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Matthew 13:24-30,36-43

INTRODUCTION: Our message series is called Parables of the Kingdom and we are studying seven parables of Jesus found in Matthew 13. We learned last week that a parable in the Bible is any type of saying or story that contains a comparison or a parallel. The word parable itself means “a comparing together,” or “laying one thing aside another.”

These are parables of the kingdom and so Jesus is presenting seven different ways of looking at the kingdom of heaven. In each parable he presents a different everyday comparison or parallel that he lays alongside the kingdom to teach us spiritual truths about the kingdom of heaven.

And the everyday object he uses in today’s parable is a bunch of weeds. Only Jesus could take something as simple and common as weeds and teach us profound truths about God’s kingdom! (Read Matthew 13:24-30 and pray.)

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One of the age-old questions has do with the problem of evil. Why is there evil in the world? People wonder where did it come from and why doesn’t God do something about it?

This question grows even more serious now that Jesus has come. Jesus came proclaiming the kingdom of God had arrived in his person. So, now the question becomes, if the kingdom has already come, and Jesus is the king, then why is there still so much evil in the world? Why didn’t Jesus take care of it the first time he came?

Jesus has just told the parable of the sower to explain why there are different responses to the gospel. Now he tells the parable of the weeds to explain why there is still evil in the world even though the king has already come. How can there be evil the world when God’s kingdom has come? That’s the question we are going to be looking at this morning as we study this parable together.

I. Jesus tells the parable of the weeds (24-30)

First, Jesus tells the parable of the weeds. The story itself is very simple Wheat and weeds are sown together in a field. Pulling up the weeds right now would harm the wheat. And so, the best strategy is to let them both grow together until the harvest and wait until then to separate them. So, let’s take a closer look at the story together.

   A. A man and his enemy sow wheat and weeds together in a field (24-26)

First, a man and his enemy sow wheat and weeds together in a field. Take a look at verses 24-26 where we read:

Jesus told them another parable: The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. 25 But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. 26 When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared. (Matthew 13:24-26)

Notice the opening phrase: “the kingdom of heaven is like.” Each of the six remaining parables in this chapter begin with the same identical phrase. Once again, these are parables of the kingdom, telling us what the kingdom of heaven is like.

You have to be careful with these parables not to just take the next word each time and think that’s what the kingdom is like. For example, the next word in this parable is “a man.” So, if you’re not careful, you might think the kingdom of heaven is like a man. But it’s not just like a man. It’s like a man sowing good seed in his field. And it’s not just like a man sowing good seed in his field. There’s an enemy who comes and sows weeds in the field, and then there are the servants and their whole discussion with the owner of the field. The whole story is important.

And so, it’s probably best to interpret Jesus’ opening words in the following way: “The kingdom of heaven is like … this whole story I’m about to tell you.” The whole story is designed to teach you something about God’s kingdom. You have to hear the whole story before you know what the kingdom of heaven is like. And so, in this case, the kingdom of heaven is like two sowers, one who sows good seed in his field, and an enemy who comes along and sows weeds in the field.

Notice how this is similar but different from the parable of the sower we looked at last week. The parable of the sower was also about a sower sowing seed. But in that parable, there was just one sower, and it was all good seed but four different types of soil. Here there is one soil, but two sowers and two different types of seeds.

By the way, this is a really sneaky way for the enemy to try and disrupt the owner’s field. He sneaks in at night when no one is watching. It will take a while before anyone notices, and by then it will be too late. The damage is done. (I sometimes wonder if an enemy is sneaking into my lawn at night and sowing weeds! Those weeds have got to be coming from somewhere!)

It also shows the hatred the enemy has for the owner of the field. The enemy gains nothing from sowing weeds in the field except the satisfaction of causing damage to the owner.

So, this is the first part of the story about what the kingdom of heaven is like. The kingdom of heaven is like a man and his enemy sowing wheat and weeds together in a field.

   B. Pulling up the weeds would harm the wheat (27-29)

The second part of the story focuses on the fact that pulling up the weeds would harm the wheat. Look at verses 27-29 now:

The owner’s servants came to him and said, “Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?” 28 “An enemy did this,” he replied. The servants asked him, “Do you want us to go and pull them up?” 29 “No,” he answered, “because while you are pulling the weeds, you may root up the wheat with them.” (Matthew 13:27-29)

The servants notice the weeds growing in the field and wonder about the source of the problem. “Didn’t you sow good seeds?” they ask the owner. “So, where did all these weeds come from?” The owner identifies an enemy as the source of the problem. The weeds are there not by accident or by natural causes. No, this is intentional harm caused by an enemy.

