Tag: sons of the kingdom
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.
Remove the weeds!
Scripture reading for July 15th: Matthew 13
Key Scriptures: Matthew 13:37-42 “”. . .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 is the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one, and 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.”
Jesus loved to use parables, stories that used common, everyday elements but have deeper meaning and bring understanding of spiritual truth to those that seek it. The parables also hide truth from those who scoff at them. He had told a parable about weeds in a field sown with good seed. The weeds were allowed to grow among the good seed until the time of the harvest. But then the owner of the field commanded that the weeds be removed and burned and the good seed gathered into his barn. Jesus’ disciples asked to have this parable explained to them and Jesus obliged. The good seed were those who believed on Jesus and were adopted into God’s family. The field was the world. The weeds were unbelievers sowed by the devil. The Son of Man owns the field and sends angels as harvesters at the end of the age. The weeds will be gathered and burned but the wheat (good seed) will be gathered into His barn. The meaning is simple if you have ears and you are willing to hear!
Matthew 13:43 “Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear.”
Faith confession and prayer: Father God, thank You for clearly revealing truth to those You have given ears to hear. May I not only hear but apply this truth and preach it to those You send me to. Lord Jesus, have mercy on those who are currently ‘weeds’ and give them more time to repent and become ‘children of the kingdom’! Open deaf ears and blind eyes to Your truth today.
Matthew 3:12 “His winnowing fork is in His hand, and He will clear His threshing floor and gather His wheat into the barn, but the chaff He will burn with unquenchable fire.”