Waiting on Weeds

Introduction

*****p 362 of expositors commentary?? *********

2 Kingdoms

Universal (God is King over all)

Partial (God’s rule is being expanded in and through the rule and reign of God’s people)

We live in the

God has always mediated his rule through his people.

We live in the Already / Not Yet

Recap from 1st parable:

4 soils = 4 hearts

Hard - where the gospel cannot even begin to take root

Shallow - Begins to take root and grows quickly, but just as quickly fades

Thorny - Seed takes root and begins to grow, but because of cares of the world and distraction of riches - it is choked and dies

Good - seed takes root and it grows and is fruitful

The Parable of the Soils points out that at this time in the (partial) Kingdom, not everybody is a believer - not everybody is a part of the Kingdom.

The disciples (and others) were concerned about the Kingdom.

They expected the Messiah to come, establish God’s Kingdom on earth and immediately

Acts 1:6 ESV

So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?”

They had reason to think this way based on their understanding of the Kingdom from the OT.

They expected the Messiah to come, establish God’s Kingdom on earth and immediately

Acts 1:6 ESV

So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?”

Isaiah 11:3–5 ESV

And his delight shall be in the fear of the Lord. He shall not judge by what his eyes see, or decide disputes by what his ears hear, but with righteousness he shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; and he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked. Righteousness shall be the belt of his waist, and faithfulness the belt of his loins.

Is 11:3-

Jeremiah 31:31–34 ESV

“Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, declares the Lord. For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people. And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the Lord. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”

jer 31:31-

From these passages they all believed the Messiah would come, establish his Kingdom, take his place as King, judge those who don’t believe, destroy the ungodly, and the Kingdom would be filled with only those who are righteous.

4 soils

Hard

Rocky

Thorny

Good

At this time in the (partial) Kingdom, not everybody is a believer, not everybody is a part of the Kingdom.

So, the disciples want to know, ‘What will happen to those who don’t believe.’

This left the followers of Jesus with questions:

Why is there still evil in the world?

Hear the Story

What kind of ‘kingdom’ allows evil to continue to grow?

Why didn’t God immediately judge the evil, destroy the wicked, and establish the Kingdom fully for those who believe?

When will Jesus fix the evil in the world and fully establish his kingdom?

Acts 1:6 ESV

So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?”

What will happen to those who will not believe? Those whose hearts are the 3/4 of the soils they had heard Jesus speak about.

** PAUSE: Sometimes God can seem confusing. Sometimes what we believe about God and what he is doing in our lives can be radically shaken in a moment’s event or through a revealing of new truth.

>>The important thing is not that you were always right, the important thing is what you do when you are confronted with the truth.

Hear the Story (13:24-30)

Wheat and Weeds

Matthew 13:24–25 ESV

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.

Given the agrarian society to whom Jesus was speaking, this would have been a very meaningful story. Would be a little harder fo us to understand since most of us are not farmers. For most of us planting things is done as a hobby but for them, this was life.

It’s a master who owns a field and has some hired servants planting crops for him.

‘sowed good seed’ - like any good businessman, he made sure he had quality supplies to work with.

Enemy comes at night and scatters more seed - ‘sowed weeds among the wheat.’

‘weeds’ = ζιζάνια (only used in this parable) = darnel = a weed that resembles wheat. In fact, it’s virtually indistinguishable from wheat until the head of the wheat matures. You wouldn’t know you even have a problem for several weeks.

Darnel was not simply annoying, it was dangerous. The grain was bitter, caused some unpleasant side effects if eaten, and in enough quantities was poisonous.

This was not unheard of in the 1st Century during that time. In fact, it was common enough that the Romans had a law against it.

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.” ’ ”

Matthew 13:24–27 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?’

Matthew 13:26–27 ESV

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?’

