This story found in Matthew 13:24-43, is found just a few verses beyond last week’s lesson – the parable of the sower and the soils – which taught the need for receptive heart (good soil) in order to hear and obey His Word (the seed).

This week’s parable is a very hard teaching, because Jesus describes two crops: a good crop of wheat (representing God’s chosen ones) planted by a good farmer, and a crop of weeds planted by an enemy. Even though the good farmer knows of the weeds (which represent sinners who are “sons of Satan”) growing up among the wheat, The farmer doesn’t eradicate the weeds immediately, but knows there will be a time when they will be uprooted and burned. So this is a very hard teaching because it ends VERY badly for the weeds. But the gospel message is very clear in it; as Peter describes in his second epistle, God is patient in His own economy not wanting anyone to perish but everyone to come to repentance. So the time for the weeds to be bundled up and burned will come only after until the FULL harvest of God’s chosen ones comes in.

As I think about Jesus sharing this story and describing a farmer preparing His field for spreading GOOD seed, I can imagine Him remembering the time with the Father when they spoke creation into existence and declared it good. Knowing even then that the enemy, would seek to destroy that good work. So Jesus makes it clear in this teaching that He understands the brokenness in the world, but also knows that it will end WELL for all those who put their hope and faith in Him!.

Memory Verse: “I will explain things hidden since the creation of the world.” Mathew 13:35

Handout: The Wheat and the Weeds

Narrative:

24 Here is another story Jesus told: “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a farmer who planted good seed in his field. 25 But that night as the workers slept, his enemy came and planted weeds among the wheat, then slipped away. 26 When the crop began to grow and produce grain, the weeds also grew.

27 “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?’

28 “‘An enemy has done this!’ the farmer exclaimed.

“‘Should we pull out the weeds?’ they asked.

29 “‘No,’ he replied, ‘you’ll uproot the wheat if you do. 30 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.’”

34 Jesus always used stories and illustrations like these when speaking to the crowds. In fact, he never spoke to them without using such parables. 35 This fulfilled what God had spoken through the prophet:

“I will speak to you in parables.

I will explain things hidden since the creation of the world.[c]”

Parable of the Wheat and Weeds Explained

36 Then, leaving the crowds outside, Jesus went into the house. His disciples said, “Please explain to us the story of the weeds in the field.”

37 Jesus replied, “The Son of Man[d] is the farmer who plants the good seed. 38 The field is the world, and the good seed represents the people of the Kingdom. The weeds are the people who belong to the evil one. 39 The enemy who planted the weeds among the wheat is the devil. The harvest is the end of the world,[e] and the harvesters are the angels.