Parable of The Weeds Among the Wheat
Jesus sows the wheat and Satan sows the weeds.
Today, we will be looking at the parable of the weeds among the wheat.
Let's begin with Matthew 13:24-30.
The Parable of the Weeds
Jesus told them another parable:
"The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field.
But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and went away.
When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared.
"The owner's servants came to him and said, 'Sir, didn't you sow good seed in your field?
Where then did the weeds come from?'
"'An enemy did this,' he replied.
"The servants asked him, 'Do you want us to go and pull them up?'
"'No,' he answered, 'because while you pull the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them.
Let both grow together until the harvest.
At that time, I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.'"
The Parable of the Weeds Explained
36 Then he left the crowds and went into the house. And his disciples came to him, saying, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds of the field.”
37 He answered, “The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man.
38 The field is the world, and the good seed is the sons of the kingdom.
The weeds are the sons of the evil one,
39, and the enemy who sowed them is the devil.
The harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels.
40 Just as the weeds are gathered and burned with fire, so will it be at the end of the age.
41 The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all law-breakers,
42 and throw them into the fiery furnace.
In that place, there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
43 Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father.
He who has ears, let him hear.
How does this parable apply to our life?
The farmer is Jesus, and the chosen ones are the wheat.
The field is the world.
The enemy is Satan, and the seeds of the weeds are the world's cares and unbelievers.
Some interpretations believe that the field is the church, the wheat is God's people, and the weeds are false prophets or unbelievers.
Interestingly, Jesus sows his wheat seed and doesn't react to the enemy's attempt to sabotage.
Instead, he says that the weeds should grow with the wheat, and on the day of harvest, they'll sift through the good and bad crops.
Jesus doesn't tell us to rip those weeds out because they are wrong.
He wants the weeds to grow with us, so he'll throw them to the fire when we are ready for the harvest.
We must tolerate the weeds because they won't be there one day.
But, as a good farmer, Jesus will remove those weeds.
It’s pretty clear in this parable and others that there are two kinds of people in the world.
Those who follow Christ and those who do not submit to Him.
We may not know who the weeds are; however, they must grow with us.
We aren't sure we can help discern who is of Christ and who isn’t.
Or, we aren't sure we can help judge a person for being a weed.
God knows who the wheat and who the weeds are, and he will judge them at the final hour.
I’ve heard it said that a person might think they are a weed, but the very fact that they acknowledge themselves in this parable means that they are a wheat because I believe a weed doesn’t know they are a weed.
They live their lives deaf to the calling of Christ and will not acknowledge Him.
It’s sobering to read because it makes you want to repent and ensure you are a wheat.
Take comfort in Philippians 1:6:
“And I am sure that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion on the day of Jesus Christ.”
That’s why, for me, there is more and more of a process of letting go and trying to be perfect.
I have learned to rest in Christ and allow Him to restore my life in His time.
What do you think?
Does this parable speak to you?