Matthew 26–27 ESV

When Jesus had finished all these sayings, he said to his disciples, “You know that after two days the Passover is coming, and the Son of Man will be delivered up to be crucified.” Then the chief priests and the elders of the people gathered in the palace of the high priest, whose name was Caiaphas, and plotted together in order to arrest Jesus by stealth and kill him. But they said, “Not during the feast, lest there be an uproar among the people.” Now when Jesus was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, a woman came up to him with an alabaster flask of very expensive ointment, and she poured it on his head as he reclined at table. And when the disciples saw it, they were indignant, saying, “Why this waste? For this could have been sold for a large sum and given to the poor.” But Jesus, aware of this, said to them, “Why do you trouble the woman? For she has done a beautiful thing to me. For you always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me. In pouring this ointment on my body, she has done it to prepare me for burial. Truly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her.” Then one of the twelve, whose name was Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, “What will you give me if I deliver him over to you?” And they paid him thirty pieces of silver. And from that moment he sought an opportunity to betray him. Now on the first day of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Where will you have us prepare for you to eat the Passover?” He said, “Go into the city to a certain man and say to him, ‘The Teacher says, My time is at hand. I will keep the Passover at your house with my disciples.’ ” And the disciples did as Jesus had directed them, and they prepared the Passover. When it was evening, he reclined at table with the twelve. And as they were eating, he said, “Truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me.” And they were very sorrowful and began to say to him one after another, “Is it I, Lord?” He answered, “He who has dipped his hand in the dish with me will betray me. The Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born.” Judas, who would betray him, answered, “Is it I, Rabbi?” He said to him, “You have said so.” Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.” And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. Then Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away because of me this night. For it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee.” Peter answered him, “Though they all fall away because of you, I will never fall away.” Jesus said to him, “Truly, I tell you, this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” Peter said to him, “Even if I must die with you, I will not deny you!” And all the disciples said the same. Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, “Sit here, while I go over there and pray.” And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me.” And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. And he said to Peter, “So, could you not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Again, for the second time, he went away and prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.” And again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. So, leaving them again, he went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same words again. Then he came to the disciples and said to them, “Sleep and take your rest later on. See, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us be going; see, my betrayer is at hand.” While he was still speaking, Judas came, one of the twelve, and with him a great crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the elders of the people. Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “The one I will kiss is the man; seize him.” And he came up to Jesus at once and said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” And he kissed him. Jesus said to him, “Friend, do what you came to do.” Then they came up and laid hands on Jesus and seized him. And behold, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his ear. Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place. For all who take the sword will perish by the sword. Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then should the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must be so?” At that hour Jesus said to the crowds, “Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs to capture me? Day after day I sat in the temple teaching, and you did not seize me. But all this has taken place that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples left him and fled. Then those who had seized Jesus led him to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders had gathered. And Peter was following him at a distance, as far as the courtyard of the high priest, and going inside he sat with the guards to see the end. Now the chief priests and the whole council were seeking false testimony against Jesus that they might put him to death, but they found none, though many false witnesses came forward. At last two came forward and said, “This man said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to rebuild it in three days.’ ” And the high priest stood up and said, “Have you no answer to make? What is it that these men testify against you?” But Jesus remained silent. And the high priest said to him, “I adjure you by the living God, tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.” Jesus said to him, “You have said so. But I tell you, from now on you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.” Then the high priest tore his robes and said, “He has uttered blasphemy. What further witnesses do we need? You have now heard his blasphemy. What is your judgment?” They answered, “He deserves death.” Then they spit in his face and struck him. And some slapped him, saying, “Prophesy to us, you Christ! Who is it that struck you?” Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. And a servant girl came up to him and said, “You also were with Jesus the Galilean.” But he denied it before them all, saying, “I do not know what you mean.” And when he went out to the entrance, another servant girl saw him, and she said to the bystanders, “This man was with Jesus of Nazareth.” And again he denied it with an oath: “I do not know the man.” After a little while the bystanders came up and said to Peter, “Certainly you too are one of them, for your accent betrays you.” Then he began to invoke a curse on himself and to swear, “I do not know the man.” And immediately the rooster crowed. And Peter remembered the saying of Jesus, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly. When morning came, all the chief priests and the elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death. And they bound him and led him away and delivered him over to Pilate the governor. Then when Judas, his betrayer, saw that Jesus was condemned, he changed his mind and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders, saying, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.” They said, “What is that to us? See to it yourself.” And throwing down the pieces of silver into the temple, he departed, and he went and hanged himself. But the chief priests, taking the pieces of silver, said, “It is not lawful to put them into the treasury, since it is blood money.” So they took counsel and bought with them the potter’s field as a burial place for strangers. Therefore that field has been called the Field of Blood to this day. Then was fulfilled what had been spoken by the prophet Jeremiah, saying, “And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him on whom a price had been set by some of the sons of Israel, and they gave them for the potter’s field, as the Lord directed me.” Now Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus said, “You have said so.” But when he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he gave no answer. Then Pilate said to him, “Do you not hear how many things they testify against you?” But he gave him no answer, not even to a single charge, so that the governor was greatly amazed. Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to release for the crowd any one prisoner whom they wanted. And they had then a notorious prisoner called Barabbas. So when they had gathered, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release for you: Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?” For he knew that it was out of envy that they had delivered him up. Besides, while he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent word to him, “Have nothing to do with that righteous man, for I have suffered much because of him today in a dream.” Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus. The governor again said to them, “Which of the two do you want me to release for you?” And they said, “Barabbas.” Pilate said to them, “Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” They all said, “Let him be crucified!” And he said, “Why? What evil has he done?” But they shouted all the more, “Let him be crucified!” So when Pilate saw that he was gaining nothing, but rather that a riot was beginning, he took water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this man’s blood; see to it yourselves.” And all the people answered, “His blood be on us and on our children!” Then he released for them Barabbas, and having scourged Jesus, delivered him to be crucified. Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the governor’s headquarters, and they gathered the whole battalion before him. And they stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, and twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on his head and put a reed in his right hand. And kneeling before him, they mocked him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” And they spit on him and took the reed and struck him on the head. And when they had mocked him, they stripped him of the robe and put his own clothes on him and led him away to crucify him. As they went out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name. They compelled this man to carry his cross. And when they came to a place called Golgotha (which means Place of a Skull), they offered him wine to drink, mixed with gall, but when he tasted it, he would not drink it. And when they had crucified him, they divided his garments among them by casting lots. Then they sat down and kept watch over him there. And over his head they put the charge against him, which read, “This is Jesus, the King of the Jews.” Then two robbers were crucified with him, one on the right and one on the left. And those who passed by derided him, wagging their heads and saying, “You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross.” So also the chief priests, with the scribes and elders, mocked him, saying, “He saved others; he cannot save himself. He is the King of Israel; let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. He trusts in God; let God deliver him now, if he desires him. For he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’ ” And the robbers who were crucified with him also reviled him in the same way. Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour. And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” And some of the bystanders, hearing it, said, “This man is calling Elijah.” And one of them at once ran and took a sponge, filled it with sour wine, and put it on a reed and gave it to him to drink. But the others said, “Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to save him.” And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit. And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split. The tombs also were opened. And many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised, and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many. When the centurion and those who were with him, keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were filled with awe and said, “Truly this was the Son of God!” There were also many women there, looking on from a distance, who had followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering to him, among whom were Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James and Joseph and the mother of the sons of Zebedee. When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who also was a disciple of Jesus. He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate ordered it to be given to him. And Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen shroud and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had cut in the rock. And he rolled a great stone to the entrance of the tomb and went away. Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were there, sitting opposite the tomb. The next day, that is, after the day of Preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered before Pilate and said, “Sir, we remember how that impostor said, while he was still alive, ‘After three days I will rise.’ Therefore order the tomb to be made secure until the third day, lest his disciples go and steal him away and tell the people, ‘He has risen from the dead,’ and the last fraud will be worse than the first.” Pilate said to them, “You have a guard of soldiers. Go, make it as secure as you can.” So they went and made the tomb secure by sealing the stone and setting a guard.

