In today’s passage, we will read about four parables about the weeds, hidden treasures and judgement at the end of the age. Here, we see how Jesus describes how He values the souls of this world, the kingdom, and how much He was willing to pay for our salvation. He loved us so much that He sacrificed all that He had for us. He left His place in heaven, gave up His comfort and His life for us, so that we could be with Him forever. In the Parable of the Weeds, we see how God is the ultimate judge and will separate the true believers from the sons of the evil one. Let us dive into this passage together, find the worth in ourselves that Jesus sees in us and live lives that glorify Him.
Matthew 13:34-52
34 All these things Jesus said to the crowds in parables; indeed, he said nothing to them without a parable. 35 This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet:
“I will open my mouth in parables;
I will utter what has been hidden since the foundation of the world.”
36 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.” 37 He answered, “The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. 38 The field is the world, and the good seed is the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one,39 and the enemy who sowed them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels. 40 Just as the weeds are gathered and burned with fire, so will it be at the end of the age. 41 The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all law-breakers, 42 and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 43 Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear.
44 “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.
45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, 46 who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.
47 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and gathered fish of every kind. 48 When it was full, men drew it ashore and sat down and sorted the good into containers but threw away the bad. 49 So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous 50 and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
51 “Have you understood all these things?” They said to him, “Yes.” 52 And he said to them, “Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house, who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old.”
[ WHAT ] is this passage saying and what is a key truth or thought that we learn?
+ In the Parable of the Weeds, who sows the good seed and who sows the weeds? [v.37-39]
+ Who are the reapers and who sends them out? [v.39, 41]
+ In the Parables of the Hidden Treasure and the Pearl, who does the man/merchant represent? [v.44-46]
+ What is the man/merchant willing to pay?
+ What comparisons can be drawn between the Parable of the Weeds and the Parable of the Net? [v.47-50]
+ What is Jesus’s charge to the disciples at the end of the passage? What is the new and the old? [v.51-52]
[ HOW ] is the Lord calling me to action/obedience?
+ Is there a sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?
+ Have I read and listened to what God has been teaching me through His word?
+ What can I take away from this passage and carry into this week? Am I loving others as Christ loved me?
[ WHO ] am I walking with and praying for to discover Jesus?
+ What is my next step?
+ Who can I share this passage with?
+How can I carry out Jesus’s charge in [v.52]?