Happy Thursday! Earlier this week we read the parable of the Wheat and Weeds. Today we will read Jesus’ teaching and explanation of what the parable meant.  Enjoy. 

BIBLE VERSE  – Matthew 13:36-43 NLT 
“³⁶ Then, leaving the crowds outside, Jesus went into the house. His disciples said, “Please explain to us the story of the weeds in the field.”

³⁷ Jesus replied, “The Son of Man[Jesus] is the farmer who plants the good seed. ³⁸ The field is the world, and the good seed represents the people of the Kingdom. The weeds are the people who belong to the evil one. ³⁹ The enemy who planted the weeds among the wheat is the devil. The harvest is the end of the world, and the harvesters are the angels.
⁴⁰ “Just as the weeds are sorted out and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the world. ⁴¹ The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will remove from his Kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. ⁴² And the angels will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. ⁴³ Then the righteous will shine like the sun in their Father’s Kingdom. Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand!”

REFLECTION

The explanation is clearly stated in four parts:

1. Jesus is the farmer who plants good seed.
2. The field is the world. The good seed represents the people of the kingdom.
3. The weeds are the people who belong to the evil one.
4. The harvest is the end of the world. The harvesters are the angels.

All four represent the periods from Jesus’ work on earth until the judgement of His return.

The final verses (40-43), reminds us of what is ahead. Sisters and brothers, the Lord is good. The Lord is faithful. He will take care of His children. Keep growing in the word. Keep trusting. Keep sharing the gospel message with others.

PRAYER
Father God, thank you for revealing your plan and for making it clear. Lord, we don’t want to be the weeds in the field. Lord, we want to be good seed – people of the kingdom. So Lord, be with us, change us – change our hearts and minds so that we will follow you 100%. Lord, don’t let our seeds get choked by weeds – people of the evil one. Lord, kill off the things in us that do not please you. Strength our faith so that we may stand firmly planted in your word. Lord, we pray for the lost (e.g., family members, friends, co-workers and the world) and ask that you speak to their hearts and remove the chains that have them bound to this world and the evil in it. Lord press their hearts, bring them back to you and transform them into who you created them to be. Lord, you are our only hope. Be with us today and minister to our souls. May your perfect peace fall on us today. In Jesus name, amen. 

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