John 4:38

“I sent you to reap, etc.] To preach the Gospel, and gather in souls by your ministry; referring to the mission of them in (<401006>Matthew 10:6,7); that whereon ye bestowed no labour; being sent to the Jews, who had the writings of the prophets, and were versed in them; and had learned from them that the Messiah was to come, and were now in general expectation of him; so that they had nothing more to do, than to declare to those persons who were cultivated by the prophets, and were like to ground tilled and manured, that the Messiah was come, and the kingdom of heaven was at hand. Other men laboured; the prophets, and John the Baptist: and ye are entered into their labours; to finish the…”

“I sent you, &c.--The I is emphatic--I, the Lord of the whole harvest: "sent you," points to their past appointment to the apostleship, though it has reference only to their future discharge of it, for they had nothing to do with the present ingathering of the Sycharites. ye bestowed no labour--meaning that much of their future success would arise from the preparation already made for them. (See on Joh 4:42). others laboured--Referring to the Old Testament laborers, the Baptist, and by implication Himself, though He studiously keeps this in the background, that the line of distinction between Himself and all His servants might not be lost sight of. "Christ represents Himself as the Husbandman…”

“I sent you - In the commission given you to preach the gospel. You have not labored or toiled in preparing the way for the great harvest which is now to be gathered in. Other men laboured - The prophets, who long labored to prepare the way for the coming of the Messiah. (2)The teachers among the Jews, who have read and explained the law and taught the people. John the Baptist, who came to prepare the way. And, The Saviour himself, who by his personal ministry taught the people, and prepared them for the success which was to attend the preaching of the apostles. Especially did Jesus lay the foundation for the rapid and extensive spread of the gospel. “He” saw comparatively little fruit of his…”

“I - he Lord of the whole harvest, have sent you - He had employed them already in baptizing, Joh 4:2. John 4:42”

“4:38 others: Jesus might have meant John the Baptist, or he might have been referring to the work he had just done with the Samaritan woman.”

“sent: Act 2:41, Act 4:4, Act 4:32, Act 5:14, Act 6:7, Act 8:4-8, Act 8:14-17 other: Joh 1:7; Ch2 36:15; Jer 44:4; Mat 3:1-6, Mat 4:23, Mat 11:8-13; Act 10:37, Act 10:38, Act 10:42, Act 10:43; Pe1 1:11, Pe1 1:12 John 4:39”