Wheat and Weeds

By Mary Vee
Matthew 13

From Matthew's Journal 

Photo by Mary Vee.

My name is Matthew, I am a disciple of Jesus. I have recorded what I witnessed. 

What I found very interesting were the short stories Jesus told when teaching the people. These are called parables. 

The parable is a way to teach a concept in story form using a setting familiar to the listener. The intended meaning is usually hidden in the story.

This is the second parable Jesus told this group of people who came to hear him speak.

Jesus said, "The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field after carefully preparing the land.

"He sent his servants out daily to care for the field. Somewhere in the days that followed, before the wheat plants sprouted, the man's enemy sneaked into the field during the night. He sowed weeds throughout the field then left. 

"One day, the servants who cared for the field walked among the rows. They saw the wheat that had sprouted and formed heads. They also saw weeds sprouting between the wheat plants.

The head servant ran to the house and asked to speak to the owner. He said, 'Sir, didn't you sow good seed in your field?' 

"'Yes,' the owner answered. 'You were with me when I did.'

"'Then where did the weeds come from?'

"'An enemy has done this,'" the owner replied.

"The servant asked, 'Do you want us to pull up the weeds?'

"The owner answered, 'No. Because while you are pulling the weeds, you may root up the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters to first collect the weeds and tie them into bundles to be burned. Next I will tell them to gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.'"

Jesus stood and walked away from the crowd. He walked inside a house where we disciples were invited to join Him. We asked, "Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field."

Jesus answered, "The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man. 
"The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the sons of the kingdom. 
"The weeds are the sons of the evil one, and the enemy who sows them is the devil. 
"The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels.

"As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. 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.

"They will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear."



This is a powerful parable. If you have questions, please feel free to leave them in the comment section.


I will share more of what Jesus taught next time.

 Come back to read the next story.

*********************************************************************************************

sources: 
*A Harmony of the Gospels for Historical Study, An Analytical Synopsis of the Four Gospels by William Arnold Stevens and Ernest DeWitt Burton, Charles Scribner's Sons, New York 1932
*New International Version, New King James Version. 
*My Bible College training.
*My notes and walk through classes I've taught in Children's church. Answers to student questions, etc.
*Pastoral sermons on this time
*Matthew Henry Commentary
*F. LaGard Smith Commentary
*My notes from my trip to Israel.
*Photos from my trip to Israel.

The Sower, A Parable Jesus Told in a Natural Amphitheater

By Mary Vee
Matthew 13

From Matthew's Journal 

Photo by Mary Vee
Standing on the rocky northern shore
of the Sea of Galilee where
the crowds sat,listening to Jesus
speak from the boat.
This shore is steep. But notice the huge
rocks. The area is like an
amphitheater. The sound reflecting
off the water, amplifying so all the
people could hear. his words The rocks,
like chairs. A great place for the
masses to hear Jesus speak.

My name is Matthew, I am a disciple of Jesus. I have recorded what I witnessed. 

What I found very interesting were the short stories Jesus told when teaching the people. 

On this day, He told one.

We followed Jesus out of the house and sat with him by the lake. Not long had passed before such a large crowd gathered around him that he stood and asked for a boat. 

We brought one to him and held it while he climbed inside. A few of us sat with him in the boat while other disciples stayed on the rocky shore with the crowds.

Jesus faced the people and told this parable story:

"A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he tossed the seed across the ground, some fell on rocks where it there was little soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched. They withered because their roots had no space to grow.

"Other seeds fell on thorns. The plants grew but were soon choked by the thorns and died."

"Some seed fell on good soil. The rich, strong crop grew a hundred, sixty, or thirty times what was sown.

"He who has ears, let him hear."

Later, when we disciples were alone with Jesus, he said, "Listen and I will tell you the meaning of the parable of the sower. 

"When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, this is the seed sown among the path. The evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. 

"The one who hears the message about the kingdom and rejoices right away, this is the seed that fell on rocky places. This joy only lasts a short time for this person because he has no root. When trouble or persecution comes and he has nothing to draw on, he walks away.

"The one who hears the message about the kingdom but worries about this life and what he has, this is the seed that fell among the thorns. The deceitfulness of wealth chokes it, making it unfruitful. 

"The one who hears the message about the kingdom and understands it, this is the seed that fell on good soil. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty, or thirty times what was sown.


I will share more of what Jesus taught next time.

 Come back to read the next story.

*********************************************************************************************

sources: 
*A Harmony of the Gospels for Historical Study, An Analytical Synopsis of the Four Gospels by William Arnold Stevens and Ernest DeWitt Burton, Charles Scribner's Sons, New York 1932
*New International Version, New King James Version. 
*My Bible College training.
*My notes and walk through classes I've taught in Children's church. Answers to student questions, etc.
*Pastoral sermons on this time
*Matthew Henry Commentary
*F. LaGard Smith Commentary
*My notes from my trip to Israel.
*Photos from my trip to Israel.

