Memory Verse But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Matthew 6:33

Review

What is a Parable? A short story that teaches a lesson.

Why did Jesus use Parables? Two Reasons to reveal (show) the truth to those who wanted to know it to conceal (hide) the truth from those who were no interested

What do the seeds represent? The word of the Kingdom, the Gospel. What do the soils represent? The four conditions of the human heart. We are commanded to share Christ with people, but we are not responsible for their decision. There are four types of hearts Jesus describes in this parable. hard heart (trampled path) shallow heart (rocky soil) strangled heart (thorny soil) hard heart (good soil)

(context, location & people ) What was happening? (context, location & people ) Follows immediately after the Parable of the Sower. One of the two parables Jesus explained to the disciples. Second Kingdom Parable found in Matthew 13. Questions to ask yourself… Who are the people in this parable? What do each of the people do?

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.’”

People in the Parable The Action Man who sowed good seed, the master Enemy who sowed weeds (bad seeds) Servants (reapers) who were responsible for harvesting the wheat. The Action 1st The man (master) planted good seeds. 2nd The enemy plants the weeds (likely darnel, called false wheat) which looked just like the wheat at first. 3rd Servants want to pull the weeds. 4th The master tells them to wait, so the wheat is not accidently damaged, by pulling the weeds. 5th They allow them to grow together, separating them at harvest when the wheat and weeds could be told apart.

36 Then he left the crowds and went into the house 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.

Who did the people in the parable represent? The man who sowed good seed, the master, is the Son of Man. Who is the Son of Man? And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God. Luke 1:35 Jesus is called the Son of Man 88 times in the New Testament! The enemy who sowed weeds is Satan. Who is Satan? In which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— Ephesians 2:2 We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one. 1 John 5:19

The servants (reapers) are the angels. The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all law-breakers, Matthew 13:41 The angels separate the unbelievers from the believers. The field represents the world. Will everyone believe in Jesus? No Clue: Think about the four hearts from the Parable of the Sower. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Ephesians 6:12 The good seed are the sons of the kingdom. Those who have believed in Jesus. The weeds are the sons of the evil one. Those who are unbelievers. The harvest is the end of the age. When Jesus comes back as He promised!

What does this mean for us? God allows the righteous and unrighteous to live in the world together. Just as the farmer allowed the wheat and the weeds (darnel) to grow together. Unbelievers, those who reject Jesus will face judgment at the end of the age. Just as the weeds were destroyed at the time of harvest. Believers, those who love, believe, and worship Jesus, will be rewarded. Just as the wheat grew and was used for its intended purpose.

Memory Verse But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Matthew 6:33

Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.