Matthew 13:24–30, 36–43

[Jesus] put another parable before them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field, ²⁵but while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and went away. ²⁶So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared also. ²⁷And 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?’ ²⁸He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ So the servants said to him, ‘Then do you want us to go and gather them?’ ²⁹But he said, ‘No, lest in gathering the weeds you root up the wheat along with them. ³⁰Let 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.’” . . . ³⁶Then 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.” ³⁷He answered, “The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. ³⁸The field is the world, and the good seed is the children of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one, ³⁹and the enemy who sowed them is the devil. The harvest is the close of the age, and the reapers are angels. ⁴⁰Just as the weeds are gathered and burned with fire, so will it be at the close of the age. ⁴¹The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all law-breakers, ⁴²and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. ⁴³Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear.”

In this parable Christ is telling the members of His kingdom of grace we are living in a world filled with unbelievers. Jesus is clear that the field is a picture of the world, and believers and unbelievers will have to live side by side to the end of time.  In today’s culture it seems like the Church is losing ground and the weeds are becoming overgrown.  Unbelievers are not only telling Christians to be quiet, but that they want us gone all together, even saying Christianity is evil and damaging society.   The evil one has hoodwinked them into believing they are self-sufficient.  He enables them to gather more than their share of worldly goods, through trickery, deceit, robbery, and looting.  The devil helps evil people to seize power over others, make a name for themselves, and even to persecute the children of God.  “The sons of the evil one” actions include terrorism, murder, abortion, rape, adultery, the celebration of sexually immoral and deviant behavior and lifestyles, and the list goes on.  However, Jesus points out they will be gathered and bundled to be burned in everlasting suffering, while the righteous will be gathered to a safe place where they “will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father” (cf. 30, 43).

In this present age the Church will struggle with the causes of sin in the world, even working with the evil one in her midst.  Nonetheless, from this text we learn true peace can only be found in Christ Jesus.  Through His Means of Grace, the reading of Scripture and the preaching of the Word, you are assured Christ dwells with you in this unbelieving world.  And by His grace we have obtained peace with God and with our future.  With His death on the cross, and His resurrection from the dead, Christ Jesus has sealed His pledge to redeem the bodies of all who believe in Him on the Last Day.  Though we are tempted to cast out evil opposition to Christ, we are called to trust, to be faithful in our lives of daily repentance and faith.  God will not tolerate evil indefinitely; He will bring in His harvest and sort out the weeds from the wheat.  This is the theology of the cross; through suffering comes good results: “the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father” (43).  Jesus teaches us to be patient in suffering, “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.  Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven” (Mt. 5:11-12).    

May “He who began [this] good work in you bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ” Amen.  

825 North 1^st West

Cheyenne Wells, CO, 80810-0728

Sunday Service begins at 9:00AM