Wheat or Weed?

N. T. #149 “Wheat or Weed?”

Sept. 22,2023 

Matthew 13-Part 6 

LET IT GLOW 

When I look out our window, I can see weeds (I call them sticker weeds) in his field growing along with grass.  If you are a cattle farmer, you know this is bad for the grass to grow and mature. Also, those sticker weeds’ heads look similar to the heads of the grass. (The weeds can poke the cows’ eyes and cause damage.) A farmer surely desires a field a grass in order to feed his cows or make hay. 

Still, Jesus is sitting in a boat teaching the people and His disciples through parables. Some have said parables are earthly stories with heavenly meanings.

 Do you recall the first parable? The farmer sows seeds, which falls on 4 various types of soil. Meaning: Jesus sows His Word that falls on different kinds of hearts. Similarly, as we spread the gospel, some may accept it and others may reject it  

The second parable Jesus taught is about wheat and weeds. A farmer sows good seed in his field. (verse 24) But in the night his enemy sowed tares(false grain) or seeds of weeds. It is hard to distinguish which plant is wheat and which is weed until the head of the plant matures.  

The problem is, the rare or weed hosts a kind of fungus, poisonous to humans, and can contaminate the good wheat, thus utterly ruining the farmer’s crop. 

Sowing such a weed among wheat would be considered an act of revenge, which was punishable by Roman law. So the farmer’s enemy in this parable was vicious and cruel.  The laborers would gather the bad grains to burn and store the good wheat in the barn. (verse 30)

LET IT GROW 

What is the meaning of this parable? 

1. There is a time of planting (God’s Word). However, the devil deceives people into thinking they are saved or don’t need Jesus.

2. There is a time of waiting. Believers and nonbelievers pretending to be a Christian may be in a church together. 

3. A time of harvesting comes. Jesus will separate the wheat ( believers) and the fake ones. The true believers, save by Jesus from punishment for their sins, will get to spend eternity in heaven.  Those faking it will not. 

Which are you, wheat or tare?

LET IT GO

Help us have discernment.

Use us to share Your love today.