The Parable of the Weeds

IIT UBF - University Bible Fellowship at IIT

The Parable of the Weeds

Date: May. 23, 2021

Passage

Matthew 13:24-30,36-43 (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. 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?’ 28 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?’ 29 But he said, ‘No, lest in gathering the weeds you root up the wheat along with them. 30 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.”’”

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version (ESV) is adapted from the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. All rights reserved.

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Daily Bread

Key Verse: 13:30

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.”’”

1. Wheat and weeds (24-30)

Jesus told another parable about the growth of the kingdom of God. A landowner sowed good seed in his field, but an enemy came and sowed weeds while he was sleeping. The servants were shocked to see weeds coming up with the wheat. But the landowner taught his servants to be patient, not trying to pull up the weeds before the harvest time. The weeds and wheat may even be difficult to tell apart until the wheat begins to bear heads of grain.

2. The parable explained (36-43)

Jesus explained to his disciples that the good seed is the people of the kingdom, and the weeds are the people of the evil one. In this world, they are mixed together and we cannot always tell who is who. God is patient with many people who look like weeds but may turn out to be good wheat after much prayer. At the end of the age, the angels harvest the crop for eternal life. Then the righteous will shine like the sun.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, help me to be patient and wait for God's judgment in this world where weeds and wheat grow together.

One Word: The weeds and the wheat must grow together.

The Lamb Will Triumph

Revelation 17:1-18

Key Verse: 17:14

They will make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, for he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with him are called and chosen and faithful.”

Today's Question

What is creation?

See answer and references