Wheat And Weeds
Matthew 13:24-33, 36-50 (ESV)
Matthew 13:24-33
The Parable of the Weeds
He put another parable before them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field, but while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and went away. So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared also. And the servants of the master of the house came and said to him, ‘Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have weeds?’ He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ So the servants said to him, ‘Then do you want us to go and gather them?’ But he said, ‘No, lest in gathering the weeds you root up the wheat along with them. Let both grow together until the harvest, and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, “Gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.”’”
The Mustard Seed and the Leaven
He put another parable before them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field. It is the smallest of all seeds, but when it has grown it is larger than all the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.”
He told them another parable. “The kingdom of heaven is like leaven that a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, till it was all leavened.”
Matthew 13:36-50
The Parable of the Weeds Explained
Then he left the crowds and went into the house. And his disciples came to him, saying, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds of the field.” He answered, “The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world, and the good seed is the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one, and the enemy who sowed them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels. Just as the weeds are gathered and burned with fire, so will it be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all law-breakers, and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear.
The Parable of the Hidden Treasure
“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.
The Parable of the Pearl of Great Value
“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.
The Parable of the Net
“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and gathered fish of every kind. When it was full, men drew it ashore and sat down and sorted the good into containers but threw away the bad. So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Study Guide Questions:
Observation
In the parable, when does the enemy sneak into the field to sow the weeds, and what are the servants doing at that time?
According to the explanation of the parable, who specifically do the "good seed" and the "weeds" represent in our world?
What is the specific reason the landowner gives for refusing to let the servants pull up the weeds immediately?
What two different destinations are described for the weeds and the wheat once the harvest finally arrives?
Interpretation
The servants ask, "How then does it have weeds?" This question often shifts focus away from the master’s goodness toward the enemy’s work. Why is it so easy for the presence of evil in the world to cause us to doubt the character or power of God?
The landowner identifies the problem by saying, "An enemy has done this." How does recognizing that evil is a strategic effort by an enemy—rather than just random moral chaos—change the way we view the tragedies we see in the news or in our own lives?
God’s response to evil is often described as "patience" rather than indifference. How does the idea of a "redemptive economy"—where God allows time for weeds to potentially be revealed as wheat or for "weak wheat" to grow—help us understand why He doesn't execute judgment immediately?
Life Application
When you look at the "weeds" in our world today—whether in politics, the news, or your local community—do you find yourself more prone to "corrosive doubt" or to "hurried activism" where you feel you must fix everything right now?
Have you ever experienced a time in your life when you were "weak wheat"—perhaps failing or struggling—and you are now thankful that God did not "uproot" you before you had time to grow and repent?
The enemy often uses the presence of evil not just to ruin the harvest, but to distract the servants from their primary work. In what ways might you be so focused on "pulling weeds" (judging others or fighting cultural battles) that you’ve neglected the work of "faithful sowing" and making disciples?