The servants had been the ones who planted the seed so they are shocked when they begin to notice after some length of time that the wheat they planted is literally riddled with weeds.

Illustr - The inflection of the question would be different if asked of my garden. There wouldn’t be shock - the weeds would probably be a given.

Think about the seriousness of this. Remember, this was not a hobby for these people. This was their livelihood.

Illustr- this would be like if:

you’re in sales, and someone calls your client and changes the agreement you had so that you now have the potential of completely losing the client. At best, it’s going to cost you more time and money to correct.

Matthew 13:28–30 ESV

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.” ’ ”

Master knew he had been attacked.

Because of the potentially poisonous or at least undesirable nature of darnel, the master of the field would have been sure to have purchased pure grain.

This, coupled with the fact that it was not just a few stray stalks of darnel but an entire field intermingled with the weed led the master to rightly conclude an enemy had sabotaged his crop.

‘Do you want us to go and gather them?’

‘To the farmer, it was more important to save the good wheat than to get rid of the weeds.’

Understand the Story (13:36-43)

One main point

Matthew 13:36–39 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.

Matthew 13:36–40 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.

Matt 13:

Jesus now leaves the crowd and is with only his disciples.

He is likely at Peter’s house in Capernaum.

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.

Interpretation is pretty straightforward:

Sower = Son of Man = Jesus

Field = world

Some debate as to whether field refers to the church or the world - passage says ‘world.’ If it meant church it creates problems - i.e., church discipline.

We do know that there are weeds in the church (not outside due to all those who helped at Work Day)

Good Seed = believers

Weeds = unbelievers

Enemy = devil

Harvest = End of Age

Reapers = angels

Matt 13:

Matthew 13:40–43 ESV

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.

Matt 13:40-

Notice who the reapers are - angels - not us.

All of those who do not believe in and follow Jesus will be sent to a place of final judgment.

Apply the Story

Four key truths:

There is a difference between the Kingdom of God and the world.

Be holy not worldly. (Be distinct not just different)

There is a difference between weeds and a desired plant.

ILLUSTR - sometimes my children do not know the difference - both the flower and the weed have a bloom - but one is a weed

This may seem very obvious, but Jesus says there is a distinct , though not always easily recognizable difference between those who are truly a part of the Kingdom and those who are not.

It may be hard before the harvest to see the difference between the wheat and weeds, but they are always distinct from each other.

