The Harvest is the End of the World - Matthew 13:36-43

Introduction:

NYC therapists brace for stress and anxiety amid election madness

“I’ve never seen anything like this in terms of the level of fear, anxiety and anger that this is provoking in people on both sides,” Manhattan psychologist Dr. Chloe Carmichael told The Post. “People are feeling like this is a life and death situation.”

Upper West Side psychologist Judith Schweiger Levy said the election “is all people have been talking about” in her practice, and she “wouldn’t be surprised if there are many many people calling crisis hotlines or texting their therapists or patients” come election night.

“People are not feeling safe. That’s the challenge we are in. They need to feel safe. This is like exponential 9/11,” she said.

https://www.foxnews.com/us/nyc-therapists-brace-stress-anxiety-election-madness [accessed: November 1, 2020]

This week is a week of tremendous anxiety for many Americans. Among the Americans are those who are Christians, those who are non-Christians, and those who think they are Christians.

How should these three groups of people — Christians, non-Christians, and false Christians — consider this week of elections in light of the end of the world?

This is the question that I want to press upon your minds today.

Notice that Matthew 13:39 has a clear statement by Jesus Christ that “the harvest is the end of the world.”

Matthew 13:39 KJV 1900

39 The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels.

By “world”, Jesus is speaking about the end of the age. Today, we have called it “Fall Harvest Sunday” because of the time of year that it is. This time of year is marked by farmers harvesting their corn field and soy bean fields; but I want us to consider that there is a greater harvest of which Jesus is speaking about — an end-time harvest. There is indeed coming a time when the true God will harvest the world and separate those who are truly His children and those who are not his children.

Are you prepared for the end-time harvest?

I ask this question of preparation to three types of individuals. Again, there are those of you who are Christians, those of you are persist as non-Christians, and then there are those who are self-deceived into thinking they are Christians.

Are you prepared for the true harvest that is coming?

In consideration of the harvest mentioned in Matthew 13:39, let’s make sure we understand what is taking place in our passage. Notice Matthew 13:36.

Matthew 13:36 KJV 1900

36 Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house: and his disciples came unto him, saying, Declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field.

Jesus, in our current passage, is responding to the disciples who want clarity about a parable that he had previously given. Matthew 13:24-29 tells us this parable.

Matthew 13:24–29 KJV 1900

24 Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field: 25 But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way. 26 But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also. 27 So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares? 28 He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up? 29 But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them.

In essence, this is a parable about a farmer who plants his field and during the night an enemy plants weeds in the same field.

In our passage, Jesus is interpreting this parable of the wheat and the weeds — it is an interpretation that even the disciples need help in understanding. A lesson should be noted here by all disciples of Jesus Christ — a lesson that we should NOT be disciples who assume we know. We need clarity and continual teaching to help us to understand the appropriate meaning of the words of Jesus Christ. Let this be a call to the children of God — a call to humility. If you have been a Christian a long time or you have heard this passage, be humble enough to expect to be corrected in your understanding or even taught in your ignorance today.

Not only is this a response of Jesus to the disciples, but notice carefully how Jesus clarifies the parts of the parable for the disciples in Matthew 13:37-39.

Jesus gives definition [for what he said].

Matthew 13:37–39 KJV 1900

37 He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man; 38 The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one; 39 The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels.

There are five different definitions that Jesus Christ gives for clarity of this parable. These definitions begin to press home the issues of the parable. These five definitions are:

(1) The Sower is the Son of Man (i.e. Jesus…etc)

In this definition, Jesus does several things. (a) Jesus references himself in the most common way in which he typically does — “the Son of Man”.

The children within our church learned about this reference last week.

Illustration: Children,

“Jesus is the Son of Man”

“Jesus is human, but he is more than human.”

"Son of Man” is a reference to the fact that Jesus is human, but that he is more than human. “Son of Man” is a reference to to the fact that Jesus is the Messenger of God. This reference is to the fact that Jesus is the Messiah — the anointed chosen One of God. Importantly, this reference is connecting Jesus to the enthroned individual in the prophetic vision of Daniel 7:13-14.

