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.

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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.