Text: Matt. 13:24-30, 36-43
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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.”
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.”
Over the last few years we’ve been tearing out some old bushes and adding in new plants. My daughter-n-law Elizabeth has been doing much of the planting. Occasionally she’ll say to me Pop’s you have weeds here growing. “Looks like a plant to me”, I reply. It is that way with weeds. They can get so mixed in with the plants that it can be hard to distinguish one from the other.
Last week we discussed the parable of the Sower who sowed seed, throwing it everywhere, on the path, the rocky ground and even in good soil. The parable was explained by Jesus that the seed was the word of God and the Gospel proclamation that went forth transforming hearts of stone to good soil where the word takes root and brings to faith those called by God through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Today’s parable builds on that by 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.
So in explanation to this parable, Jesus says that He is the one who sows the good seed and that the world is the field and the wheat that grows, which sprouts from the good seed, are those who are the children of the Kingdom by faith.
The weeds, we are told, are those who are sons of the evil one which is the devil himself who sows the lies that Jesus is not who he claims to be, the way the truth and the life.
So as is made clear in our text, the world will consist of both those who believe and those who don’t believe. The church also being in the world, we will have its share of believers and unbelievers … or weeds among the wheat. (believers)
So as the church, shouldn’t we look to pull out those weeds among us?
Who’ll be first? What should we use to judge each other?
We all who have been baptized have been made good soil - by God’s Holy Spirit - washed clean by the water and the word and so we are clean.
We are wheat. Aren’t we?
But what if we are acting like weeds?
What if we avoid God’s word and teaching?
What if belief gives way to unbelief?
What if we live as an unbeliever?
Paul tells us in Romans 10 how we can know our own belief in Christ.
9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. Romans 10:9-10
And then he continues:
11 For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him.
Or, even adult and child.
VBS is not happening on site this year due to the virus and concerns for group gathering. The Board of Education made packets for the children who are active and have been active in VBS for home use and while this is not the same thing as being here for VBS it is another way to reach and keep these little ones and youth helpers connected.
So belief is what justifies or makes righteous and those who believe will not be put to shame but will be saved. It is good to do all we can to help them stay connected during this time apart for some.
In the parable of the wheat and weeds today the servants ask the master about both the weeds and wheat growing together.
28 “do you want us to go and gather them?”
29 [The master] says, ‘No, because in gathering the weeds you may pull up the wheat as well. 30 Let both grow together … until the harvest, and then I will tell the reapers to Gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.”
In other words … the wheat is left behind after the weeds are gathered to be burned and then gathered into the Lord’s barn.
It is Christ’s desire that all would be saved and come to knowledge of the truth, 1 Tim 2:4 - even those whom we believe are far from the Lord and his reach.
Through the proclamation of the Gospel, God will bring to faith by the power of the Holy Spirit those who will believe, and by God’s grace, he continues to do this.
Even children at our church who have received VBS packets for home use this year, God by his work, will continue to give them the comfort of forgiveness in Christ’s finished work and strengthen their faith in him.
We also know from the parable today, that some, those who are called weeds in the parable are those who are the sons of the evil one, the devil, and that they will reject the saviors blessed call through the gospel message and through this unbelief be destined for destruction.
This will be of their own choosing as they reject the work of the Holy Spirit choosing to remain dead in trespass and sin.
43 But you who believe, the righteous … will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.
Last week we discussed the parable of the Sower who sowed seed, throwing it everywhere, on the path, the rocky ground and even in good soil. The parable was explained by Jesus that the seed was the word of God and the Gospel proclamation that went forth transforming hearts of stone to good soil where the word takes root and brings to faith those called by God through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Today’s parable builds on that by 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.
So in explanation to this parable, Jesus says that He is the one who sows the good seed and that the world is the field and the wheat that grows, which sprouts from the good seed, are those who are the children of the Kingdom by faith.
The weeds, we are told, are those who are sons of the evil one which is the devil himself who sows the lies that Jesus is not who he claims to be, the way the truth and the life.
So as is made clear in our text, the world will consist of both those who believe and those who don’t believe. The church also being in the world, we will have its share of believers and unbelievers … or weeds among the wheat. (believers)
So as the church, shouldn’t we look to pull out those weeds among us?
Who’ll be first? What should we use to judge each other?
We all who have been baptized have been made good soil - by God’s Holy Spirit - washed clean by the water and the word and so we are clean.
We are wheat. Aren’t we?
But what if we are acting like weeds?
What if we avoid God’s word and teaching?
What if belief gives way to unbelief?
What if we live as an unbeliever?
Paul tells us in Romans 10 how we can know our own belief in Christ.
9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. Romans 10:9-10
And then he continues:
11 For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him.
Or, even adult and child.
VBS is not happening on site this year due to the virus and concerns for group gathering. The Board of Education made packets for the children who are active and have been active in VBS for home use and while this is not the same thing as being here for VBS it is another way to reach and keep these little ones and youth helpers connected.
So belief is what justifies or makes righteous and those who believe will not be put to shame but will be saved. It is good to do all we can to help them stay connected during this time apart for some.
In the parable of the wheat and weeds today the servants ask the master about both the weeds and wheat growing together.
28 “do you want us to go and gather them?”
29 [The master] says, ‘No, because in gathering the weeds you may pull up the wheat as well. 30 Let both grow together … until the harvest, and then I will tell the reapers to Gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.”
In other words … the wheat is left behind after the weeds are gathered to be burned and then gathered into the Lord’s barn.
It is Christ’s desire that all would be saved and come to knowledge of the truth, 1 Tim 2:4 - even those whom we believe are far from the Lord and his reach.
Through the proclamation of the Gospel, God will bring to faith by the power of the Holy Spirit those who will believe, and by God’s grace, he continues to do this.
Even children at our church who have received VBS packets for home use this year, God by his work, will continue to give them the comfort of forgiveness in Christ’s finished work and strengthen their faith in him.
We also know from the parable today, that some, those who are called weeds in the parable are those who are the sons of the evil one, the devil, and that they will reject the saviors blessed call through the gospel message and through this unbelief be destined for destruction.
This will be of their own choosing as they reject the work of the Holy Spirit choosing to remain dead in trespass and sin.
43 But you who believe, the righteous … will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen
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