Topical Bible: The Harvest: Persons Engaged in Called Harvest-Men

◄ The Harvest: Persons Engaged in Called Harvest-Men ►

Jump to: Torrey's • Library • Subtopics • Terms

Topical Encyclopedia

In biblical times, the harvest was a significant event, both agriculturally and spiritually. The term "harvest-men" refers to those individuals who were actively engaged in the process of gathering crops. This role was crucial in ancient agrarian societies, where the success of the harvest could determine the community's survival and prosperity for the coming year.

Biblical Context

The Bible frequently uses the imagery of harvest to convey spiritual truths. In the Old Testament, the harvest is often associated with God's provision and blessing. For example, in Leviticus 23:22 , God commands the Israelites: "When you reap the harvest of your land, you are not to reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. Leave them for the poor and the foreigner. I am the LORD your God." This command highlights the social and communal responsibilities tied to the harvest, emphasizing care for the less fortunate.

In the New Testament, the concept of harvest takes on a more spiritual dimension. Jesus frequently used harvest imagery in His parables to illustrate the Kingdom of God. In Matthew 9:37-38 , Jesus says to His disciples, "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into His harvest." Here, the "harvest-men" are those called to spread the Gospel and bring souls into the Kingdom.

Roles and Responsibilities

Harvest-men in biblical times were responsible for the physical labor of reaping the fields. This task required strength, diligence, and cooperation among workers. The process involved cutting the grain, gathering it into sheaves, and often threshing and winnowing to separate the grain from the chaff. The work was labor-intensive and time-sensitive, as the harvest needed to be gathered before adverse weather could damage the crops.

Spiritually, harvest-men are those who labor in the fields of the Lord, spreading His message and gathering believers. This role is not limited to clergy or missionaries but extends to all Christians who participate in the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20). The call to be harvest-men is a call to active participation in God's work, requiring dedication, prayer, and a heart for service.

Symbolism and Significance

The harvest symbolizes the culmination of God's work and the gathering of His people. In Revelation 14:15 , an angel comes out of the temple, calling with a loud voice to Him who sits on the cloud, "Take Your sickle and reap, because the time to reap has come, for the harvest of the earth is ripe." This eschatological vision underscores the ultimate gathering of believers at the end of the age.

The role of harvest-men, therefore, is both a privilege and a responsibility. It is a call to participate in God's redemptive plan, to work diligently in His fields, and to trust in His timing and provision. The harvest is a reminder of God's faithfulness and the promise of a bountiful spiritual yield for those who labor in His name.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Isaiah 17:5
And it shall be as when the harvestman gathers the corn, and reaps the ears with his arm; and it shall be as he that gathers ears in the valley of Rephaim.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

From the Beginning of 1785 to the End of 1786
... a large number of laborers into his harvest: men who desire ... A skillful physician
shall be engaged to attend ... originally consisted of about twelve persons in each ...
/.../chapter 1 from the beginning.htm