John Chapter 4, Verse 35
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35: ουχ υμεις λεγετε οτι ετι τετραμηνον εστιν και ο θερισμος ερχεται ιδου λεγω υμιν επαρατε τους οφθαλμους υμων και θεασασθε τας χωρας οτι λευκαι εισιν προς θερισμον ηδη
35: Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh
harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look
on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.
35: Do not you say: There are yet four months, and then the harvest
cometh? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes, and see the countries.
For they are white already to harvest.
Say not ye. This seems to have been a proverb. Ye say -- that is, men say.
Four months and, &c. The common time from sowing the seed to the harvest, in Judea, was about four months. The meaning of this passage may be thus expressed:
"The husband-man, when he sows his seed, is compelled to wait a considerable period before it produces a crop. He is encouraged in sowing it; he expects fruit; his labour is lightened by that expectation; but it is not immediate -- it is remote. But it is not so with my preaching. The seed has already sprung up. Scarce was it sown before it produced an abundant harvest. The gospel was just preached to a woman, and see how many of the Samaritans come to hear it also. There is therefore more encouragement to labour in this field than the farmer has to sow his grain."
Lift your eyes. See the Samaritans coming to hear the gospel.
They are white. Grain, when ripe, turns from a green to a yellow or light colour, indicating that it is time to reap it. So here were indications that the gospel was effectual, and that the harvest was to be gathered in.