Daniel 7:13–14 KJV 1900

13 I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. 14 And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.

Thus, when Jesus gives the definition that the “sower” is the “Son of Man”, he is showing how the harvest is under the sovereign work of Jesus Christ.

Who you believe Jesus is makes all of the difference in the end time harvest.

(2) The second definition that Jesus gives is that the “field is the world” in Matthew 13:38

Matthew 13:38 KJV 1900

38 The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one;

Thus, we now understand that Jesus, the Son of Man has ownership claim to the world. This ownership claim is presumed in the reality that He has the right to plant in the world. This is his field. Psalm 24:1 confirms this truth of the Jehovah’s ownership.

Psalm 24:1 KJV 1900

1 The earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof; The world, and they that dwell therein.

You see, some people might ask, why does Jesus have the right to judge the world and the people in the world?

This truth about his ownership answers that question. This world. This earth. All of this belongs and is accountable to the One true Creator, and though people may refuse to accept this truth about the LORD, it does not change that it is true.

As a farmer would go forth and plant in a field that he owns or that he has leased, so the LORD has ownership rights to this world, and he requires a yield of crops.

Thus, Jesus defines that the farmer is the Son of Man, the field is the world, and

(3) The good seed and the bad seed are defined. Matthew 13:38

Matthew 13:38 KJV 1900

38 The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one;

The good seed are the children of the kingdom, and the bad seed are the children of the devil. Now, I have said that there are three types of people here today that I want to address, but Jesus actually summarizes all people into two kingdoms. I said to you that there are those who are Christians. Firstly, by Christians, I mean those who are children of Jesus’ kingdom.

Secondly, I said there are those who are non-Christians. Those who are non-Christians are those who are children of the devil. Lest any of us think derogatory about the children of the devil, we need to remember that we were all by nature children of wrath. Ephesians 2:2-3

Ephesians 2:2–3 KJV 1900

2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: 3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

The reality is that we are all born as children of the devil because of sin, but the good news is that being born again means God forgives your sins, legally declares you righteous, and adopts you into his family — through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, by grace alone through the powerful working of the Spirit. Thus, when you are truly saved, you are translated from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of his dear son. Colossians 1:13

Colossians 1:13 KJV 1900

13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:

Thirdly, there was a third category that I added. It is the category of those who think they are Christians but are not really in the kingdom. The reason this is an important category is because at this point in the gospel of Matthew, Jesus is sending a strong message to those who think they are in the kingdom of God but who are really, truly lost. These lost individuals are those who are born Jewish, and they think that the King who is coming will overthrow the nation of Rome so that the nation of Israel can flourish on earth. The problem is that these people have a faith that looks religious and good on the outside, but it really is not a faith in the LORD.

Thus, this passage is a strong warning and a transition away from those individuals. It is a transition of understanding of what kingdom is and means. Notice in Matthew 8:12, what Jesus said:

Matthew 8:12 KJV 1900

12 But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Notice how the result — weeping and gnashing of teeth — here seems eerily similar to the result of the weeds in our parable in Matthew 13. The children of the kingdom in Matthew 8:12 are those who think they are inside the kingdom because of their biological heritage and who have faith in their own traditions — even above the word of God. The irony is that these Jewish, religious people are actually children of the devil. John 8:42-44 gives explicit language on this:

John 8:42–44 KJV 1900

42 Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me. 43 Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word. 44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

You see, our parable in Matthew 13 is part of a bigger story that the Jesus is teaching the people of his time. The teaching is that Jesus’ kingdom will not be made up of Jewish people just because they are born Jewish or because they keep traditions.

Jesus’ kingdom will be made up of only those who truly have faith in Jesus as their Lord and not faith in their traditions or historical upbringing.

This is a warning to those who have adopted a cultural Christianity. You were raised in or around Christianity culturally, but you really only have a deep love for traditions and not really for the Savior. You have been self-deceived into a brainwashed state of religious activity. You find your identity in being able to do something or to be someone based on how you perform. There is a harvest coming, and I am praying that God will awaken you to your lost state before it is too late.

To the unbeliever who may be joining us today, I don’t want you to be misled. You do not need to see the people around you and think, “I need to be like them to be Christians.”

