Parable:How Does Your Garden Grow?
Notes
Transcript
Mary, Mary, quite contrary,
How does your garden grow?
With silver bells, and cockle shells,
And pretty maids all in a row.
Allegorical poem: What does it mean because it sure doesn’t describe a garden. Neither are the parables we study today about crops but about real people.
Allegorical poem: What does it mean because it sure doesn’t describe a garden. Neither are the parables we study today about crops but about real people.
Two parables of growing seeds working together.
Two parables of growing seeds working together.
Mark 4:26-29, Matthew 13:24-30
Mark 4:26-29, Matthew 13:24-30
A Harmony of the Gospels (b) Parable of the Seed Growing of Itself
Mark 4:26–29
26He also said, “This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. 27Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. 28All by itself the soil produces grain—first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head. 29As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come.”
(c) Parable of the Tares
Matthew 13:24–30
24Jesus told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. 25But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. 26When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared. 27“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?’ 28“ ‘An enemy did this,’ he replied. “The servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’ 29“ ‘No,’ he answered, ‘because while you are pulling the weeds, you may root up the wheat with them. 30Let 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.’ ”
What is the context?(writer, etc)
What is the context?(writer, etc)
Mark was a second generation disciple. He may have been a new young convert, maybe in the crowd listening. Matthew was a disciple that had a big conversion experience.
Mark was a second generation disciple. He may have been a new young convert, maybe in the crowd listening. Matthew was a disciple that had a big conversion experience.
As a new convert, Mark possibly saw the harvest and hadn’t yet been one of the farmers. Matthew had been an early convert. He had seen the ultimate FARMER at work and was now one himself.
As a new convert, Mark possibly saw the harvest and hadn’t yet been one of the farmers. Matthew had been an early convert. He had seen the ultimate FARMER at work and was now one himself.
Mark: Just sow the seed and wait. Let God do what God does and be patient.
Mark: Just sow the seed and wait. Let God do what God does and be patient.
Mark speaks of just scattering the seed. Possibly this is working with earlier parable in Mark 4:1-20
Mark speaks of just scattering the seed. Possibly this is working with earlier parable in Mark 4:1-20
May very well work with previous parable in Mark 4:1-20
May very well work with previous parable in Mark 4:1-20
Also Mark was probably the Mark who worked closely with Paul and wants to combine this with 1 Corinthians 3:4-11(Paul planted, Apollos watered, God grew)
Also Mark was probably the Mark who worked closely with Paul and wants to combine this with 1 Corinthians 3:4-11(Paul planted, Apollos watered, God grew)
I want to focus on the Matthew Parable Matthew 13:24-30
I want to focus on the Matthew Parable Matthew 13:24-30
Matthew 13:24–30 (NIV84)
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 root up 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.’ ”
It seems a fairly Straight Forward Parable, but when they get alone the disciples ask Jesus to explain further.
It seems a fairly Straight Forward Parable, but when they get alone the disciples ask Jesus to explain further.
Matthew 13:36-43
Matthew 13:36-43
Matthew 13:36–43 (NIV84)
Then he left the crowd and went into the house. His disciples came to him and said, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field.”
He answered, “The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the sons of the kingdom. The weeds(darnel) are the sons of the evil one, and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels.
“As the weeds(darnel) are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. They will throw them into the fiery furnace, where 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.
So the farmer is Jesus; the field is the world, the good seed are God’s children and the “darnel”(weeds which resemble wheat) are those that stand in opposition to God’s Kingdom; The enemy is Satan(devil, evil one, etc.)
So the farmer is Jesus; the field is the world, the good seed are God’s children and the “darnel”(weeds which resemble wheat) are those that stand in opposition to God’s Kingdom; The enemy is Satan(devil, evil one, etc.)
Verse 43 passes the farmer onto the followers(us).
Verse 43 passes the farmer onto the followers(us).
Jesus could only plant good seed and as HIS farmers today that is also our intent.
Jesus could only plant good seed and as HIS farmers today that is also our intent.
BUT! He had weeds come up and we will also.
BUT! He had weeds come up and we will also.
How do the weeds get there? How do the weeds make us feel about our work for the Kingdom?
How do the weeds get there? How do the weeds make us feel about our work for the Kingdom?
Why not pull weeds right away?
Why not pull weeds right away?
1) Darnel is a weed in Middle East that looks just like wheat until it matures. 2) In our zest to uproot the weeds we may jeopardize those who are believers. 3) Unlike crops, where wheat is always wheat and darnel is always a weed; people can change from unbeliever to believer. 4) And as Jesus said, “Sorting out the weeds is the job of the angels not ours.”
1) Darnel is a weed in Middle East that looks just like wheat until it matures. 2) In our zest to uproot the weeds we may jeopardize those who are believers. 3) Unlike crops, where wheat is always wheat and darnel is always a weed; people can change from unbeliever to believer. 4) And as Jesus said, “Sorting out the weeds is the job of the angels not ours.”
Looking at the Garden of God today.
Looking at the Garden of God today.
The WORLD we plant in
The WORLD we plant in
World evangelism?
World evangelism?
Local churches and their areas of Ministry?
Local churches and their areas of Ministry?
One on one witness, Personal Spiritual Growth?
One on one witness, Personal Spiritual Growth?
