I.
We’re still in Matthew 13 this week and have one of Jesus’ parables that is clearly linked to us understanding the Kingdom of God. Yes, Matthew writes “kingdom of heaven,” but that is Matthew’s characteristic way of referring to the Kingdom of God and characteristic of avoiding the use of the name of God when writings are primarily for Jewish audiences.

What might we learn about the Kingdom from this parable?

What provokes the most questions for you as you listen to Jesus share this parable with us?

II.
Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43 (NRSVue)

He put before them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to someone who sowed good seed in his field, but while everybody was asleep an enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and then went away. So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared as well. And the slaves of the householder came and said to him, ‘Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? Where, then, did these weeds come from?’ He answered, ‘An enemy has done this.’ The slaves said to him, ‘Then do you want us to go and gather them?’ But he replied, ‘No, for in gathering the weeds you would uproot the wheat along with them. Let both of them grow together until the harvest, and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, Collect the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.’ ”

Then he left the crowds and went into the house. And his disciples approached him, saying, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds of the field.” He answered, “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. The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will collect out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all evildoers, and they will throw them into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Let anyone with ears listen!

III.
As in our parable from last week, we again encounter a sower, seeds, and this time a field that is for sowing and producing grain for harvesting.

What else do we encounter this week? Who else do we encounter?

Well there is an “enemy” who wants to create problems for the sower.

And we encounter the sower’s slaves who first question the quality of the seeds the sower uses. And then offer a solution to the problem of weeds among the good grain.

Let’s read the parable again and pay attention to the sower’s workers/slaves.

Is their questioning the sower understandable? Or, should they have remained silent?

Is their solution to the problem understandable? Is their solution well-meaning? Do you think it was their intention to be helpful to their master?

If you had been one of the field-hands or tenant farmers, how would you react to this situation?

charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}