There is a fundamental distinction between wheat and weeds. There is a fundamental distinction between those who are followers of Jesus and those who are not.

Matthew 7:21–23 ESV

21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’

Matt 7:21-22

The New Bible Commentary 13:1–52 Third Discourse: Jesus’ Teaching in Parables

This parable warns us that the ultimate test is not in present appearances but in the final judgment. Until then, the disciples must be patient and not expect to be able to put everyone into neat compartments. The church on earth will always be a mixed community.

>> Be holy not worldly. (Be distinct not just different)

>> Draw the line - Are you fundamentally distinct from the world? Are you trying to simply be different in appearances from culture an the world around you, or are you distinct in matters of the heart?

There is an active resistance to the Kingdom of God.

Pray with vigilance not ignorance.

It is important to recognize that Satan is actively against the growth of God’s Kingdom.

You cannot be complacent about spiritual things. There is an enemy trying to stunt your spiritual growth.

Not meant to discourage but to motivate.

>>Pray with vigilance not ignorance.

>> Draw the line - Do you view your growth as a follower of Jesus as spiritual warfare? When you pray do you pray as though you recognize that Satan - who has temporary rule over this world is actively against you ?

There is a season of grace.

Show compassion not condemnation.

It is now obvious that wheat and weeds are mixed together - sharing the same field, but Jesus says now is NOT the time for the judgment or condemnation of those who are believers and those who are not. Now is the time of patience - grace

Just like the reapers in the story the disciples (James and John) wondered if they should be involved in the judgment process:

Luke 9:51–54 ESV

51 When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem. 52 And he sent messengers ahead of him, who went and entered a village of the Samaritans, to make preparations for him. 53 But the people did not receive him, because his face was set toward Jerusalem. 54 And when his disciples James and John saw it, they said, “Lord, do you want us to tell fire to come down from heaven and consume them?”

Luke 9:51-

Both grew together. Both were cared for and watered.

This does NOT mean that we don’t call sin SIN.

This does NOT mean we simply believe everyone will make it heaven - the Parable of the Soils that we looked at and Jesus’ statement about the fate of the weeds in this parable are clear about that.

This does NOT that we don’t work for or fight for justice.

It DOES mean we have and express an attitude of compassion toward those who do not yet follow Jesus as opposed to an attitude of condemnation.

You can’t judge a weed for being ‘weedy.’ You can’t bite into an apple and being upset that it doesn’t taste like a banana.

ILLUSTR - Dad always telling me ‘Never be surprised that an unbeliever does what an unbeliever does.’

** What was the reason the master said NOT to gather the weeds now but wait until the harvest? - too tired? too angry? Procrastinating? Didn’t care about the wheat?

NO- it was actually for the GOOD of the wheat. Pulling the weeds could damage the wheat.

The reason the master does not want the sowers involved with the judging process is may thwart his plan for the maximum harvest.

Could it be that when we stand in judgment against the unbelievers in this world we are actually hindering the mission of God in reaching the most amount of people for the Kingdom?

This actually maximizes those who come to believe and follow Jesus because if we simply choose to believe everyone makes it to heaven (besides making up our own truths which contradict what Jesus is saying here) we will not work to get the gospel to those who need to hear it to be saved.

However, if we act as though we know who is in or out, who will be saved, and who is a lost cause, then we might miss what God wants to do in someone’s life in changing them from a weed to wheat.

>>Show compassion not condemnation.

>> Where are you on the line? - When you see ‘that sinner’ is your heart filled with compassion or condemnation?

There is a judgment coming.

Have peace not anxiety.

Jesus WILL return.

The thought of Jesus’ return and judgment can bring peace or anxiety.

this is a test as to whether you need to revisit your relationship with Jesus - are you truly a follower? Have you every truly trusted in Jesus?

Your thoughts until Jesus’ return should bring peace not anxiety.

this is a test to see your focus now. Are you near-sighted

ILLUSTR - without my contacts I am EXTREMELY near-sighted - this severely limits what I can do.

The same is true of our faith. If you are focused only on what ids right in front of you and not remembering that it all comes to Jesus’ return then it will limit your faith and what you will do for God.

>>Have peace not anxiety.

>> Where are you on the line? - When you see evil still in the world, is your heart filled with peace or anxiety?

Conclusion

How are your lines? Would Jesus agree in how you assessed your heart in being distinct from the world,

sins to confess? character to work on?

prayerfully vigilant toward Satan’s work,

prayer to incorporate? Focus on spiritual things?

compassionate toward those who need to follow Jesus,

love for the lost? God’s heart? Who are you planted next to?

peace-filled as you wait for the final judgment?

Do you need Jesus? Future focus?

>>The important thing is not that you were always right, the important thing is what you do when you are confronted with the truth.