SUNDAY- 16^TH 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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