Our scripture this morning is Matthew 13:24-30.
Here is another story Jesus told: The Kingdom of Heaven is like a farmer who planted good seed in his field. But that night as the workers slept, his enemy came and planted weeds among the wheat, then slipped away. When the crop began to grow and produce grain, the weeds also grew. The farmer’s workers went to him and said, “Sir, the field where you planted that good seed is full of weeds! Where did they come from?” “An enemy has done this!” the farmer exclaimed. “Should we pull out the weeds?” they asked. “No,” he replied, “you’ll uproot the wheat if you do. Let both grow together until the harvest. Then I will tell the harvesters to sort out the weeds, tie them into bundles, and burn them, and to put the wheat in the barn.”
In this parable Jesus compares the Kingdom of Heaven to a field. Perhaps this sounds peaceful but not very exciting. The problem is that as humans we aren’t capable of understanding or even imagining Heaven, so Jesus uses familiar things to say it’s “like” something we know.
Jesus understands our limitations, but He teaches in a way that we are able to grasp. God’s people are the wheat and nonbelievers are the weeds. God has decided to let us grow up together until the harvest, when Christ returns to collect the faithful. Unlike wheat and weeds, people can change, and Jesus calls us all to be wholesome grain in the Kingdom.
These parables are given to us as examples of how to live and how to show the love of God to others. By sharing the teachings of Jesus, we grow closer to Him, fulfilling His command to “go and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19). May we go in His name to all the world.
Gracious God, thank You for sending Jesus to teach us how to love You and each other. May we be the servants You call us to be, proclaiming the Good News to everyone. Amen.