‘Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time, I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.’ Matthew 13:30
As we watch our farmers bringing in their harvest, the verses in Matthew 13 about the Wheat and the Weeds remind us that there are many challenges in nurturing a seed to a plant ready for harvest. Today we do not really see many weeds in our crops as modern farming can keep them under control with careful management and the use of sprays.
In biblical times, however, the wheat and the weeds grew side by side.
In this parable, Jesus as the Son of Man is the one who sows, but also the one who judges. The field is the world. The good seed are sons of the kingdom, weeds are the sons of the evil one and the enemy who sows the seeds is the devil.
This parable offers a perspective of the persistence of evil in the world. Likewise, it shows that the present time is a time of grace in which God allows weeds and wheat to grow together and await God’s judgement. The parable teaches that we must be patient with those not yet saved. Therefore, each day that Jesus delays his return is an opportunity for someone to come to Christ.
For believers, we are to live in awareness of the winnowing that is to come at God’s hands. This grace period is a great example of the patience and love of God, from whom we can ask for wisdom and courage to deal with the weeds that make life difficult. We are to persevere until the end of the harvest when the weeds and the wheat will be finally separated. On that day, there will be two outcomes and two eternities. Those who will be found in Christ are bound for eternity, and those who will be burned in consuming fire are bound for eternal death.
We must, therefore, do our very best to call others to Christ so that they are ready at His return.
Prayer: Lord help us to be ready and to warn others for Your return, give us patience and the tools to nurture these seeds to harvest and help us to find the wisdom and courage to deal with the weeds which make our lives difficult. Help us to produce an abundant and glorious harvest.