Thoughts for the Day

Jesus put before them another parable: 'The kingdom of heaven may be compared to someoone who sowed good seed in his field; but while everybody was asleep, an enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and then went away. So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared as well. And the slaves of the householder came and said to him, "Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? Where, then, did these weeds come from?" He answered, "An enemy has done this." The slaves said to him, "Then do you want us to go and gather them?" But he replied, "No; for in gathering the weeds you would uproot the wheat along with them. Let both of them grow together until the harvest; and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, 'Collect the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn." '...

And his disciples approached 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 seeds are the children of the kingdom; the weeds are the children 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 collected and burned up with fire, so will it be at the end of the age.....Let anyone with ears listen!

(New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

Continuing our theme of Parables this week, we look at the Parable of the Weeds. 2,000 years ago farmers' livelihoods, as now, depended on the the quality of their crops. The weed was probably darnel, which can kill if eaten, and is very difficult to tell it apart from wheat until fully grown.

In explaining the story Jesus is speaking about the spiritual realm. He says he is the 'sower' - you may remember that 'Son of Man' is one of the titles given to the Messiah (see Can we see? and Thursday 9th July, follow up thoughts). The sower spreads the seeds (those who believe in Him) across the field (the world). They grow and flourish alongside the weeds (those who don't believe), but when the Kingdom of Heaven is fully here there will be no weeds among the wheat!

For now, we live and exist alongside one another, good and bad seeds growing together. Jesus makes it clear it's not our task to root out those who profess to be Christians but whose actions deny this. That is God's task. Our task is to grow and mature as Christians showing evidence in the way we live our lives.

Tuesday 28th July, follow up thoughts

Lord Jesus,
it is tempting to criticise
others who profess to be Christians.
Help us to concentrate on our failings,
and our own calling to be Your people,
so that when the harvest is collected in,
we shall be part of Your complete Kingdom.
Amen.