September 19, 2004
PARABLE OF THE WEEDS
Matthew 13:24-30; 36-43
God is at work in the world today! That’s why hundreds of Russian school children were slaughtered by terrorists a few weeks ago. God is at work in the world today. That’s why a troubled 13-year old boy shot and killed his 16 year old brother this week. God is at work in the world today. That’s why politicians lie, cheat, and slander if they think it will help them win. God is at work in the world today. That’s why young wives get murdered by their husbands. That’s why young children are being kidnapped and raped all across this great land.
Do you understand where I’m going with this? Have you ever asked yourself the question being raised? Turn with me to the Gospel of Matthew. Do you know what Matthew is trying to get across in this gospel? Do you know the truth he was trying to share? Matthew wrote this book because he wants us to know this one basic truth—when Jesus Christ came to earth, He brought the kingdom of God with Him. Wherever Jesus went, the kingdom went. Wherever Jesus is, that’s where the kingdom is too. That’s the whole point of the book of Matthew.
It begins in Matthew chapter 1 where Matthew establishes that Jesus was born of royal linage. Jesus is the rightful heir of David’s throne. He is the King. In Matthew 2, we see Jesus anointed as king and worshiped by Magi. And in Matthew chapters 4-12, Jesus reveals both the nature and the power of His kingdom as He goes about preaching, Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near. The kingdom of heaven is near because wherever Jesus is, that’s where the kingdom is too. And wherever the kingdom is sickness is healed, demons are overthrown, and death itself is conquered!
When Jesus Christ came into the world, the kingdom of heaven came too. And because Jesus died on the cross and rose from the grave, His kingdom remains in the world today. Do you feel the kingdom’s presence? Do see its power working? Then tell me why. Tell me why those Russian school children were murdered. Tell me why the twin towers fell. Tell me why you have to lock your doors at home. Tell me why children get abused. If the kingdom of heaven is here, tell me why evil is still here too.
In Matthew 13:24-30, Jesus tells a parable that helps us understand. It’s a parable that answers the question, “If the kingdom of heaven has come in Christ, why does rebellion and murder and selfishness and pride still abound?” If the kingdom of God is here, why is there still evil? Listen to the parable of Jesus. Beginning with Matthew 13:24 we read, 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.’”
The parables of Matthew 13 are parables that reveal truths about the kingdom of God. That’s why Jesus begins this parable with the words, “The kingdom of heaven is like… So exactly what is Jesus teaching us about the kingdom of God here? What does this parable mean? Fortunately, we don’t have to guess. Jesus Himself explains this parable to us. We find His explanation in Matthew 13:36-43. Follow with me again as I read Matthew 13:36-43.
Beginning with verse 36 we read, 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 seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the sons of the kingdom. The weeds 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 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.
In this parable, what does the field represent? In verse 38 Jesus tells us that the field is the world. This parable is not about the church. This parable is about the world at large. Now in the field of this world, Jesus says that there are two kinds of seed that get sown. Christ, who is the Son of Man sows good seed. And the good seed represents the sons and daughters of the kingdom. And who are the sons and daughters of the kingdom? Those who submit to the King. The children of the kingdom are those who acknowledge their sin, repent of their sin, and who put their trust in Jesus Christ and what He did for them on the cross. If you are a believer, you are God’s good seed planted by Him in this world.
Unfortunately, there is another sower who works the field of this world. He is the enemy of Christ. He is the devil. He plants weeds and Jesus tells us that the weeds represent the sons of the evil one. These are all those people who will not repent. These are all those who will not follow Jesus.
And so the first thing we learn from this parable is that, for the time being, two kinds of people have been sown in this world. Today, the sons of the kingdom and the sons of the evil one dwell together on earth. Yes, in Christ the kingdom of God has come. But for the moment, the kingdom of the devil has not yet been put away.
Now we can answer our question. If the kingdom of God has come to this world, why does evil still exist in this world? Here’s the short answer—Jesus permits it. Jesus acknowledges that this world is full of sin and sinners and, for the moment, refuses to do anything about it. Of course, that raises another question. Why would Jesus, who is holy, permit evil to remain? Believe it or not, Jesus permits evil to remain in this world for your eternal benefit and mine. Let’s go back to the parable. After the farmer sows good seed in his field, an enemy comes and sows weeds among the wheat. Listen again to Matthew 13:27-30, 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…
Why does Jesus permit evil to remain in this world? Because, if Jesus judged the world right now, some of the people God has marked for salvation would be lost. That’s why Jesus says, “Don’t pull the weeds now…because while you are pulling the weeds, you may root up the wheat with them.
