THE PARABLE OF THE WEEDS EXPLAINED

Passage: Matthew 13:36-43

Key verse: 43

NIV

The Parable of the Weeds Explained

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

37 He answered, “The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man.(B) 38 The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the people of the kingdom. The weeds are the people of the evil one,(C) 39 and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest(D) is the end of the age,(E) and the harvesters are angels.(F)

40 “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(G) will send out his angels,(H) and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. 42 They will throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.(I) 43 Then the righteous will shine like the sun(J) in the kingdom of their Father. Whoever has ears, let them hear.(K)

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Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
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ESV

The Parable of the Weeds Explained

36 Then he left the crowds and went into (A)the house. And his disciples came to him, saying, (B)“Explain to us the parable of the weeds of the field.” 37 He answered, “The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. 38 The field is the world, and the good seed is (C)the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are (D)the sons of the evil one, 39 and the enemy who sowed them is the devil. (E)The harvest is (F)the end of the age, and the reapers are angels. 40 Just as the weeds (G)are gathered and burned with fire, so will it be at (H)the end of the age. 41 (I)The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all (J)causes of sin and (K)all law-breakers, 42 (L)and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place (M)there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 43 Then (N)the righteous will shine like the sun (O)in the kingdom of their Father. (P)He who has ears, let him hear.

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The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

1. The sowers (36-39a)

Jesus' disciples were eager to learn. They were the good seed. Jesus was planting them in the world by training them in the word of God. But Satan is also busy planting weeds. Those who are slaves to sin, who invert creation order by their materialistic and ungodly lives, are weeds. They are a curse, not a blessing.

2. The final judgment (39b-43)

We cannot live in a weedless world. We cannot get rid of evil by trying to remove evil people. But we can be sure that on the day of judgement, Jesus will send his angels to pull up all the weeds and burn them in the fiery furnace. Until that day, we can serve him and wait for his return and produce good fruit in the world. When he comes, his righteous children will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father.

Prayer: Lord, continue to work in me to make me a good seed and let my life be a blessing, not a curse.

One Word: Don't be a weed