The Parable of the Weeds Explained - Matthew 13:36-43
The Parable of the Weeds Explained
36 Then he left the crowd and went into the house. His disciples came to him and said, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field.”37 He answered, “The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man. 38 The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the people of the kingdom. The weeds are the people of the evil one, 39 and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels. 40 “As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. 41 The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. 42 They will throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 43 Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Whoever has ears, let them hear.
Reflection: As Jesus preached the parables in public for those who would earnestly dig for the treasures therein, we see again the disciples asking Jesus for an explanation of the parable. Notice first two things. It is a good thing when we are reading the scriptures to ask Jesus and God, what does this mean for me? Sometimes we read the bible without any true intention of hearing from God, and then acting on the revelation He has given us. My hope each day in the Daily Bread is that we will not only be reading the scriptures each day, but spending time in prayer asking God, "What does this mean for me? How would you like me to apply this truth to my life today?" I think you will find that this will really change the way you read the bible. Our assumption is that God is still speaking through the living Word to you in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Secondly, we see Jesus is open and ready to give them an interpretation so that they can understand and apply what it means. It reminds me of those teachers in high school, who almost seemed to enjoy making things obscure and difficult to understand versus those who main goal was to draw out in each student the ability to learn the content matter. Some call Jesus a master teacher because he really did want those who were seeking the truth to find it. And for those who were only seeking truth to use it against him (most of the Pharisees), he handled them according to their motive. So Jesus clearly explains the nature and purpose of the parable of the weeds and wheat today.
And the bottom line is that in this world there are those who are part of God's kingdom, as His sons and daughters though faith, which are called the "good seed". And there are those who will refuse to come to a knowledge of the truth and are under the influence of our enemy, who would want no one to come to a knowledge of the truth. That is why are enemy's main tactic is to sow lies that confuse people. The other bottom line is that though we do not know who the weeds and the wheat are, God has seen fit to let them grow together until the final judgment. That is why we never give up on, or count anyone out but continue to preach the Word in season and out of season to anyone who would listen. As we see Jesus was more than willing to engage those who are truly seeking, as His ambassadors we need to do the same until He returns.
Jesus, thank you for sowing the good seed. Thank you for Your Holy Spirit who has taken your Word and made it take root in our hearts and lives. Help us to keep working for you to bear fruit and one day shine like the sun for your glory. Amen.
36 Then he left the crowd and went into the house. His disciples came to him and said, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field.”37 He answered, “The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man. 38 The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the people of the kingdom. The weeds are the people of the evil one, 39 and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels. 40 “As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. 41 The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. 42 They will throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 43 Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Whoever has ears, let them hear.
Reflection: As Jesus preached the parables in public for those who would earnestly dig for the treasures therein, we see again the disciples asking Jesus for an explanation of the parable. Notice first two things. It is a good thing when we are reading the scriptures to ask Jesus and God, what does this mean for me? Sometimes we read the bible without any true intention of hearing from God, and then acting on the revelation He has given us. My hope each day in the Daily Bread is that we will not only be reading the scriptures each day, but spending time in prayer asking God, "What does this mean for me? How would you like me to apply this truth to my life today?" I think you will find that this will really change the way you read the bible. Our assumption is that God is still speaking through the living Word to you in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Secondly, we see Jesus is open and ready to give them an interpretation so that they can understand and apply what it means. It reminds me of those teachers in high school, who almost seemed to enjoy making things obscure and difficult to understand versus those who main goal was to draw out in each student the ability to learn the content matter. Some call Jesus a master teacher because he really did want those who were seeking the truth to find it. And for those who were only seeking truth to use it against him (most of the Pharisees), he handled them according to their motive. So Jesus clearly explains the nature and purpose of the parable of the weeds and wheat today.
And the bottom line is that in this world there are those who are part of God's kingdom, as His sons and daughters though faith, which are called the "good seed". And there are those who will refuse to come to a knowledge of the truth and are under the influence of our enemy, who would want no one to come to a knowledge of the truth. That is why are enemy's main tactic is to sow lies that confuse people. The other bottom line is that though we do not know who the weeds and the wheat are, God has seen fit to let them grow together until the final judgment. That is why we never give up on, or count anyone out but continue to preach the Word in season and out of season to anyone who would listen. As we see Jesus was more than willing to engage those who are truly seeking, as His ambassadors we need to do the same until He returns.
Jesus, thank you for sowing the good seed. Thank you for Your Holy Spirit who has taken your Word and made it take root in our hearts and lives. Help us to keep working for you to bear fruit and one day shine like the sun for your glory. Amen.
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