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 human’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 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 the 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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