Wheat and Weeds

Another parable He put forth to them, saying: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field; but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way. But when the grain had sprouted and produced a crop, then the tares also appeared. So the servants of the owner came and said to him, ‘Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have tares?’ He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ The servants said to him, ‘Do you want us then to go and gather them up?’ But he said, ‘No, lest while you gather up the tares you also uproot the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, “First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn”’” (Matthew 13:24-30).

With the Parable of the Sower, Jesus taught the truth of His Kingdom through a series of 7 parables, the 2nd of which is The Parable of the Wheat and Tares. His explanation of this parable is given in Matthew 13:36-43. You will notice the elements of the parable are different from The Parable of the Sower. In this parable the Sower is Jesus Christ, the seeds are His disciples (Christians), the field is the world, and the weeds are those who reject Jesus Christ and His Gospel, and the enemy is Satan. Note also the harvesters are the angels of God and the harvest takes place at the end of the age (eon) - at the end of the Millennial Kingdom and the Great White Throne Judgment of God.

The point of the parable is to demonstrate that the Kingdom of Jesus Christ is already on the earth through the work of the Christian Church. That the church has been planted all over the world is a reality today. However, the church exists in a world that is also populated by people who oppose Jesus Christ and His Gospel. 

There are a number of truths that can be gleaned from this parable that are important for us to understand today. We will look at those in the days ahead. But the main point of the parable is the power of the Gospel will continue to bear fruit in a world that rejects Jesus Christ. Jesus said as much in the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20). We will continue to disciple people into the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (teach, baptize), and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age (eon, as in The Parable of the Wheat and Weeds above).

We can be encouraged by this truth as we continue our witness and our ministry. Fruitfulness may be more bountiful or less bountiful at times, but the Gospel is guaranteed to bear fruit - so we continue to labor to sow the Gospel in hard pan soil, rocky soil, weedy soil, and good soil. All are worthy of our effort; all are needful of the opportunity to hear the good news of Jesus Christ.

“Lord Jesus, at times it is very discouraging to see so little results from our ministry. Even now it seems we are in an evangelistic drought. But this parable encourages me to be consistent in the work You have called me to do, knowing that there will be positive results because Your Word will not return to You empty - it will accomplish the purpose for which it is given. To Your honor and glory I ask, Amen.”

Pastor