To be a Christian in the Kingdom of Jesus Christ, believe that Jesus is the Savior of the world who gave his life for the forgiveness of sins and rose again. Believe that Jesus is worth everything. Trust fully, completely, unreservedly in Jesus ALONE.

Don’t allow false Christians to mislead you, and don’t allow your deceitful heart to mislead you. Follow Jesus Christ ALONE.

Thus far Jesus has defined for us the farmer as the Son of Man, the field as the world, the good and bad seed which are planted.

(4) Fourthly, Jesus defines that the harvest is the end of the world in Matthew 13:39.

Matthew 13:39 KJV 1900

39 The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels.

Maybe when you hear the phrase the end of the world you think of a movie you have seen where a big astroid is going to hit the earth or possibly you imagine aliens invading the earth. Maybe your thoughts are about the battle of Armageddon in Revelation 19. Whatever you imagine when you hear the phrase the end of the world, should at least cause you to admit one thing — there is an end coming.

Because of how many of us in the church have been trained to understand End Times, I want to make a few passing comments. First, the harvest for the Jewish culture was typically a joyous occasion, even though it was an occasion of completion. Secondly, it was an occasion for the laborer to receive his reward. This is one of the reasons for the joy. Lastly, it was also an occasion of purging.

When you purge something, you cleanse it from impurities. The food would be processed, cleansed and prepared for storage or whatever was next. As noted in this account, the purging included the separation of the wheat from the weeds.

Thus, the harvest is both a time for the manifestation of what was good and a manifestation of what was bad. So, be careful not to be a Debbie downer because your “End Times” teaching is heavily filled with negativity. Those who are truly Christ’s at Jesus’ coming will rejoice! Those who are not Christ’s will perish. In the end we are certain there is an end-time harvest.

(5) Lastly, Jesus defines the reapers as the angels in Matthew 13:39.

Matthew 13:39 KJV 1900

39 The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels.

These angels are ministering spirits whom the writer Matthew has already told us a little bit about in Matthew 4:11.

Matthew 4:11 KJV 1900

11 Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.

Notice how Matthew contrasts these angels with the devil. The angels are ministering spirits sent to do the bidding of the Lord. The devil is an enemy who is a fallen angel. Angels are powerful and useful hosts of the Lord whom God ordains to reap in the end-time harvest.

Now, having defined five truths about the parable...

The farmer is the Son of Man

The field is the world

The good seed are children of the kingdom and bad seed are children of the devil

The harvest is the end of the world

The reapers are the angels

Jesus gives His application [of what He has said]. Matthew 13:40

Matthew 13:40 KJV 1900

40 As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world.

Jesus emphasizes the reality of judgment

First, there is a reality that judgment will happen — those who are not truly in the kingdom will be gathered and fully judged at the end of the age. There are only one of two responses to this kind of application. Either you believe this to be true or you deny this truth.

What is your response?

Jesus explains the how of this judgment

(i) This will be under under the authority of the Son of Man. Matthew 13:41

Matthew 13:41 KJV 1900

41 The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity;

Jesus has power over the angels — to command them. Even though Jesus was made a littler lower than the angels, God has crowned Jesus with glory and honor. Note Hebrews 2:9.

Hebrews 2:9 KJV 1900

9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.

Jesus was only made lower for the purpose of tasting death for every man. So when Jesus says here that the Son of Man will send angels, it confirms that Jesus will have been exalted and enthroned. That is why there are verses like Philippians 2:9-11.

Philippians 2:9–11 KJV 1900

9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

(ii) This judgment will be upon all sin and causes of evil

Secondly, (ii) Jesus is not only authoritative over the angels to send them forth as reapers but He also has the right to judge all sin and all sin causes. Matthew 13:41.

Matthew 13:41 KJV 1900

41 The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity;

The fact that Jesus never gave in to the devil, the fact that Jesus perfectly obeyed the will of the Father, the fact that Jesus showed dominion over the demons, the fact that Jesus lived perfectly righteous shows that He was able to live in the same world in which we live, yet He was without sin.

If indeed Jesus was without sin, He did not have to suffer the wages of sin — but yet He did suffer the wages of sin which is death. Why did he suffer the wages of sin — wages which are a separation from His Father? Jesus suffered the wages of sin as a substitute for sinners.

