does this by reminding them of a common saying that there are yet four months for the harvest to come (4:35a).17 Normally it took four months from the end of sowing to the beginning of harvest.18 However, in the case of God’s mission, the opportunity to liberate people from bondage and to bring them into the new community is already present. The metaphorical saying of Jesus, “Lift up your eyes and see the fields that they are already white for harvest” (4:35b), is to give awareness to his followers of the existing opportunity for ministry. The “fields” may indicate the people and “being white for harvest” metaphorically implies their readiness to receive Jesus’ words and believe in him. The word “harvest” denotes the currently available season to involve oneself in Christ’s work of compassion (Matt 9:36–38; Luke 10:2). The “harvest” time also indicates the time of judgment given to the evildoers at the end-time (Matt 13:24–30, 36–43; Mark 4:26–29). The salvation in Jesus contains in itself also condemnation for those who do not believe in him. Jesus calls his followers to participate in the harvest.
