Matthew 13:24-30
Title in NIV: A parable: Wheat and weeds.
This is what the
words refer to:
1. The one who sowed good seed= Son of Man
2. Field=world
3. Good seed= sons of the kingdom
4. Weeds= sons of evil one
5. One who sowed bad seed= devil
6. Harvest= end of age
7. Harvesters= angels
The first sentence is from the Bible. The second sentence is
translated from the explanation Jesus gave about the parable. Reading them side
by side deepened my understanding of what Jesus was saying to the people.
The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed…
*like a man who sowed good seen in the field
*like the Son of Man who placed his creation in the world
*but while people slept the enemy came and sowed weeds
*but while people did not notice, Satan planted evil people
in the world
*wheat sprouted and weeds sprouted
*good people lived for God among the bad people who lived
for Satan
*the owner’s servants came to him
*God’s angels came to him
*Do you want us to pull them up?
*Do you want us to get rid of the evil Satan planted?
*No because you may pull up some of the wheat with the weeds
*No because you may destroy some of the good people when you
destroy the bad
*Let both grow together
*Let both good and bad live together
*At harvest, I will tell harvesters to gather weeds and tie
them for the fire; then gather wheat and bring it to the barn
*At the coming of the Lord, the angels will gather all the
bad people who denied Him and were sown by the devil and throw them to hell.
Then they will gather the good people and bring them to heaven
?Can an evil person Satan planted ever turn to the Lord and
reject Satan, the one who planted him?
?If good people would be destroyed when the bad people were
pull up, does that mean that some of the good people are so entangled and
associated with the evil in the world that they would be damaged if that part
of their ‘world’, ‘self’ were to be removed?
?When I think of God saying let both live together, I can’t
help but think of the verse that says God is patient and wants all to turn to
him. He is giving those good people time to turn the evil ones to the Lord.
I think it is interesting how God
keeps us on our toes in His word. In this parable, the evil people are gathered
first and thrown into the fire then the good are gathered to heaven. In other
parts of the Bible, the good seem to be gathered first (Mt. 24:31; Mark 13:27).
So, when the Lord comes, I’m a little confused to know which group I want to be
included in—the first or the second. I just want to go with Jesus and I don’t
care which group that is. Maybe the Left
Behind books are right and all the good people go first to allow the bad
people to change and turn to God. But, I see evidence in the Bible for both
scenarios to happen. This is where I think God is testing our faith. He also
tests us to see how staunch we are in our understanding of the Word. If someone
is truly open to the Lord and his teaching through their personal bible study,
they will say, “I don’t know and I am at peace with that.” Many cannot say they
are at peace with not knowing.
In a large
bible study I used to attend in Fort
Worth , the opportunity presented itself for me to use
this example. I think the conversation was heavily on ‘going first’ (ie.
Rapture), but, being me and enjoying stretching people’s knowledge, I flipped
over to this verse and explained that in this parable, the weeds go first and
the good people second. That was the longest 7 seconds of silence I have ever
heard. I suppose they were digesting that comment and new insight. My comment
apparently did not fit with what they had always been lead to believe or what
they whole-heartedly already believed to be true. (Just a side note: I was
asked to be a leader of the bible study groups (there were about 10 groups),
but I said no because I was being called to write and that particular bible study
took up many hours and miles.)
The point:
Be open to new understanding from the Word. Don’t be so staunch in some of your
beliefs and think everyone has to have the same view you do. Everyone has a
different personal relationship with God.
Challenge:
Think of one of your staunch beliefs you could lighten up on. For example:
1. People
with tattoos are bad.
2. People
should wear a certain kind of dress to church.
3. It
is easy for people to turn to the Lord, I’ve done it. Just do it!
4. Some
people are not worth it.
5. Worshiping
the Lord should be done quietly.
6. ‘We’
interpret the Bible correctly, everyone else does not. (arrogant!!!)
7. There
is only one translation of the Bible that is approved by God.
8. If
I get involved, I will get ‘dirty’ and God will not approve.
9. Do
not associate with sinners.
Blessings! I pray I have sparked your desire to study. Ponder God’s word.