What’s more is that after He suffered the wage of sin, namely death, Jesus was planted into the ground — i.e. He was buried in a tomb. The good news is that Jesus did not stay dead. Jesus actually became the firstfruits of those who rise from the dead.

You see, the righteous life, the sacrificial death, and the powerful resurrection all serve to tell us that there is really only One Person who has a right to judge sin and evil. Paul told Timothy in II Timothy 4:1

2 Timothy 4:1 KJV 1900

1 I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;

And it is sure that this judgment will happen. Paul preached to the Athenians and said in Acts 17:30 - 31

Acts 17:30–31 KJV 1900

30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: 31 Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.

Lastly, The final part of Jesus application confirms and consoles. Matthew 13:42-43.

Jesus expresses both confirmation and consolation in the judgment

Matthew 13:42–43 KJV 1900

42 And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. 43 Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.

The contrast could not be more evident. Those who are not truly in the kingdom are cast into the fire. Those who are righteous shine as the sun in the kingdom of their Father.

Listen & understand!

Thus, the parable and application by Jesus are concluded, but how should these three groups of people — Christians, non-Christians, and false Christians — consider this week of elections in light of the end of the world?

Christians

Evil is growing but so too is good growing.

Be careful that you are NOT so consumed with America and nationalism that you make this parable of no affect. The kingdom of Christ is advancing, and the weeds cannot stop it. It is not that evil is growing and good is lessening. It is that evil is growing and good is growing. An unbalanced view of this can lead to terrible demoralization and depression that is not good.

Be clear on your theology of justification.

True disciples will have the fruit of faith and submission to the Lord Jesus Christ. If you lead someone to the Lord and they do not grow in desire for Jesus as their Lord, if their decisions are increasingly focused on this life, if they are happy at first and increasingly joyless....you may have to face the reality that they were not really born into the kingdom.

True children of the kingdom increasingly live in submission to King Jesus.

The kingdom of Jesus Christ will advance regardless of election results, so please emotionally, mentally, and socially live in subjection to this truth.

Lastly: Christians, because Jesus is with us through the end of this age, Go!

Go into all the world and preach the gospel.

Non-Christians

Since Jesus is truly the God-man, he has every right to give life to those who trust Him and to judge those who do not.

You may be thinking that if God is so good, why does He have to judge anyone. The truth is that God not only has the right to Judge, but God would NOT be good if he did not judge.

True moral goodness is manifest in Jesus Christ. Jesus is the ultimate standard of what God, as Owner, deserves from you; but the problem is that you cannot ever be good enough. You may think that you can, but that is the problem that many of the Jewish people thought too.

Since Jesus is God’s standard of good, you must see and must agree with God that you do not meet God’s standard. The good news is that this account of Jesus Christ, this goodness of Jesus Christ, this righteousness of Jesus Christ can become your account with God. If you will believe on Jesus as your Lord, you can be saved. To believe is not just to know the facts about Jesus or to know the stories about Jesus. To believe on Jesus as Lord is to believe that He is the sacrifice for your sins and to yield your life completely to Him.

Will you come to Jesus Christ today?

Outside of Jesus Christ, your only temporary hope is that the election will go the way you hope and even if it does, the policies will only be short lived. Even if the policies are long-lived, you will have to reckon with the reality that your life will be short at best, and then you will face the judgment.

False Christians

Do not examine yourselves according to your traditions or according to your historical upbringing.

Rather, examine the posture of your heart currently towards Jesus.

Do you love your life more than you do Jesus and his Kingdom? Do you only see your salvation as a joyful experience of the past, and you have no real growing passion for Jesus Christ? Has what you thought was life been choked about by the cares of this life and the deceitfulness of riches? Would you be willing to sell all for Jesus Christ? Would you be willing to give all for Jesus Christ? Who is really the Lord of your life?

The Harvest is the end of the world. May every harvest season remind us of the ultimate harvest that is coming. Consider your life, the election, and all things in view of the ultimate harvest — the end of the world.

Response Questions:

Are you prepared for the End-Time Harvest?

Are you uncertain about eternal destiny at the End-Time Harvest?

Do you have more questions about Jesus and eternal life?

Would you like to be contacted by someone from the church for answering your questions?