Seeds of the Kingdom, Weeds of the World, and the Final Harvest Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43

 

Grace, mercy and peace to you, from God, our Father, and our Lord, Jesus Christ.

 

We’re going to talk about the Seeds of the Kingdom, the Weeds of the World, and the Final Harvest.

 

Jesus’ parable of the harvest follows up on His parable of the Sower, which we talked about last Sunday. 

 

In today’s parable there are two sowers: a sower of good, and a sower of evil. Indeed, we have both in our world. 

 

On the one hand, there’s so much good… so much love is shown to so many. 

 

On the other hand, so much hate is shown, and so much harm done.

 

Matthew says, 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 among the wheat and went away…

 

… what a dirty, dishonest thing to do… done by someone who lived by a code of jealousy and animosity, rather than a code of grace and goodwill.

 

26 So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared also. 

 

In our fallen world, we have weeds mixed in with the wheat, evil mixed in with good, enemies of God mixed in with the friends of God.

 

 

We need the seeds of wisdom, the words of Scripture to teach us, and the fellowship to support us, so that the weeds and the sin and the lies of this world don’t choke out what’s good and best in us, the love and faith we’ve been given in Christ.  

 

Our parable continues, 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.

 

This explains why God allows this fallen world to go on, in spite of all the suffering and evil, with both godly and ungodly people populating the earth.

 

Its’ for the sake of the faithful ones, God’s chosen to be born and baptized, to serve Him and their neighbor on earth, and to rejoice with Him and His family of saints and angels forever.

 

Jesus continues, 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.”

 

At harvest, the weeds and the wheat were separated, so that none of the weed seeds would contaminate the wheat, which would be milled for food, and some kept for seed for the next year. 

 

Back in the day when more small grain was planted, some farmers would save a portion of the crop to serve as seed for the next year. 

 

That seed would be taken to the elevator, if needed, to clean out the dirt and chaff, and any weed seeds in it. 

 

Pure seed is important if you don’t want a weedy mess in your field. 

We need the pure seeds of God’s true and holy Word, so that our hearts and our minds don’t become a weedy mess, a jungle of lusts and lies… but instead, a garden of truth and love.

 

God’s Word has that power, to keep our hearts a garden of love, and our minds a field of truth. 

 

Our Gospel continues… 36 Then he left the crowds and went into the house. And his disciples came to him, saying, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds of the field.”

 

37 He answered, “The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. 

 

Jesus surely came to save and forgive us, but also to teach us the truth and wisdom from Heaven… to give us the very, exact words of His Father, which we have forever in Holy Scripture…. for us to learn, and believe, and cherish, and obey.

 

Jesus continues to explain our parable, 38 The field is the world, and the good seed is the sons of the kingdom… 

 

… His baptized children who trust and love and serve and follow Him and obey His Word on earth… 

 

The weeds are the sons of the evil one… those who are not the family of Christ, who stubbornly refuse to follow God’s Son… 

 

 … 39 and the enemy who sowed them is the devil… 

 

… The mastermind of sin and death and everything that’s wrong in the world… 

 

… the one who has planned and initiated it all… he is the enemy, and he is formidable.

 

But the One who plants the good seeds of God’s Word, His own Son, has defeated the evil one once and for all by His death in our place, and His glorious resurrection for our glorious resurrection someday.

 

Its’ the seed of His Word we believe, and hold on to, and gladly sow and speak and share! 

 

Our parable concludes with the final harvest: The harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are the angels… 

 

As Jesus said later in Matthew’s Gospel, chapter 24, about the final harvest or judgment day, 31 And He will send His angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.

 

God’s mighty angels will gather all people before God’s Son for the final judgment.

 

Those with the good seed of the Gospel in their hearts, those who believe and are clothed with the righteousness of Christ, will be rewarded with glory and joy! 

 

But as for the others, Jesus says, 40 Just as the weeds are gathered and burned with fire, so will it be at the end of the age. 41 The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all law-breakers, 42 and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

 

Burned like weeds in fire forever. So tragic, and so unnecessary. 

 

All that needs to be done to save the world from that terrible, eternal tragedy, Jesus did on the cross! As He said, “It is finished!”. Salvation is won.

 

Let the whole world repent and rejoice!

 

Jesus says, 43 Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father… in the glory and joy that will never end. He who has ears, let him hear… Jesus pleads with us and with all. 

 

He’s the Sower of the seed that saves… the Word about Himself, about the life that only He can give.

 

He doesn’t want a lost life and a tragic eternity for anyone. 

 

And so He says, “If you have ears, hear what I say, and believe, and live completely in Me! Let the seeds of My Word grow in you, a blessing to you and to others!”.

 

The seeds of the Gospel in us, this gift of faith, the repentance and forgiveness of our sins, the comfort and closeness of the fellowship, the infallible truth of God’s inspired Word, the power and grace of His holy Sacraments, all work together to keep and sustain us in a life of grace now, and for a judgment of righteousness on the Last Day.

 

Then, as Jesus says, we will shine like the sun in the kingdom of our Father… in the glory and the joy that will never end.  

 

May the seeds of the Kingdom of righteousness grow in us and yield an abundance of sure faith and godly love. 

 

With this love and faith in us, may we sow the seeds of God’s good and amazing Word in this world… this world we love and care for… this world our dear Lord died to save and rose to bless.  

 

And finally, with the seeds of God’s Kingdom in our hearts, His truth in our minds, and His Word on our lips, may His peace, which passes our understanding, guard our hearts and minds, in Christ Jesus, the Sower of the Good Word. Amen.