Sabbath Freedom

By Mary Vee
Luke 13

From Luke's Journal 

Lampstand in Jerusalem Temple area Photo by Mary Vee

My name is Luke, I am a follower of Jesus. I have recorded what I witnessed. The chosen disciples of Jesus are here with me as well. 

Today's telling happened on a Sabbath. 

Jesus' followers and close disciples went with Him into the synagogue. On this day Jesus was the chosen one to teach the people. As he taught He looked at the the listening people. 

He finished his message then called a woman to come forward. She was bent over and could not straighten up at all. We learned that she had been crippled by an evil spirit for eighteen long years.

It took her some time to make her way up to Jesus, but when she stood before Jesus, He said, "Woman, you are set free from your infirmity." He put his hands on her, and immediately she stood straight up. Her shoulders pressed back. Her arms hung straight at her side. Her eyes went wide and she spoke and sang praises to God, thanking Him for His mercy.

The synagogue rulers who had watched the woman become healed became very angry. They stood before the people and said, "There are six days for work. So if you must come to be healed, do it on one of those days, not the Sabbath."

Jesus pressed forward to be heard."You hypocrites. Don't each one of you untie your ox or donkey from the stall and lead it out to give it water on the Sabbath? What is the difference between the donkey being set free to drink and this woman, a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has kept bound for eighteen long years being set free from what bound her on the Sabbath day?"

Well, Jesus words caused quite a response.

Those who agreed with the synagogue rulers felt humiliated.

Those who agreed with Jesus, or didn't know but wanted to see and hear more were delighted with all the wonderful things he was doing.




As for me, Luke, a follower of Jesus Christ, I have made my choice. 

I have chosen to agree in the ways of Jesus. 



I will share more of what Jesus taught next time.

 Come back to read the next story.

*********************************************************************************************

sources: 
*A Harmony of the Gospels for Historical Study, An Analytical Synopsis of the Four Gospels by William Arnold Stevens and Ernest DeWitt Burton, Charles Scribner's Sons, New York 1932
*New International Version, New King James Version. 
*My Bible College training.
*My notes and walk through classes I've taught in Children's church. Answers to student questions, etc.
*Pastoral sermons on this time
*Matthew Henry Commentary
*F. LaGard Smith Commentary
*My notes from my trip to Israel.
*Photos from my trip to Israel.

The Fig Tree That Did Not Produce Fruit

By Mary Vee
Luke 12:54- 13

From Luke's Journal 

Outskirts of Jerusalem- Photo by Mary Vee

My name is Luke, I am a follower of Jesus. I have recorded what I witnessed. The chosen disciples of Jesus are here with me as well. 

What I like about Jesus' teachings is how they speak to the heart of the people. He truly understands them and knows how to help them understand God. 

A crowd had gathered around Jesus anxious to hear him speak. Jesus said, "When you see a cloud rising in the west, you say, 'It is going to rain' and it does. When the south wind blows, you say, 'It's going to be hot,' and it is. 

"How is it that you can understand the weather by looking at the sky and earth and not see what is happening at this time, all around you?

"Why do you take your arguments to a court instead of trying to reconcile with the one you have a dispute. If you don't attempt to resolve the problem, the other person may drag you to see the judge. The judge might turn you over to the officer, and the officer might throw you into prison. If the situation goes this way, and it can, you will not get out of prison until you have paid the last penny."

Some men who stood in the crowd had a question. They chose one from their group to ask. He said, "What do you say about the Galileans who while they worshipped in the temple were struck dead by Pilate? He mixed their blood with the blood of his sacrifices." 

Jesus answered, "Are you saying these Galileans sinned more than any other Galilean because they suffered in this way? No. Not at all Unless you repent, each one of you, will also die. There were eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them. They were no more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem. This you must know, though, unless you repent of your sins, you too will die."

To help them understand, Jesus told them this story:"A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard. Three years later, at the time of harvest, the man went to the tree to look for fruit but didn't find any. 

"He said to the man who took care of the vineyard, 'For three years I have come to this fig tree looking for fruit and haven't found any. Cut it down. Why should it use the soil?

"The caretaker of the vineyard said to the owner, 'Sit. Leave the tree alone for one more year. I will dig around it and fertilize it. If it bears fruit next year, the wait will be worth your time. If not. Then it will be cut down.

"So also will your lives be."

As for me, Luke, a follower of Jesus Christ, I have made my choice. 

I have chosen to follow in the ways of Christ and to show the fruit of my belief in Him. 



I will share more of what Jesus taught next time.

 Come back to read the next story.

*********************************************************************************************

sources: 
*A Harmony of the Gospels for Historical Study, An Analytical Synopsis of the Four Gospels by William Arnold Stevens and Ernest DeWitt Burton, Charles Scribner's Sons, New York 1932
*New International Version, New King James Version. 
*My Bible College training.
*My notes and walk through classes I've taught in Children's church. Answers to student questions, etc.
*Pastoral sermons on this time
*Matthew Henry Commentary
*F. LaGard Smith Commentary
*My notes from my trip to Israel.
*Photos from my trip to Israel.