Matthew 13:24-30 & 36-43

Matthew 13:24-30 and 36-43 ESV  He put another parable before them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field,but while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and went away.So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared also.And the servants of the master of the house came and said to him, ‘Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have weeds?’He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ So the servants said to him, ‘Then do you want us to go and gather them?’But he said, ‘No, lest in gathering the weeds you root up the wheat along with them.Let both grow together until the harvest, and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, “Gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.”

Then he left the crowds and went into the house. And his disciples came to him, saying, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds of the field.”He answered, “The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man.The field is the world, and the good seed is the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one,and the enemy who sowed them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels.Just as the weeds are gathered and burned with fire, so will it be at the end of the age.The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all law-breakers,and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear.

A parable is a story that teaches a lesson. Usually it is one lesson per parable. I have heard people break down every aspect of a parable and find ten lessons in one parable but I believe they are stretching things. When Jesus explains this parable, there are many aspects (sowers, seed, fields …) but one main lesson.

The lesson of this parable is that God does allow people who choose a life of sin to exist alongside His people. At a specified time, those two groups will be separated and each will receive their reward for the lifestyle they have chosen?

People who choose a lifestyle of rebellion against God may seem to be doing so without consequence but eventually their choices will reap untold suffering. Those who have chosen to obey God might seem to be missing out on some pleasures and opportunities, but in due time, it will be worth it.

Both groups should be motivated by this reality. Hopefully those who make choices opposed to God’s way will realize the dangerous situation that they are in and repent. For those who already obey God, we should be motivated by the horrors awaiting friends and loved ones who are choosing a life without God. They are going to be in torment for eternity. How can we be impassive and just allow them to stay on the highway to hell without at least trying to warn them?

Warning them could be verbal, but the best way is to live a holy life. Let people see Jesus in you and through you. When we do this, it will open natural opportunities to tell people about the hope and love that God offers to a dying world. A true Christian life full of joy and peace that can only come from God is appealing. All humans were created with a need for these qualities in their life. Most people spend their whole life trying to obtain it from the wrong sources. When we exhibit these qualities people want to talk about it.

There is another item I want to touch on briefly. Since a parable is a story, one has to be careful not to read too much into details. It is the lesson, not the story that is essential. However, there is one aspect of this story I want to highlight. Take a look at the order of which groups get taken when. According to this account, the weeds (sinners) are gathered first to separate them from the wheat (God’s people).

There are different rapture theologies with the most prevalent being pre, post, and mid tribulation. In other words, the rapture occurs just before, after, or in the middle of the tribulation period. I want to go on record as saying that I am rooting for pre-tribulation rapture. I so want God to pull me out of here before things get really bad. There are a number of scriptures though, that seem to indicate that the rapture won’t happen until after the tribulation, and this parable is one of them.

This parable is NOT a teaching on the rapture. Possibly Jesus put the weeds being taken first to highlight they will be burned. This parable is a warning of sorts and maybe Jesus wanted to bring the danger to people’s attention. Or, perhaps, He put them first because He knew that will be the order.

Lord. I thank You that You are patient and merciful. I know that both Your patience and Your mercy will come to an end. While the fields are full of both wheat and weeds, please give the wheat the grace to show Your love to the weeds.