Matthew 13:24-30 Jesus told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared.
“The owner’s servants came to him and said, ‘Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?’ “‘An enemy did this,’ he replied. “The servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’ “‘No,’ he answered, ‘because while you are pulling the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time, I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.’”
Sower of God seed = Son of Man
Sower of weed = Devil
Good seeds = People of the Kingdom
The weeds = Sinners (Sons of the evil one)
Field = The world
Harvesters = Angels
The Harvest = The end of age
When Jesus introduces this parable, He says "The Kingdom of Heaven is like....
Jesus is describing the Kingdom of God.
Jesus is sowing gospel seeds throughout the world and raising up Christians, but at the same time, the enemy is spreading his weeds in the world. In this parable we see that evil will grow alongside the good until the return of Christ.
The enemy is in opposition to Jesus Christ, the devil tries to destroy Christ's work by placing false believers, false teachers in the world who will lead many people astray.
The servants in this parable want to help the farmer by uprooting the bad seeds/weeds. But we see that it is not the responsibility of the servants. It is the job of Christ Jesus and his angelic harvesters to make judgement about what is and what isn't wheat.
Christ stated that at the end of time the weeds will be gathered. I think this is so because.... those who may be weeds today may be wheat tomorrow. Let us always remember that the mission of the church is sowing seed and not pulling weeds. It is not in our calling to uproot it out of the world. Why? Because the difference between true and false believers isn't always obvious. Tares, especially in the early stages of growth, looks like wheat. So, a false believer may resemble a true believer. In Matthew 7:22 Jesus warned that many profess faith but do not know him. Thus, each person should examine his own relationship with Christ. (2 Corinthians 13:5)
Man does not see the heart, but God does. God is pictured as a patient farmer waiting for his crop to mature. Scripture says he is not lazy or slow in terms of bringing righteousness and judgement, but rather he is patient with us, wishing for none of us to perish and all to come to repentance. I'm so glad that God is who judges us.
-What if it had been left up to man to judge us?
-What if they'd looked back over our life and seen certain seasons where we didn't reflect the character of a Christian on the outside?
****We would be in a world of trouble****
God.... he's not bound by time, and he has always seen who you would become, who i would become. He sees our potential. He sees the plans that he has for us. He knows why he created you and me. He is so patient with us.
God will harvest the wheat and bring his people home. He will also harvest the weed and give judgement.
My prayer is that you be found in the bundle of everlasting life with the people of God who submitted their lives to Jesus and stand before the Father. In Jesus name, Amen.
Exercise
With whom will you be bundled with on that great day?
Stay Engaged: Continue to grow where God has planted you.
Practice Tolerance: Show patience and forbearance towards people you find really difficult to deal with and whom you disagree with.