Part 48 | Parable of the Weeds

Matthew 13:24–30 (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.” ’ ”

Jesus is a brilliant and captivating teacher;

During His earthly ministry, He often used stories called “parables” to make abstract, multi-dimensional ideas more concrete.

The Kingdom of God

In Matthew chapter 4, we find a summary— or thesis—of all that Jesus taught during His earthly ministry—namely, He went about preaching the Good News of the Kingdom of Heaven (i.e. the Kingdom of God).

The Kingdom of God is not so much about a place as it is about God’s rule and reign.

Jesus came as the Messiah—to inaugurate God’s Kingdom upon the earth—to bring people who were far from God, into God’s Kingdom—at the expense of His own life.

Still today, those who believe the Gospel and become Real Followers of Jesus, are brought out of the Kingdom of this world, into the Kingdom of God.

The Kingdom of God is multi-dimensional, so in Matthew 13, Jesus uses eight parables to teach concrete ideas about the Kingdom.

Today we are looking at the second of those parables—the Parable of the Wheat and the Weeds.

This parable provides insight to a very common question that goes something like this:

Why does God allow evil to exist in the world? Why doesn’t He put a stop to it now?

I. The Parable

A) The Farmer

In the parable, there is a farmer who sows good wheat in his field, with the hopes of yielding a good crop.

The most basic staple of the diet in the Palestine area was bread, thus wheat was critical.

The most basic staple of the diet in the Palestine area was bread, thus wheat was critical.

B) The Enemy

Ancient farmers sometimes feuded and would sow poisonous plants in a neighbor’s field. There was even a Roman law that was put in place to avoid such a practice.

In the parable, while the master of the field is sleeping, his enemy comes in and painstakingly sows weeds among the wheat.

C) The Servants

Being concerned about the weeds that the enemy had sown, the master’s servants ask him if they should pull the weeds.

The master instructs the servants to leave them until the time of harvest, lest they inadvertently uproot the wheats with the weeds.

If you look at the Greek, you will find that the type of weed that the enemy sows is “zizanion”

This is a poisonous weed that resembles wheat; the stocks are identical, but the zizanion’s grains are dark, unlike wheat. (Show Photo)

A couple of years ago, my wife planted rhubarb in our backyard, as she knows I love rhubarb pie. We didn’t tend to it much last year, but this year I noticed it was growing very quickly. I didn’t realize that rhubarb got that big… and—actually, it doesn’t. I have a nature app on my phone that allows you to take a photo of a plant or animal, and it will tell you what it is. So, after taking a picture, I found out it is American Pokeweed, which is toxic. It is growing right by where my wife planted the rhubarb, and it too has a red stem. I think my wife is trying to kill me.

In the parable, the master in the story, is extremely patient; he tells the servants that the weeds and the wheat look similar. At harvest time the weeds will be distinguished from the wheat , and at that appointed time, the reapers will gather the weeds to be burned.

II. The Explanation

What does all this mean? Well, the good news is, we do NOT have to guess. Jesus gives us the explanation.

Matthew 13:36–43 (ESV)

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) The Sower Represents Jesus;

As we have seen throughout the book of Matthew, Jesus’ favorite title for Himself seems to be the “Son of Man.”

The Sower of the GOOD SEED is Jesus Christ and He is sowing in His own field.

B) The Field Represents the World

The field (the world) belongs to Jesus (who is the Master in this parable). It is His field.

2 Corinthians 4:4 (ESV)

In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

Here, Paul refers to SATAN as “the god of this world.”

What this means, is that—by and large—Satan is the major influence in the world.

His influence encompasses most of the worlds ideas and philosophies and many people walk in his darkness.

But the world still BELONGS to God.

In 1 Cor. 10:26, Paul quotes Psalm 24:1, declaring:

1 Corinthians 10:26 (ESV)

For “the earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof.”

Though Satan is the temporary ruler of this world, it still belongs to the Lord.

Satan is on a leash; what power he has, has been granted to him by God.

God’s plan is to restore His good creation.

C) The Seeds Represent Real Followers of Jesus

In the parable of the sower, Jesus speaks of the good seed as the Word of the Kingdom (i.e. the Gospel)

In this parable, the seeds represent the “sons of the Kingdom,” or “Real Followers of Jesus,” whom the Lord scatters throughout the world.

The Christians scattered are part of God’s new humanity and will become fruitful plants, producing righteousness by God’s grace throughout the world.

In Jesus priestly prepare He prays for His disciples:

John 17:15 (ESV)

I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one.

God leaves Christians in the world very intentionally. We are here by assignment, to do the work of the Lord.

We are to submit to the Lordship of Jesus, that God may be glorified and others may be pointed to the glory and beauty of Christ.

D) The Weeds Represent the Sons of the Evil One (Satan)

Ephesians 2:1–3 (ESV)

And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.

