SUNDAY- 16TH
WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME –A
I
Reading: Wisdom 12:13.16-19: After sin you will
grant repentance.
II
Reading: Romans 8:26-27: The Spirit expresses
our plea in a way that could never be put into words.
Gospel:
Matthew 13:24-43: Let them both grow
till the harvest.
The Parable
of the Wheat and the Weeds:
The Question
of Evil, Why It Exists
Some of man’s basic
questions about the presence of evil in
the world and judging others are covered in this parable. It is a parable that
has come very practical answers and lessons for people.
1. There are both good
and evil people in this world and in the kingdom of Heaven (v.24-26)
2. Christ sows the
righteous; the devil sows the wicked (v.24-25)
3. People question why
there is evil in the world and in the kingdom (Church). Did God plant the evil
as well as the good (v.27-28)?
4. People are not to
judge who the wheat and weeds, the good and bad, are. Why? Because it is
sometimes difficult to distinguish between the good and bad, and some of the
good might be rooted up (v.29)
5. A day of harvest and
of judgement is coming (v.29-30)
6. God alone has the
wisdom to judge correctly (v.29-30)
Thought:
Where do the weeds come from? An enemy sows them. Weeds will be bounded and
burned whereas wheat will be gathered into the owner’s barn.
The devil is
a sworn enemy to Christ, to the world , and to all good.
Matthew
13:31-35: A mustard seed
becomes a tree so that the birds of the air shelter in its branches.
The Parable
of the Mustard Seed:
The Growth
and Greatness of Christianity, Mt 13:31-32
Jesus is
describing the growth and greatness of
His kingdom and of Christianity in this parable. He shows how it begins as the
smallest of seeds and grows into the greatest of movements. The message of the
parable is a powerful message to individual believers and congregations as well
as to Christianity as a whole. The seed of faith begins ever so small, but it
grows into the greatest of bushes as it nourishes itself day by day. Mature
(grown v.32) believers and congregations alike provide lodging for the people
of a turbulent world.
1. The parable:
Describes the kingdom (Christianity) (v.31)
2. A mustard seed was
planted (v.31)
a. A man deliberately
took and planted the seed
b. Planted in his field
3. The mustard seed
grew and became the greatest of bushes (v.32)
a. Was the smallest
seed
b. Grew into the
greatest of bushes
c. Result: Birds come
and lodge in its branches
Mt 13: 33:
The Parable of the Leaven or Yeast:
The
Transforming Power of the Gospel
There are essentially
two interpretations of this parable.
1. Some say the leaven
represents evil that penetrates the kingdom of God and His church.
2. Most say the yeast
symbolizes the kingdom of God that penetrates and works silently to transform
people and society.
The Messiah’s
Purpose for Speaking in Parables, Mt 13:34-35
See outline and
notes-Mt 13:10-17 for a full discussion of the “Messiah’s Reasons for speaking
in Parables.” The secret of the gospel must be revealed (v.34-35). See Eph
1:9-10.
1. To reach the crowd
2. To teach “these things”
the Truth
3. To fulfil scripture
4. To reveal the
mystery of the Gospel
Thought: The Gospel is extremely powerful (1Cor 5:6; Gal 5:9).
Matthew
13:36-43: Just as the darnel is gathered up and burnt in the fire, so it will
be at the end of time.
The Parable
of the Wheat and the Weeds Explained
This passage is the
interpretation of the Wheat and Weeds (Mt 13:24-30).
1. The parable
explained
a. Jesus was alone with
his disciples
b. The disciples asked
the meaning of the parable
2. The good seed
a. The sower: The Son
of Man
b. The field: The world
c. The seed: The
children of the kingdom
3. The bad seed
a. The seed: The
children of the devil
b. The sower: The devil
4. The harvest
a. The day: The end of
the world
b. The reapers: Angels
5. The reaping of the
weeds
a. Symbolizing
judgement
b. When: In the end of
the world
c. Executed by angels
d. Who: Those in the
kingdom
1) who offend others
2) who are lawless
e. The judgement: Fire
and weeping
6. The reaping of the
wheat
a. Identity: The
righteous
b. Position: Glory in
the kingdom
7. The strong call
Thought:
Jesus goes on establishing his kingdom on earth in a humble way, yet, not a
sing person will be left uninvited to join it. God’s kingdom grows on steadily
among his messengers and the people. The Gospel has changed the hearts of
millions of people around the world. There is a battle going on between the
kingdom of Jesus and the kingdom of devil but Jesus Christ comes out
victorious. God is patient with the wicked; so has he been with us.
The evil came
out of the misuse of freedom and disobedience to God’s commandments.
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