What is done with the wheat and Weeds?
What is done with the wheat and Weeds?
World Evangelism: Billy Graham, Luis Palau, Word of Life, Missionaries verses cult based evangelism, secular based evangelism?
World Evangelism: Billy Graham, Luis Palau, Word of Life, Missionaries verses cult based evangelism, secular based evangelism?
Church ministry: Ecumenical events(VBS, Health and Wellness, SAMS, soup and scripture) verses proselytizing, forced cultural ethics, closed fellowship that don’t allow _____ or _____ or _____.
Church ministry: Ecumenical events(VBS, Health and Wellness, SAMS, soup and scripture) verses proselytizing, forced cultural ethics, closed fellowship that don’t allow _____ or _____ or _____.
Personal, one on one ministry: Empathy, sympathy or enmity?
Personal, one on one ministry: Empathy, sympathy or enmity?
A story of two Civil War generals in the heat of the battle. One, noticing the perspiration of fear on the brow of his comrade, said, “Sir, if I were as frightened as you, I’d be ashamed to wear the uniform.” and the other replied, “Sir, if you were as frightened as I am, you would have fled the field of battle by now.” Until we try to understand rather that judge those around us, we never have the chance of changing weeds into wheat.
Weeds come in all shapes and sizes.
Weeds come in all shapes and sizes.
World’s weeds? *focus turns away from Christ to egos or profits. *Leadership change shifts mission. * Sacred blends into secular
World’s weeds? *focus turns away from Christ to egos or profits. *Leadership change shifts mission. * Sacred blends into secular
Church weeds? * Same as above world weeds accept on local outreach level. * Program based replaces Bible based.
Church weeds? * Same as above world weeds accept on local outreach level. * Program based replaces Bible based.
Personal weeds? *Again we can infer above but now in our own life lessons * Ego, personal ethics and generational bias gets in the way. * Current trends, social pressures and situational ethics replace Biblical truths.
Personal weeds? *Again we can infer above but now in our own life lessons * Ego, personal ethics and generational bias gets in the way. * Current trends, social pressures and situational ethics replace Biblical truths.
How trusting the angels to sort out the wheat and weeds changes the eventual harvest.
How trusting the angels to sort out the wheat and weeds changes the eventual harvest.
The preacher Clovis Chappell loved to say, “Everyone has the right to enter the kingdom of Heaven, but no one has the right to shut anyone else out.”
Our judgement is clouded by personal preconceptions, prejudices, cultural norms and generational influences, while the angels don’t have a problem even with pier pressure.
Our judgement is clouded by personal preconceptions, prejudices, cultural norms and generational influences, while the angels don’t have a problem even with pier pressure.
If the people of God’s church decided who were wheat and who were weeds, we wouldn’t have had, Moses, Samson, King David, Peter or Paul. Where would Christ’s witness be without a Joan of Arc, Martin Luther, Martin Luther King, Jr. or Mother Theresa? Ask yourself if it was up to those who watched you grew up, would you have been labeled a weed or a a wheat?
If the people of God’s church decided who were wheat and who were weeds, we wouldn’t have had, Moses, Samson, King David, Peter or Paul. Where would Christ’s witness be without a Joan of Arc, Martin Luther, Martin Luther King, Jr. or Mother Theresa? Ask yourself if it was up to those who watched you grew up, would you have been labeled a weed or a a wheat?
And aren’t you glad it is not up to you to decide. I don’t know about the rest of you but I can’t even figure out who is telling the truth or a lie on most of the game shows, so I am sure glad the residency for the Kingdom of Heaven isn’t determined by me.
And aren’t you glad it is not up to you to decide. I don’t know about the rest of you but I can’t even figure out who is telling the truth or a lie on most of the game shows, so I am sure glad the residency for the Kingdom of Heaven isn’t determined by me.
And never forget this!
And never forget this!
The weeds have been planted by the Devil.
The weeds have been planted by the Devil.
1) (What world would like us to believe) An imaginary guy walking around with a pitchfork, red suit and horns. 2) (The Biblical truth is) He is the father of lies, and intruder, and interloper, a late comer, our enemy, a wolf in sheep’s clothing, the anti-christ, the greatest deceiver of all. 3(His authority) He has made a strong claim to this world going back to the time of Job, but he already lost the primary rights and the keys to the kingdom are in the hands that were pierced for our transgressions but then broke the chains of death so we can be a part of the wheat that the angels will harvest.
1) (What world would like us to believe) An imaginary guy walking around with a pitchfork, red suit and horns. 2) (The Biblical truth is) He is the father of lies, and intruder, and interloper, a late comer, our enemy, a wolf in sheep’s clothing, the anti-christ, the greatest deceiver of all. 3(His authority) He has made a strong claim to this world going back to the time of Job, but he already lost the primary rights and the keys to the kingdom are in the hands that were pierced for our transgressions but then broke the chains of death so we can be a part of the wheat that the angels will harvest.
The hymn we sang before this message, “This is My Father’s World.” has a line which was true in the beginning, is true today and will be true when Christ comes again. “that though the wrong seems oft so strong, God is the ruler yet!”
The hymn we sang before this message, “This is My Father’s World.” has a line which was true in the beginning, is true today and will be true when Christ comes again. “that though the wrong seems oft so strong, God is the ruler yet!”