“Do you not say, ‘There are still four months and then comes the harvest’? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for the harvest!” (John 4:35).
The Context
Jesus had spoken with a Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well, near Sychar. She left her waterpot and went into the city and said, “Come, see a man who told me all things that I ever did. Could this be the Christ?” (John 4:29). This caused many of the city to come to Jesus and hear for themselves (John 4:30, 39-42).
The reference to four months until the harvest seems to be a time reference. The grain harvest occurred in about the month of April. This was probably December or January. The fields of grain were not yet ready for harvest.
However, there was a spiritual harvest that was ready. “The fields were then ‘white already unto the harvest,’ ready now to be reaped. At that very moment, throngs of people from Sychar were streaming out to see Jesus as the result of the testimony of the Samaritan woman.” (Guy N. Woods, A Commentary on John, p. 87 The Gospel Advocate Commentary Series). One commentator speculated on the reference to white, “Multitudes of Samaritans are coming… probably they had a kind of white garment” (Adam Clake, Clarke’s Commentary, John, p. 543). It is possible that some were wearing white garments. However, this is not necessary to the meaning. The meaning is that there was at that time an opportunity to harvest souls. The white may simply refer to the white appearance of heads of grain when ready for harvest.
I wonder if this work among the Samaritans had a lasting effect. Later, the Gospel would be proclaimed in Samaria (Acts 8).
Application
God’s people should lift up their eyes. They should look upon others and their needs. They should look for opportunities to sow seed. They should look for opportunities to harvest souls for the Lord.
Some, I am afraid, never look upon others this way. Consider – (1) Some are so wrapped up in their own lives that they miss opportunities. They never even see the opportunities before them. The disciples were thinking about food, not souls (John 4:31-ff). (2) Some are hindered by prejudices. The Jews ordinarily had no dealings with the Samaritans (John 4:9). Moreover, men ordinarily did not talk with women (John 4:27).
Are we looking for opportunities? Are we looking on souls as Jesus did? Each person we meet has a soul worth saving. Think about all the people we meet each day (the server at the restaurant; the checker at the grocery store; the teller at the bank; the person who cuts the grass; the person who cuts your hair; the people with whom you work; the classmate or roommate). Are we lifting up our eyes? Are we missing opportunities?
About Bryan Hodge
I am a minister and missionary to numerous countries around the world.
Bryan Hodge 
Look at the Fields
“Do you not say, ‘There are still four months and then comes the harvest’? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for the harvest!” (John 4:35).
The Context
Jesus had spoken with a Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well, near Sychar. She left her waterpot and went into the city and said, “Come, see a man who told me all things that I ever did. Could this be the Christ?” (John 4:29). This caused many of the city to come to Jesus and hear for themselves (John 4:30, 39-42).
The reference to four months until the harvest seems to be a time reference. The grain harvest occurred in about the month of April. This was probably December or January. The fields of grain were not yet ready for harvest.
However, there was a spiritual harvest that was ready. “The fields were then ‘white already unto the harvest,’ ready now to be reaped. At that very moment, throngs of people from Sychar were streaming out to see Jesus as the result of the testimony of the Samaritan woman.” (Guy N. Woods, A Commentary on John, p. 87 The Gospel Advocate Commentary Series). One commentator speculated on the reference to white, “Multitudes of Samaritans are coming… probably they had a kind of white garment” (Adam Clake, Clarke’s Commentary, John, p. 543). It is possible that some were wearing white garments. However, this is not necessary to the meaning. The meaning is that there was at that time an opportunity to harvest souls. The white may simply refer to the white appearance of heads of grain when ready for harvest.
I wonder if this work among the Samaritans had a lasting effect. Later, the Gospel would be proclaimed in Samaria (Acts 8).
Application
God’s people should lift up their eyes. They should look upon others and their needs. They should look for opportunities to sow seed. They should look for opportunities to harvest souls for the Lord.
Some, I am afraid, never look upon others this way. Consider – (1) Some are so wrapped up in their own lives that they miss opportunities. They never even see the opportunities before them. The disciples were thinking about food, not souls (John 4:31-ff). (2) Some are hindered by prejudices. The Jews ordinarily had no dealings with the Samaritans (John 4:9). Moreover, men ordinarily did not talk with women (John 4:27).
Are we looking for opportunities? Are we looking on souls as Jesus did? Each person we meet has a soul worth saving. Think about all the people we meet each day (the server at the restaurant; the checker at the grocery store; the teller at the bank; the person who cuts the grass; the person who cuts your hair; the people with whom you work; the classmate or roommate). Are we lifting up our eyes? Are we missing opportunities?
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About Bryan Hodge
I am a minister and missionary to numerous countries around the world.