The servants suggest a simple strategy for dealing with the problem. “Let’s just pull out the weeds!” It sounds sensible at first until the owner exposes the problem with the strategy. If you get rid of the weeds now, you may also damage the wheat in the process.

   C. Let both grow together until the harvest (30)

And so, the owner puts forth an alternate strategy: Let both grow together until the harvest. Look at verse 30:

“Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.” (Matthew 13:30)

Pulling up the weeds now would harm the wheat. So, let them both grow together until the time is right. The harvest will be the right time for separating the wheat from the weeds.

II. Jesus explains the parable of the weeds (36-43)

So, first Jesus tells the parable of the weeds. Next, he explains the parable of the weeds. Now, we have to jump ahead to verse 36 here, because before Jesus explains the parable, he goes on to share two more parables which we will look at next week. (Matthew 13:31-35) Then, after sharing the two other parables, he goes inside the house where the disciples ask him to explain the parable of the weeds. This is probably his own house in Capernaum, the house that he used as his home base for ministry. (Matthew 4:13, 13:1)

So, jumping ahead in the text, look at verse 36 where we read:

Then he left the crowd and went into the house. His disciples came to him and said, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field.” (Matthew 13:36)

Notice just as with the parable of the sower, Jesus explains the parable to his disciples, not to the crowds. This is the way Jesus always approached the parables. The gospel of Mark tells us: “He did not say anything to the crowds without using a parable. But when he was alone with his own disciples, he explained everything.” (Mark 4:34) There are only a few of these explanations recorded for us in Scripture. Most of the parables are left unexplained. But whenever Jesus does explain a parable in Scripture, it is always only to his disciples, never to the crowds.

In explaining the parable of the weeds to his disciples, Jesus first identifies the various elements in the parable. He then goes on to describe the fate of believers and unbelievers as exemplified by the parable.

   A. Identifying the elements in the parable (37-39)

Jesus begins by identifying the various elements in the parable. Remember a parable is a type of saying or story that contains a comparison or a parallel. So, Jesus lays out the comparisons in this parable to reveal the meaning.

And in doing so, he identifies seven elements: the field, two sowers, two types of seed, and then the harvest and the harvesters Let’s look at verses 37-39 now where Jesus identifies the elements in the parable:

He answered, “The one who sowed 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 sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels.” (Matthew 13:37-39)

So, let’s walk through these identifications together.

      1) The field is the world
         – Matthew 28:19-20

First of all, the field is the world. This is in accord with other passages in the gospel of Matthew where Jesus expresses the world-wide mission of the church. Jesus is a Savior for everyone. Therefore, the gospel is to be sown in the whole world. God’s kingdom is to encompass the whole world. (Matthew 28:19-20)

      2) The two sowers are Jesus and the devil
         – Genesis 3:1-7

Secondly, the two sowers are Jesus and the devil. Jesus says the one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man, referring to himself. The enemy who sows the bad seed is the devil. This accords with human history where God and the devil have been sowing good and bad seed in the world since the beginning of time.

Remember we talked about the origin of evil earlier. Why is there evil in the world? If God created a good world, where does evil come from? It’s a very difficult question with no easy answers, but part of the answer the Bible provides is that there is an enemy, the devil.

When God created Adam and Eve, he put them in the Garden of Eden, and he provided everything good for them in the garden. But then the enemy came along and sowed the bad seed of temptation. Why is there evil in the good world God created? Because there are two sowers: Jesus and the devil.

      3) The good seed and bad seed are believers and unbelievers
         – John 8:44; 1 John 5:19

Next, Jesus identifies the good seed and the bad seed. The good seed and the bad seed refer to two different groups of people – believers and unbelievers. Here Jesus specifically calls them the sons of the kingdom and the sons of the evil one. How do you enter the kingdom of God? By faith, by believing in Jesus, so the two seeds refer to believers and unbelievers.

Jesus told the people of his day who did not believe in him: “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and now am here…. You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desire.” (John 8:44) The letter of 1 John says this about believers: “We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one.” (1 John 5:19)

The Bible says you only have two options, so pick a team. Pick a side. Do you want to be a child of the kingdom or a child of the evil one? It all comes down to how you respond to Jesus and the gospel.

      4) The harvest and harvesters are the end of the age and angels
         – Jeremiah 51:33; Hosea 6:11

And then finally Jesus identifies the harvest and the harvesters in the parable. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels. The Old Testament often uses the image of the harvest for the last judgment at the end of the age. (Jeremiah 51:33; Hosea 6:11)

   B. The fate of believers and unbelievers (40-43)

So, Jesus has identified the various elements in the parable. Next, he goes on to describe the fate of believers and unbelievers. Look at verses 40-43 in the parable now:

“As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. 41 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. 42 They will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 43 Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear.” (Matthew 13:40-43)

Here we learn three very important things about the fate of believers and unbelievers at the end of the age.

