Anyone enjoying weeding? I’m guessing not. Jesus gives some thoughts about weeds in today’s story about the kingdom of God. While some of Jesus’s parables can be a bit obtuse, here Jesus tells his disciples exactly how to interpret it. What does this parable say about the kingdom and character of God?
Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43
24 He put another parable before them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field, 25 but while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and went away. 26 So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared also. 27 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?’ 28 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?’ 29 But he said, ‘No, lest in gathering the weeds you root up the wheat along with them. 30 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.”’”
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.”
[ WHAT ] is this passage saying and what is a key truth or thought that we learn?
+ What is the kingdom of God compared to? [24]
+ What is the problem the servants find? [25-28]
+ What does the master say to do about the problem? [28-30]
+ Who does Jesus explain the parable to?
+ Who is the one who sows? What is the field? What is the seed? [37-38]
+ What are the weeds? Who is the enemy? [38-39]
+ What does the harvest represent? [40-43]
+ What is the message of the story?
+ What does it say about the kingdom of God and the character of God?
+ What hope is there for the faithful in the kingdom of God? [43]
[ 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?
+ Do I live by this teaching? Is there a place in my life I need to re-evaluate in order to live in obedience to this teaching?
[ WHO ] am I walking with and praying for to discover Jesus?
+ What is my next step?
+ Is there someone in my life who needs to hear this story? Or that I need to view differently in light of this parable?