“The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man; the field is the world, and the good seed 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.” (Matthew 13:37-40)
Why is there evil in the world? In the parable of the wheat and the weeds Jesus suggests that both grow together until the harvest. With Paul, we long for the day that all creation will be set free from bondage and suffering. Having both weeds and wheat within us, we humbly place our hope in the promises of God, and from the Lord’s table we go forth to bear the fruit of justice and mercy.
Sermon Theme
Are You a Seed or a Weed?”
Sunday Music
The Hymn of the Day at traditional services this week is “Come, Ye Thankful People, Come (ELW 693)” as we sing of the eventual harvest that God will reap at the end of human history. At New Day we’ll sing “Amazing Grace (My Chains are Gone)” as we celebrate the gift of the Kingdom of God which God makes possible by us through that “Amazing Grace” we will sing about.
Home Devotional Questions
- How is the parable of the wheat and the weeds at odds with the sinner and the saint in all of us?
- Where do you see yourself in this parable?
- Is it sometimes difficult to distinguish between good and evil?
