More Parables to Ponder
TRANSLATION
(24) He told another parable to them saying, “The kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who sowed good seed in his field. (25) But while everyone was asleep, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and went away. (26) But when the seed sprouted and bore fruit, then the weeds appeared as well. (27) And his workers came and said to him, ‘Sir, did we not sow good seed in your field? How then does it produce weeds?’ (29) And he said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ And his workers said to him, ‘Do you want us to go and gather them?’ (29) He said, ‘No, lest in pulling up weeds you uproot the wheat along with them. (30) Let both grow together until the harvest, and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, “Gather first the weeds and bind them in bundles for burning but gather the wheat into my barn.”’”
(31) He told them another parable saying, “The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed which a person took and sowed in his field. (32) It is the smallest of all the seeds, but, when it has sprouted, it becomes larger than all the other plants in the garden and develops into a tree so that the birds of the heaven come and make their nests in its branches.” (33) He told them yet another parable. “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast which a woman took and mixed into a large amount of flour until it had permeated the dough.”
(34) All these things Jesus spoke to the crowds in parables, and indeed, without a parable, he said nothing to them. (35) This was to fulfill what had been spoken by the prophet: “I will open my mouth in parables. I will utter things hidden since the foundation of the world.”
(36) Then he left the crowd and entered the house. And his disciples approached him, saying, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field.” (37) And he responded: “He who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. (38) 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, (39) and the enemy who sowed them is the devil. The harvest represents the end of the age, and the reapers are angels. (40) Just as weeds are gathered and burned with fire, so will it be at the end of the age. (41) The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will remove from his kingdom all causes of sin and all workers of iniquity (42) and will throw them into the blazing furnace. In that place 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 (to hear), let them hear.”
OBSERVATIONS
Observing the numerous repetitions in this segment helps us grasp the significance of what Jesus taught. We find “parable(s)” occurring five times (in vss. 24, 34, 35, & 36), “sow/sowed” six times (in vss. 24, 25, 27, 31, 37, & 39), “seed(s)” six times and four times defined by “good” (vss. 24, 27, 31, 32, 37, & 38), “field” five times (vss. 24, 27, 31, 36, & 38), “wheat” three times (vss. 25, 29, & 30), “enemy” three times (vss. 25, 28, & 39), “weeds” eight times (vss. 25, 26, 27, 29, 30, 36, 38, & 40), “Son of Man” twice (vss. 37 & 41), and “angels” twice (vss. 39 & 41). Matthew again indicated that Jesus was fulfilling Old Testament prophecy (Ps. 78:2 & 3) by speaking to the crowd in parables (vs. 35).
OUTLINE
I. Jesus gave the parable of the weeds and wheat. (24-30)
II. Jesus then offered two more parables of the mustard seed and the yeast. (31-33)
III. Jesus’ use of parables in his teaching fulfilled Old Testament prophecy. (34 & 35)
IV. Jesus explained the parable of the weeds and wheat to the disciples. (36-43)
IDEA STATEMENT
Vital truths regarding the kingdom of heaven were revealed to believers and hidden from unbelievers through the parables Jesus skillfully employed.
APPLICATION
In the first of the so-called “parables of the kingdom,” Jesus described four types of people in terms of their responsiveness to the word of God. In the second parable, Jesus warned his hearers regarding the danger of attempting to discern what motivates those around us. We are normally able to discern why we do what we do, but when it comes to evaluating what drives others’ decisions and directions, we must defer to the one who alone is able to probe the thoughts and intents of the heart.
The picture of our world as a field producing both a fruitful harvest of wheat and useless weeds is an apt description of our reality. From appearances alone we are often incapable of distinguishing the good from the bad. Instead of wasting our time attempting to make such judgments, we are to devote ourselves to what we can do, that is, to grow in Christlikeness. We must learn to leave judging others’ motives to the one who alone can discern the thoughts and intents of the heart. He will make his evaluations at the proper time and with complete equity.