      1) God will weed out of his kingdom all evil and sin
         – Revelation 21:23-27

First of all, God will weed out of his kingdom all evil and sin. That’s good news! Remember the question we asked at the beginning of today’s message? Why doesn’t God do something about all the evil in the world? Part of the answer is he will do something about it. God will weed out all evil and sin at the end of the age.

This is exactly what we find when we come to the book of Revelation at the end of the New Testament. We read in Revelation 21: “The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp…. Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.” (Revelation 21:23-27)

One day there will be an end to all evil and sin. The new heaven and new earth will be perfect in every way. That’s the first thing Jesus says about the fate of believers and unbelievers. God will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil.

      2) Unbelievers will be punished for their sin
         – Revelation 20:11-15

Secondly, unbelievers will be punished for their sin. Jesus says just as the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. All those who cause sin or do evil will be weeded out of the kingdom, and God’s angels will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

This is also exactly what we find in the book of Revelation. We read John’s words in Revelation 20: “Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it…. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books…. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. If anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.” (Revelation 20:11-15)

      3) The righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father
         – Daniel 12:2-3; Revelation 22:3-5

What will be the fate of believers and unbelievers at the end of the age? 1) God will weed out of his kingdom all evil and sin. 2) Unbelievers will be punished for their sin. And then finally: 3) The righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father.

This language comes from the Old Testament book of Daniel which also speaks of the fate of believers and unbelievers at the end of the age. We read in Daniel 12: “Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt. Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever.” (Daniel 12:2-3)

Once again this is exactly what we find when we come to the end of the book of Revelation. We read in Revelation 22: “The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.” (Revelation 22:3-5) The righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of heaven. All evil and sin will be removed from our lives. We will be glorified and perfected in Christ.

So, here is another motivation to choose Jesus over the world. There is a judgment coming when God will send out his angels to separate believers from unbelievers. God will weed out all evil and sin from his kingdom. Unbelievers will be punished for their sin. The righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father.

Remember the gospel is good news! We sometimes read the judgment passages of Scripture and think it’s all bad news. But the good news is you don’t have to be punished for your sins. Jesus paid the price, and when you trust him as your Savior, you will shine like the sun in the kingdom of your Father forever.

CONCLUSION: Let me close out the message now with three applications.

1) Hear and understand the parable: First of all, hear and understand the parable. When Jesus explained this parable to his disciples, he finished by saying, “He who has ears, let him hear.” (Matthew 13:43) We started the message today by talking about the problem of evil in the world. And we asked the question, why doesn’t God do something about it? Well, the answer is God has done something about it, and God will do something about it. God sent his Son Jesus into the world to conquer all evil and sin at the cross. And Jesus will come again to take care of the problem of evil once and for all at the end of the age.

Well, then why doesn’t God do something about it now? That’s why Jesus told the parable. Yes, the kingdom has arrived with Jesus, but there is also an enemy working in the world as well. God could get rid of all the evil right now, but his children would be harmed in the process. So, God is patient, waiting until the end of the age to make the final separation between good and evil. God’s kingdom is both present, where good and evil grow together, and future, where they will be separated. So, that’s the first application: hear and understand the parable.

2) Repent of your sin and believe the gospel: Secondly, repent of your sin and believe the gospel. Jesus did not come to judge the world but to save the world. (John 3:17) Now is the time to believe and be saved, because judgment will eventually come. God allows evil to exist in the world for the time being. But eventually, all evil will be weeded out and all sin will be destroyed. God will separate believers from unbelievers. God will punish unbelievers for their sin. God will gather his children to himself and they will shine like the sun forever in his kingdom.

3) Wait for God’s appointed time for judgment: And then, thirdly, wait for God’s appointed time for judgment. The Bible says judge nothing before its time. (1 Corinthians 4:5) God is patient, and so we need to be patient too. Aren’t you glad God is patient with you? (2 Peter 3:9)

Now that doesn’t mean we should sit idly by while evil runs its course. We should stand against evil in all of its forms, seeking to be salt and light in the world. But we need to be patient while living in an evil world. We need to be patient with evil, patient with people, patient in waiting for Christ’s return.

The kingdom of God has arrived with Jesus. Yes, there is still evil in the world. But Jesus is coming again, and when he does, God will judge all evil forever. That’s a lot of truth from just a bunch of weeds growing in a field, right? But that’s why Jesus is the Master Teacher, and that’s why these parables are so amazing.

© Ray Fowler

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