In the world, there is no neutral ground. You are either part of Satan’s kingdom are you are part of God’s Kingdom.

You are either part of the kingdom of darkness or the kingdom of light.

The goal of the “good seed” in the world is to make converts of the weeds (the children of darkness); Satan too has a goal… he wishes to make the good seed—the sons of the kingdom— stumble and make shipwreck of their faith.

The Mission of the Servants

In the parable, the servants are ready to pull up the weeds before the harvest.

The master would not let them, lest they mistakingly uproot the wheat as well.

The first century Jews, wanted a Messiah who would come and lead them in a revolt against Rome. They were ready to obliterate the pagans. In doing so, they would harm many who were young in Christ or who would be saved through the years.

In Luke 9:54, James and John wish to call fire down from heaven to consume the unbelieving Samaritans… Jesus rebuked them.

The church age is for evangelism, not for judgement. When we take judgement upon ourselves in this age, disaster always follows.

How many people were killed in the name of the Prince of Peace during the Crusades of the Middle Ages, many of those being Christians who were deemed heretics.

Consider the reactions to the Reformation, where thousands of true believers were brutally murdered because they would not submit to the errors and dogma of the Roman Catholic Church.

The Church Age is the age where the wheat and the weeds grow together.

But a Harvest is Coming.

E) The Harvest Represents the End of the Age

Matthew 13:38–43 (ESV)

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.

Because the godly and the ungodly are growing together in this world, evil, suffering, and injustice are—and will continue to be—pervasive.

I want get back to the common question I brought up in the introduction: “Why Lord? Why would you delay your coming? Why would you not end this evil age now?

The answer seems to be, that the harvest is not ready.

One trait of the Master that is glaring in this parable, is His patience. Why is the Lord patience with His coming?

2 Peter 3:8–10 (ESV)

But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.

Eventually, the Lord will come to consummate His Kingdom.

The wicked will be judged

Injustices will be set right

God’s people will be vindicated

Evil will be done away with

There is an idea that has pervaded the American church, which started gaining ground in the 19th century… it is this idea of Christians secretly disappearing when the Lord returns.

That is what our denomination believes, along with about 65% of evangelical Christians in America. So, if you believe that, you are in good company. There are people a lot smarter than me who believe that doctrine.

But I don’t think that is what the Bible teaches:

When the end of the age comes, do you want to be taken or do you want to be left?

Our Text: At the end of the age the Lord will send His angels to take out the weeds and they will be thrown into the fires of judgement.

Thus, we want to be left!

There is a great parallel passage in Matthew 24, where Jesus is speaking about the end of the age:

Matthew 24:36–44 (ESV)

“But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only. For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away,

In the days of Noah, who was “taken away?” It was the wicked… the unbelievers. Noah and his family were left (in the Ark), and the wicked were swept away in Judgement.

so will be the coming of the Son of Man. Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one left. Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one left. Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.

By the context of this verse, it seems clear to me, that when the Lord returns, He will renew His Good Creation, and will complete and consummate His Kingdom upon the earth. The believers who are alive at that time will remain!

Heaven is a real place, and it is where those who have died are now.

But the end of the Biblical story is NOT about us going to Heaven, but it is about Heaven coming to earth.

And, to the end, our passage gives us great hope!

III. The Hope

Matthew 13:43 (ESV)

Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear.

At the end of this present age, the earth will be rid of sin, sickness, grief, injustice...

The wicked will be taken to judgement.

“The righteous shining like the sun” echoes Daniel 12:3

Daniel 12:3 (ESV)

And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky above; and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.

This is a promise of the resurrected glory of God’s people!

The end will bring sorrow and pain for the unrighteous, but for we Real Followers of Jesus, we will enjoy the Lord and His perfect Kingdom for all of eternity.

Closing

A) Because the weeds and the wheat are now growing together, you and I must endure the consequences of evil and suffering.

We are called to live distinctively from the world, that we may glorify God and point others to Christ.

B) The End is Coming

There is a fascination about the end of the world, even amongst the secular world.

Some think the world will end because of climate change

Some think it will end due to an astroid

Some think it will end as a result of nuclear war

What we can be sure of, is that the world will end. The Lord will return.

And the weeds will be gathered and cast into judgement.

C) The Wheat and the Weeds often Look Alike

Remember, in the parable, the wheat and the weeds look similar, but at the harvest, hearts will be exposed, and the weeds and the wheat will clearly be distinguished from each other.

My fear is that there are a lot of “religious” people, who—like the Pharisees—look like wheat (they look like sons of the kingdom), but they are actually of the kingdom of darkness.

“Those who are weeds today may be wheat tomorrow.” Why stay a weed? Repent. Turn from your sin, and turn to Christ. Trust in him alone to save you from the judgment to come.” - Augustine

While it is today, my cry to you is to quit playing church, and truly repent.

And for those of us who are saved… may we look ahead to our inheritance. Even so, come quickly Lord Jesus!