Matthew 13:24 English Standard Version

The Parable of the Weeds

²⁴ He put another parable before them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field,

Jesus tells His disciples that we can compare these parables to the kingdom of heaven. What can be seen in the comparison is that what is gleaned out of any of these parables must not contradict what has been gleaned from another. This parable was told shortly after the parable of the sower. The parable of the sower came first and should be seen as a standard bearer for the ones that follow.

When reading Matthew 13 note the order of the parables and their titles.

The Parable of the Sower, The Purpose of the Parables, The Parable of the Sower Explained, The Parable of the Weeds, The Mustard Seed and the Leaven, Prophecy and Parables, The Parable of the Weeds Explained, The Parable of the Hidden Treasure, The Parable of the Pearl of Great Value, and finally The Parable of the Net.

Matthew 13:51-52 English Standard Version

New and Old Treasures

⁵¹ “Have you understood all these things?” They said to him, “Yes.” ⁵² And he said to them, “Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house, who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old.”

Jesus reveals to His disciples here that some of them will be scribes, gospel writers. Of the twelve we only have Matthew and John to thank. They are not the only disciples of Jesus nor disciples of our risen Lord.

What is important to note is the Lord’s order in bringing out both old and new.

One builds upon the other without contraction in purpose or understanding of the others.

Matthew 13:24-30 English Standard Version

The Parable of the Weeds

²⁴ He put another parable before them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field, ²⁵ but while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds^{[darnel looks like wheat]} among the wheat and went away. ²⁶ So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared also. ²⁷ And the servants of the master of the house came and said to him, ‘Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have weeds?’ ²⁸ He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ So the servants said to him, ‘Then do you want us to go and gather them?’ ²⁹ But he said, ‘No, lest in gathering the weeds you root up the wheat along with them. ³⁰ Let both grow together until the harvest, and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, “Gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.”’”

This is posted after wildfire in order to distinguish the differences between wheat and weeds. The first thing we must address is that the whole world is the Lord’s field. Jesus is the one who planted the good seed to begin the planting of His church.

“While his men were sleeping” is an indication of those given the oversight of His church who did not keep watch to prevent others from preaching another gospel, one not rooted in faith in Christ. Those that sew the darnel seed may call themselves Christian, but they are not of Christ.

What is interesting here is that the Lord is the Lord of change, the Lord of rebirth and if those that are darnel, if they can escape the wildfire, they may be reborn. This is why the Lord told His angels not to weed out the darnel. They may become wheat by the power of God.