The Wheat and The Weeds
“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.’””
Matthew 13:24-30 ESV
Being in the the landscape business for 38 years has given me plenty experience with weeds. One thing I know about weeds is that they are a real pain to get rid of and they can make a beautiful garden really ugly, if you allow them to take over. The other thing I know to be true is that the healthier the ground is, the better those pesky weeds want to grow. In this parable, we see a picture of the church or God's kingdom represented by the field, and the wheat and weeds represent people. God's kingdom is made up of two kinds of people, those who are Christ followers (the wheat) and those who are rebelling against Christ (the weeds).
It's even true in our churches where you would think only the wheat plants would be, but every church has weeds walking through the doors every week. One might be tempted to say if your not a Christ follower then why are you here? Bad idea, God has a better plan.
I know, a weed can't literally turn into wheat, but that's how parables are told. So what does this mean for us? I know that if a plant is going to grow next to a weed, it better be healthy and strong or it will get consumed by the weed.
Matthew 13:24-30 ESV
Being in the the landscape business for 38 years has given me plenty experience with weeds. One thing I know about weeds is that they are a real pain to get rid of and they can make a beautiful garden really ugly, if you allow them to take over. The other thing I know to be true is that the healthier the ground is, the better those pesky weeds want to grow. In this parable, we see a picture of the church or God's kingdom represented by the field, and the wheat and weeds represent people. God's kingdom is made up of two kinds of people, those who are Christ followers (the wheat) and those who are rebelling against Christ (the weeds).
It's even true in our churches where you would think only the wheat plants would be, but every church has weeds walking through the doors every week. One might be tempted to say if your not a Christ follower then why are you here? Bad idea, God has a better plan.
In the parable, the workers asked if they they should go pull the weeds and get rid of them, but they were told no...notice that in this parable God's patience with unbelievers is huge, but there will be an end to that. The workers are told to leave the weeds alone and let them grow with the wheat with the hope that before the harvest, they will convert to wheat. If they don't, well when it's harvest time, that's when the good gets separated from the bad.
I know, a weed can't literally turn into wheat, but that's how parables are told. So what does this mean for us? I know that if a plant is going to grow next to a weed, it better be healthy and strong or it will get consumed by the weed.
So, who are the weeds in your life? Are you strong enough in your faith to stand next to them with the intention of seeing them go from being a weed to a wheat? If you feel like your not strong enough, spend time in God's word and in prayer asking the Holy Spirit to empower and grow you. As we live amongst the weeds, be bold, be loving and be intentional. Remember, God is patient, but the harvest is coming.
- Jerry Stout
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