Tag: sons of the evil one
Jesus explains the Weeds!
Scripture reading for January 17: Matthew 13
“He answered, “The One Who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world, and the good seed is the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons 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 gathered and burned with fire, so will it be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all causes of sin and all law-breakers, and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Matthew 13:37-42
Jesus taught in parables. His parables were illustrations taken from every-day life in Israel that helped His disciples understand the kingdom of God. In this parable of the weeds, which followed the parable of the sower, Jesus sought to relate God the Father’s declaration of how the kingdom of God would be finally established on the earth. He used a common farming illustration of seeds sown in a field and weeds growing in opposition. In this passage Jesus explained the parable of the weeds in the field.
Jesus, Himself, was the sower of ‘good seed’, the sons of the kingdom. Those who believed His Word would be adopted as sons of the kingdom. In opposition, the devil would sow ‘bad’ seed, men and women who would remain sons of the evil one. The sons of the evil one would cause others to sin and break God’s laws. At a set time, God will reap the harvest using His Holy angels. They will first gather the wicked who are residing in the kingdom and throw them into the fiery furnace. It will be a place of eternal torment, weeping and gnashing of teeth. But the righteous will shine with the glory of the Father in His kingdom forever.
How does this story change your view of the world and the conflicts going on there? How does the parable of the weeds help you understand your spiritual state and destiny? What did Jesus reveal about the consequences of a life of law-breaking and causing others to sin?
Prayer: Father God, thank You for speaking to me in stories that help me to see myself and others in light of Your declared truth about the present spiritual conflict and its conclusion. Through Jesus Christ, I can be assured of a place in Your eternal kingdom and share in His glory! Amen.