May 11 - Weeds in the Field, Pt. 1

Matthew 13:24-30

Jesus told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared. 

“The owner’s servants came to him and said, ‘Sir, didn't you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?’ 

“‘An enemy did this,’ he replied. 

“The servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’ 

“‘No,’ he answered, ‘because while you are pulling the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.’ ”

It is not yet time. This is one other parable that Jesus will return to in order to give an explanation, but for now he simply sets it out there.

An enemy has sown weeds among the grain. When the workers are concerned and think that it is necessary to rid the field of the weeds, the owner of the field tells them that it isn't time for that. Any weeds that are pulled out at this point might destroy some of the good crop. But, at the harvest, the two will be separated; the weeds to be burned, the wheat to be stored in the barn.

It isn’t yet time to separate the two because if you pull up the weeds, you might disturb the good portion of the crop. For that matter, unless you are very skilled, when the weeds and the plants are very young, you might not even be able to tell them apart.

This is one of things that hurts my heart when I watch other Christians who judge quickly.  I have spoken with so many people who want nothing to do with Christianity because of what they've experienced with people they love.  They are the good crop, the wheat which has been pulled out of the field as Christians seek to rid their lives of weeds.  They are collateral damage.

Jesus warns his listeners to be very careful, in fact, he simply says that we should not pull the weeds from the field; that will be accomplished at the day of harvest.  It is not our job to distinguish between weeds and wheat. It is not our job to do the work of the one who will harvest the field. It is our job to care for the field; to care for everyone, both wheat and weeds and in the end; it will be God who separates one from the other.