free web app to help you memorize in your favorite translation. Instructions to set it up are at the bottom of this email.)
CONTEXT 📕
This week, we’ve explored Matthew 9:37-38.
Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”
On Monday, we looked at the world Matthew wrote into.
Under Roman rule, Jewish hope for a political messiah was high, but Jesus brought a kingdom unlike any other. Matthew’s Gospel reveals Jesus as the promised Son of David who fulfills God’s story, not by conquering empires, but by healing hearts and bodies.
His message of the “kingdom of heaven” redefined what true power and peace look like: humble, compassionate, and open to all nations.
On Tuesday, we looked at all of chapter 9.
Right before our verse, Jesus went from town to town healing and teaching. When Jesus saw the crowds, he was moved with compassion.
They were lost and leaderless, like sheep without a shepherd. And out of that compassion came the call to pray for laborers.
Immediately after, Jesus sends out the twelve disciples to be those laborers.
On Wednesday, we studied two Greek words:
Therismos (harvest): The “harvest” represents people ready to respond to God’s message, just waiting for someone to help them understand and “harvest” them.
Ergatai (laborers): The “laborers” are those God calls to step into that work — not self-appointed heroes, but humble servants sent by the Lord of the harvest to get their hands dirty.
Together, these words point to our mission as people of God: follow Jesus and point people to Jesus.
Finally, on Thursday we came face to face with this reality: just as it was in Jesus’ time, the harvest is plentiful.
People everywhere are searching for hope and wholeness. And we offered this way to frame how you think about sharing the good news:
If we imagine that people are ultimately consumers in a marketplace of meaning we’ll feel pressure to make Jesus one option among many. And then it becomes a competition and ‘I don't want to come off the wrong way.’ We want to make Jesus the most appealing product on the shelf.
But if we see people as dry bones in desperate need of life, the same way that we were, or as souls thirsting in a desert, we will stop curating the gospel to their preferences and start offering it as the only water that truly satisfies.
When we see people as having many options, we will try to “sell” Jesus.
When we see them as dying of thirst, we will simply hand them the cup that can satisfy.
APPLY AND RESPOND 🏃♂
The harvest is ready right where you are, today.
If we’ve truly meditated on Jesus’ words this week, our response isn’t just to feel inspired, but to join the work.
Start by praying for laborers. Ask God to raise up people who will share Christ’s message and demonstrate Christ’s love. Then, ask how He might send you.
The harvest is plentiful right where you already are. Your workplace, school, neighborhood, or even your social circle are filled with people longing for hope.
See people the way Jesus sees them. Notice the exhaustion, the weariness, the quiet longing under the surface. Be present with them. Be bold and offer to pray for someone (more people say ‘yes’ to prayer than you might expect).
And then, share the gospel in both word and deed. Take a step of faith and listen to the nudge of the Holy Spirit.
Let’s get to work!
Pray 🙏
Lord of the harvest, open my eyes to see where You’re already working. Give me a heart that feels what You feel and hands ready to serve. Help me to remember the treasure I have in you. I want to live as a faithful laborer in Your field. Let my life reflect the gospel of Your kingdom so that others might find restoration in You. Amen.
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RESOURCES 📚
In case you missed it, here are a few resources to help you dig deeper into the verse and its themes:
📚 The Divine Conspiracy by Dallas Willard (link)
📚 The Cost of Discipleship by Dietrich Bonhoeffer (link)
📚 The Mission of God's People: A Biblical Theology of the Church’s Mission by Christopher J. H. Wright (link)
📚 The Gospel of Matthew (New International Commentary on the New Testament) by R.T. France (link)
📹 The Gospel of Matthew (Chapters 1—13) by Bible Project (link)
🎵 The Goodness of God by Bethel Music & Jenn Johnson (Spotify | Apple | Malachi Daily Playlist)
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ANSWER KEY ✅
Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few;
therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”
Matthew 9:37-38
Have a blessed weekend!
Best,
The Malachi Daily team 🙏
Today’s Contributors
Jake holds two degrees in Biblical Studies and has a passion for making Scripture accessible. Along with being a podcast manager for faith-based shows, he helps Christians focus on Jesus through his own podcast Christianity Without Compromise.
Kieran is a husband and father living in NJ. In addition to Malachi Daily, he writes a personal newsletter about the intersection of faith, fatherhood and entrepreneurship.
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