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.”

Read full chapter

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 Jesus, “Rabbi, eat something.”

32 But Jesus replied, “I have a kind of food you know nothing about.”

33 “Did someone bring him food while we were gone?” the disciples asked each other.

34 Then Jesus explained: “My nourishment comes from doing the will of God, who sent me, and from finishing his work. 35 You know the saying, ‘Four months between planting and harvest.’ But I say, wake up and look around. The fields are already ripe[a] for harvest. 36 The harvesters are paid good wages, and the fruit they harvest is people brought to eternal life. What joy awaits both the planter and the harvester alike! 37 You know the saying, ‘One plants and another harvests.’ And it’s true. 38 I sent you to harvest where you didn’t plant; others had already done the work, and now you will get to gather the harvest.”

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 4:35 Greek white.