1. “Greatest Stories Ever Told” – Part 2 “Making Sense of Evil” Matthew 13:24-30; 36-43

2. Parable: “The word parable (parabole) comes from the combination of the verb ballo (to throw, cast) and the prefix para (alongside). The idea is that of placing two things side by side for comparison.

3. Farming in Jesus time… Farmers lived in villages not on their farms. Farms were only a few acres. Farmers carried seed in a bag and broadcast the seed. After scattering the seed the farmer would plow

4. Why Parables? “He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters.” – Matthew 12:30

5. Why Parables? But everyone is not able or willing to accept the presence of the Kingdom because they don’t want to acknowledge Jesus is the King. Jesus told parables so people on the fence would have to commit.

6. The Parable of the Weeds (Matthew 13:24-30) Jesus told them another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away.

7. The Parable of the Weeds (Matthew 13:24-30) When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared. "The owner's servants came to him and said, 'Sir, didn't you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?'

8. The Parable of the Weeds (Matthew 13:24-30) " 'An enemy did this,' he replied. "The servants asked him, 'Do you want us to go and pull them up?' " 'No,' he answered, 'because while you are pulling the weeds, you may root up the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest.

9. The Parable of the Weeds (Matthew 13:24-30) At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.' "

10. The Parable of the Weeds (Matthew 13:24-30) The parable of the sower was a story about the same seed sown in different kinds of soil. The parable of the wheat and the weeds is about different kinds of seed sown in the same soil.

11. The Parable of the Weeds (Matthew 13:24-30) The servants were surprised to see weeds in the wheat. The weed looked like wheat.

13. The Parable of the Weeds (Matthew 13:24-30) The servants question the farmer / owner. The servants are innocent of blame. “while everyone was sleeping”. The planting of the weeds was a stealth operation.

14. The Parable of the Weeds Explained (Matthew 13:36-43) Then he left the crowd and went into the house. His disciples came to him and said, "Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field." He answered, "The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man.

15. The Parable of the Weeds Explained (Matthew 13:36-43) The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one, and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels.

16. The Parable of the Weeds Explained (Matthew 13:36-43) "As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil.

17. The Parable of the Weeds Explained (Matthew 13:36-43) They will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear.

18. The Parable of the Weeds Explained (Matthew 13:36-43) God’s people are sometimes outwardly hard to distinguish from God’s enemies. God’s people are sometimes entangled with God’s enemies in ways that would hurt God’s people if we tried to untangle them.

19. The Parable of the Weeds Explained (Matthew 13:36-43) God allows evil and suffering in the world because evil resides in every person. God’s delay in bringing the end of the world is His mercy in action. –Grace is getting something you don't deserve. Mercy is not getting what you do deserve.

20. The Parable of the Weeds Explained (Matthew 13:36-43) The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. – 2 Peter 3:9 (NIV)

21. Bottom Line: Kingdom servants take courage while living in an evil world: our hope is in a God who has promised justice and reward in a final judgment!

22. Bottom Line: "As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil.

23. Bottom Line: They will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear. – Matthew 13:40-43

24. Bottom Line: “The ultimately lost person is the person who cannot want God.