What does it mean that the harvest is plentiful (Matthew 9:37)?

Response

Matthew 9 recounts several incidents in a somewhat rapid succession, where Jesus is ministering while the Pharisees are critical:

verses 1–8 — Jesus performs a healing on a paralytic.

verses 9–13 — Jesus calls Matthew, a tax collector, and is rebuked by the Pharisees for associating with “sinners.”

verses 14–17 — The Pharisees question Jesus and His disciples for not fasting enough, suggesting that Jesus’ followers are too sociable.

verses 18–26 — A woman with a chronic bleeding issue is cured, and Jesus resurrects a young girl.

verses 27–31 — Jesus restores sight to two blind men.

verses 32–34 — Jesus heals a man who cannot speak, but the Pharisees claim that He performs healings through demonic power.