Kingdom Focused II
Notes
Transcript
Today we continue our study of Matthew 13. We will be looking at the parable of the weeds. So, last time we were talking about the Kingdom, I mentioned Gospel Growth. Well as we work our way through these parables we will see three things 1) Gospel Growth 2) Gospel Judgment 3) Gospel Gain. As we get to these i will point them out. There are multiple parables that represent these themes. Today the one we are looking at has the theme of Gospel Judgement. The weeds that we are going to be talking about today are also known as darnel, they are so similar to wheat that until the time of harvest it is very hard to distinguish between the two. As we talk about judgment today, there are many who are turned off by that. Why is it that when we see judgment coming from the teaching of our Lord that people get offended. Do we not always want justice when a crime has been committed. Do we not want people to face the consequences when they break one of man’s laws. Why should it be any different when we see God’s judgment. Our laws are imperfect, but God’s laws are perfect, yet we still get offended, by the idea of judgment. Is it because it deal directly with us, with our sin bringing to the realization that without Christ we are doomed to face God’s final judgment. But is God’s judgment not the Good News of the Gospel, the completion of God’s redemptive plan. If it were not for God’s judgment and Christ taking the full weight of God’s wrath against sin we would all be lost.
24 He put another parable before them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field, 25 but while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and went away. 26 So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared also.
27 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?’ 28 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?’ 29 But he said, ‘No, lest in gathering the weeds you root up the wheat along with them. 30 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.” ’ ”
This morning we are going to go verse by verse but it will be through the explanation of this parable. But before we move on I want to point out a couple of things that are not seen in the explanation. Jesus points out something in the beginning of this parable that should cause us as Christians and as the church to pay attention. After Christ plants the seeds what happens, well His workers fall asleep, which gives opportunity to the enemy to come in and attempt to sabotage the crops. His workers want immediate justice but in verse 29 and 30 He tells them to let the wheat and the darnel grow together until it is time to harvest. This is a picture of God’s grace allowing opportunity for repentance. 2 Peter 3:9.
36 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.” 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 the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one, 39 and the enemy who sowed them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels. 40 Just as the weeds are gathered and burned with fire, so will it be at the end of the age.
41 The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all law-breakers, 42 and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place 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.
36 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.”
Once Jesus was done teaching, His disciples questioned Him about this parable. Remember those who have a relationship with Christ will desire to learn more. We see the disciples seeking more understanding in what Jesus had taught. They desire to know the truth.
37 He answered, “The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man.
As we look at this parable we need to keep in mind some of the differences we will encounter when talking about the seed and the soil from the parable of the sower. In the parable of the sower there is only one type of seed (the Word), and different types of soil (men’s hearts). Here we have two types of seed being sown by two different people, the farmer and His enemy. Jesus is the one who plants the good seed.
38 The field is the world, and the good seed is the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one, 39 and the enemy who sowed them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels.
The field that we see today is the world, not just the church. The good seed has been planted all over the world by the Son of Man. The good seed are Jesus followers, those who like Peter have confessed that He is the Christ the Son of the living God, they are the good soil that has accepted the Word into their hearts, and have a genuine saving relationship with Christ. We know from the parable that the workers had fallen asleep and given the enemy opportunity to plant weeds. The weeds are those who do not have a true saving relationship with Christ, they have rejected the truth in their hearts. They have been influenced by satan, and intermingled with the sons of the kingdom. So, as the good seed we must remain vigilant, remember we are in a battle, we must not become complaisant allowing opportunities for satan to slip in and sabotage the crops. We know that even in the church the wheat and weeds are mingled together, but so does the world. We must be careful making wise judgments, but as we will see ultimately God wees out the weeds. Until that time it is our job to continue the battle, being that good seed and helping to plant more seed everywhere we go. Remember these weeds, or darnel are so similar to the wheat it is very hard to distinguish the two, but God knows.
40 Just as the weeds are gathered and burned with fire, so will it be at the end of the age.
Here we see the Gospel Judgment, because they have rejected the Good News, they will face God’s final judgment. The end of the age represents a time of God’s future and final judgment.
41 The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all law-breakers, 42 and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Jesus goes into a little more detail about the end of the age when God’s final judgment will come. His angels will gather all those who cause people to sin and those who have sinned and throw them into the fiery furnace (reminiscent of the book of Daniel). We see the anguish in that place, eternal separation from God. This is a picture of God’s final judgment. There will come a day when it will be to late for those who have continued to reject Christ.
43 Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear.
At that time the righteous will see the fullness of God’s redemption and will shine like the sun radiating the glory of God.
Kingdom Focused II
Kingdom Focused II
Where is our focus, have we fallen asleep? Are we allowing satan to ruin our crops, or are we fighting the good fight, staying vigilant. Have we cultivated good soil for the seed to fall on, and are we continually working our fields. Are we focused on the things above or on the things of this world. Are we Kingdom Focused, staying mission focused on our calling, being Christ’s ambassadors here and now. Are we being His hands and feet, or are we sitting on our hands, just waiting and watching instead of doing. Do you have a true saving relationship with Him, or are you just going through the motions growing alongside the wheat.