31 In the meantime the disciples kept urging him, “Rabbi,(A) eat something.”

32 But he said, “I have food to eat that you don’t know about.”

33 The disciples said to one another, “Could someone have brought him something to eat?”

34 “My food is to do the will of him(B) who sent me(C) and to finish his work,”(D) Jesus told them. 35 “Don’t you say, ‘There are still four more months, and then comes the harvest’? Listen to what I’m telling you: Open[a] your eyes and look at the fields, because they are ready[b] for harvest. 36 The reaper is already receiving pay and gathering fruit for eternal life,(E) so that the sower and reaper can rejoice together. 37 For in this case the saying is true: ‘One sows and another reaps.’(F) 38 I sent you to reap what you didn’t labor for; others have labored, and you have benefited from[c] their labor.”

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Footnotes

  1. 4:35 Lit Raise
  2. 4:35 Lit white
  3. 4:38 Lit you have entered into

31 Meanwhile the disciples were urging Him, saying, “(A)Rabbi, eat something.” 32 But He said to them, “I have food to eat that you do not know about.” 33 So the (B)disciples were saying to one another, “No one brought Him anything to eat, did he?” 34 Jesus *said to them, “My food is to (C)do the will of Him who sent Me, and to (D)accomplish His work. 35 Do you not say, ‘There are still four months, and then comes the harvest’? Behold, I tell you, raise your eyes and observe the fields, that they are white (E)for harvest. 36 Already the one who reaps is receiving (F)wages and is gathering (G)fruit for (H)eternal life, so that the one who sows and the one who reaps may rejoice together. 37 For in this case the saying is true: ‘(I)One sows and another reaps.’ 38 I sent you to reap that for which you have not labored; others have labored, and you have [a]come into their labor.”

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Footnotes

  1. John 4:38 I.e., enjoyed the fruit of their labor