That they were reaping what others sowed. Others before them did the hard work.
2007-10-30 07:43:21 · 19 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
John 4:38
I sent you to reap what you have not worked for. Others have done the hard work, and you have reaped the benefits of their labor."
John 4:37
Thus the saying One sows and another reaps is true.
2007-10-30 08:12:34 · update #1
The people of the Old Testament planted the seed for belief in Christ. The entire law and its history point to Jesus. Thus, the hard work of sowing all that was done by others. The Apostles merely had to make Jesus known and people would come to realize who Jesus is.
Another way to look at it is that God is the one who has done the sowing. Jesus makes reference to that in several of his parables. The seed is the word of God planted in the hearts of human beings. Once it has grown, it only remains for the apostles to bring that harvest to God by making known the full revelation of God through Jesus.
2007-10-30 07:49:02 · answer #1 · answered by Jude & Cristen H 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
There are a couple of passages where this phrase appears. One is John 4:38. Jesus is using this to tell them that they are seeing the effects done before them. A similar phrase is "standing on the shoulders of giants". The apostles were to reap what was sowed by Moses and the Prophets.
The other passages are Matthew 25:24 and Luke 19:22, but I don't think that was what you were questioning about.
2007-10-30 14:47:54 · answer #2 · answered by mlcros 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Jesus said that they were reaping what others sowed. But they too were sowing and others would reap... That's how The Reign of God works: Giving and receiving... No one will say "Hey, I did the good job"... Everyone sowed and everyone reaped. That is the idea and the same happens nowadays too!
2007-10-30 14:56:56 · answer #3 · answered by Desir D 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
you reap what you sowed?, in which case you will perfectly know, that what are you reaping was good., if the apostles where reaping something not good, or bitter, it was perhaps time for then to understand that they where to be careful next time, from reaping anything from anyone that they didn't sowed first. So, be-careful with the seeds, you planted, or even where such seeds may come from, if you which to harvest, the perfect seed, you will which to keep, to continue reaping, and been a good and successful Farmer?, The clue you are looking, may be in a prior Verse.
2007-10-30 14:56:44 · answer #4 · answered by paradiseemperatorbluepinguin 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
When you have a garden and you sow seeds you expect to reap a harvest of whatever you planted. We all will reap what we sow. As a Christian I strive to sow into people's life the love of Jesus and hope to one day see what I have sown grow. I don't know the direct context of what you asked, you need a verse to go along with it, but in some cases that seed can have already been planted in someone by somebody else, so now when you meet that person and tell them about Christ again you might reap what someone else has sown, by getting them to believe in Christ.
2007-10-30 14:50:38 · answer #5 · answered by zero_or_die77 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
34
Jesus said to them, "My food is to do the will of the one who sent me and to finish his work.
35
Do you not say, 'In four months 13 the harvest will be here'? I tell you, look up and see the fields ripe for the harvest.
36
The reaper is already 14 receiving his payment and gathering crops for eternal life, so that the sower and reaper can rejoice together.
37
For here the saying is verified that 'One sows and another reaps.'
38
I sent you to reap what you have not worked for; others have done the work, and you are sharing the fruits of their work."
39
Many of the Samaritans of that town began to believe in him because of the word of the woman 15 who testified, "He told me everything I have done."
2007-10-30 14:58:51 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
...and you have entered into their labors...picked up where they left off, and to continue on with...and so on....it's the law of giving and receiving, and sowing and reaping together in one...it's a very cool teaching... "Peace!" :)
2007-10-30 15:04:01 · answer #7 · answered by Mr. "Diamond" 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Jesus was sowing. John the baptist sowed. The prophets sowed.
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2007-10-30 14:46:28 · answer #8 · answered by Hogie 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
He may have been referring to the prophets.......and how they sowed the seeds of the coming Messiah.
And now they had the distinct privilidge of being with Christ in the flesh as promised by the saints of old
2007-10-30 14:46:03 · answer #9 · answered by primoa1970 7 · 5⤊ 0⤋
He meant that they were working with jesus, and the apostles had told about jesus. I really don't know. I was raised as a christian, but i am new to actually understanding stuff. I think that my answer is right. sorry for no caps, too lazy
2007-10-30 16:37:28 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