2 Peter 3:8-9 puts it this way, But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
If the kingdom of heaven has come into the world through Christ, why does evil remain? It’s not because God is lax. Please hear this—it’s because God is patient. We live in a day of grace. Yes, Jesus does permit evil to remain. But he permits it only so evil people like me and you can be saved from sin and the hell we deserve.
But here’s what we must never forget. Even though Jesus permits evil to remain today, He will not permit it to remain forever! In Matthew 13:30 Jesus speaks of the weeds and the wheat when He says, Let both grow together until when? …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. Beginning with the second half of verse 39 Jesus tells us, The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels. As the weeds 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.
A day of judgment is coming. Some people deny it. Some people mock it. But on multiple occasions, Jesus warns us that it’s true. There is a final day and on that day all humanity will be divided into one of two groups—those who have been made righteous in Christ and those who stand condemned. On that day, we’re not going to worry about the silly things we worry about today. On that day it won’t matter whether you were pretty or plain. It won’t matter whether you were clumsy or athletic. It won’t matter whether you were rich or poor, whether you were called a success or a failure, whether you were educated or illiterate. On that day the only thing that’s going to matter is this—are you wheat or are you weed? Are you a child of the kingdom or are you a child of the evil one?
Right now, whichever you are, this parable has something to say to you. If you are a child of the kingdom this parable encourages you. It teaches us not to be dismayed by all the evil in the world. Don’t you get sick of all the bombings and the beheadings? Aren’t you tired of our sex-saturated culture? Wouldn’t it be nice to be able to believe something somebody said in a political campaign? Children are abused. Murder is called mercy. New perversions come to light every day. And wouldn’t it be nice if all the backbiting at work just went away? This parable reminds us—someday it will. Yes, there is evil in the world. But isn’t it nice to know—it’s only for a while. One day the Son of Man will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil.
Which brings us to the second point. This parable reminds us—as believers, we shouldn’t play judge. In the parable the servants come to the owner of the field and ask him, “Do you want us to pull up the weeds?” They sound just like us. We get sick of all the wickedness that goes on in the world and we want to go yank some weeds. That’s what James and John wanted to do in Luke 9:54. When a Samaritan village rejected Jesus they said, “Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them?” Do you remember what Jesus did? He rebuked them. And when we try to play judge He rebukes us too. When Jesus is ready to judge, He’ll judge. And He’s not going to ask for our help. Today—when the sons of kingdom and the sons of the devil dwell together—is a day of grace. Today, weeds can still become wheat. Our calling is never to condemn the weeds, our calling is to share Christ with them. Yes, there are times when we must confront lies. Yes, there are times to speak out against sin. But never forget, even in those times our motivation must always be salvation, not condemnation. Compassion must drive us rather than spite. Don’t play judge. The position has already been filled.
The third lesson this parable reminds us of is this—don’t get too cozy with sin. It’s hard to live in a world filled with sin without getting caught up in it. Why not gossip when everyone else does? Why not live for money when money is this world’s god of choice? Why not make sex a normal part of dating when everyone else is doing it? Why not? One really good reason is judgment! This parable reminds us, one day 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… Let’s never forget, a son of the kingdom and a doer of evil are two different things. How can we say we’re Christians if we won’t separate ourselves from sin?
As believers, this parable reminds us—don’t let the evil in this world dismay you. It won’t last forever. Don’t play judge. That job’s already been filled. And don’t get cozy with the sin you turned away from when you gave your life to Christ.
But there’s a message here for unbelievers too. If you’ve never given your life to Christ—you need to do it now. Every one of us are born into this world as sons of the evil one. We are all sinful. We’re all unable to save ourselves. But here’s the good news. Because Jesus died on the cross and suffered judgment in our place, we can become sons and daughters of His kingdom. Through faith in Christ weeds can become wheat. All you have to do is yield to Him. All you have to do is believe.
In Matthew 13:40-42 Jesus issues a warning. As the weeds 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.
In verse 43 Jesus offers a promise. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears let him hear.
Weed or wheat? Weeping or shining? Which will it be for you?
