Final answer:
According to John 4:38, Jesus said He sent others to “reap” for what they have not labored, speaking metaphorically about the collective effort in spreading the gospel.
Step-by-step explanation:
According to John 4:38, Jesus said, “I sent you to reap that for which you have not labored; others have labored, and you have entered into their labor.” This verse highlights the concept that the work of spreading the gospel involves a collective effort, where some plant the seeds of faith and others harvest its growth. This harvesting is metaphorical, referring to the preaching and accepting of Christian teachings, rather than a physical harvest.
The verse suggests a spiritual continuity where the efforts of one generation prepare the ground for the next. In a broader sense, it speaks to the nature of spiritual and communal work where the benefits may be reaped by those who come later, rather than exclusively by those who originally did the labor.