We are learning so many things about the Kingdom by just looking at the scriptures about it.
This week we read from Matt 13:24-34.
He put another parable before them, saying, “The Kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field, but while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and went away. So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared also. 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?’ 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?’ But he said, ‘No, lest in gathering the weeds you root up the wheat along with them. 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.”
Jesus interprets the parable for his disciples in verse 37- 43.
He answered, “The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world, and the good seed is the sons of the Kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one, and the enemy who sowed them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels. Just as the weeds are gathered and burned with fire, so will it be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather out of His Kingdom all causes of sin and all law-breakers, and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place, 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.
Before we start trying to identify some people that might be a weed, let’s ask ourselves what kind of weeds we would allow the enemy to sow into our lives while we sleep. Let’s be honest; we are not always vigilant and watchful. I was reminded of this not long ago when I got frustrated, and before I knew it, my action showed me that that I am not as Christlike as I should be. Weeds are only recognized by the fruit they have.
Some other weeds we sometimes allow are individual relationships. We have relationships that are not always conducive to our walk with God. Are you in a toxic relationship, an abusive relationship, a relationship that is not challenging you to be more like Christ? These might be people the enemy wants to use to produce fruit in your life that is not glorifying God. Again I am not saying these people are weeds, but the enemy uses people to get to us.
It is interesting to note that the Master does not want the weeds pulled until harvest time. I believe that when harvest time comes, the fruit will be showing, so it is easier to discern what is weeds and what is wheat. Too often, we have stuff in our lives that looks like useful plants, but when the fruit shows up, we realize it was not what we thought it was. The measure we need to use is: Am I influencing people or culture, or is people and culture shaping me? The fruit of the Kingdom that is in my life must be reproduced in the life of others.
The next significant principle we see in this parable is the fact that the weeds get removed first. Throughout scripture, we see a pattern. When God deals with us, He always removes the weeds and leaves the wheat. God always remove sin and leave His righteousness. In Noah’s day, he removed the unrighteous and had eight righteous people inherit the earth. In the day of Pharoah, he justed Egypt and delivered Israel. The reason is that the earth is the Lords and the fulness of it – Psalm 24:1.
God wants to help you get rid of some weeds. Things that are looking like the real thing but are not. Will you ask Him today to show you what needs to be cut out of your life?
