TOPIC: THE PARABLE OF THE WHEAT AND WEEDS
1. STORY
John loved to climb mountains. One
day, wearing his heavy coat, he set off to climb to the mountain peak. When he reached the top, he saw a rattlesnake.
To his great surprise, the snake spoke
saying he was starving and freezing and asked John to put him under his coat
and take him down to the valley. John
refused saying that the snake would bite him and the bite would kill him. The snake responded that for this favor he
would not harm him. At first John
resisted but finally agreed to help the snake. He picked up the snake and tucked him under
his coat. When they arrived at the
valley, he took the snake from under his coat and laid it on the grass. Then suddenly the snake bit John's leg. John was shocked and reminded the snake of his
promise not to harm him. “You knew what
I was when you picked me up,” answered the snake as he slithered away. This is a reminder to avoid evil persons,
places and things.
2. GOSPEL, MATTHEW 13:24-30
A) A MAN SOWED GOOD SEEDS AND THE ENEMY SOWED WEEDS
The story tells us that in the field there are wheat and weeds. The field represents the world, the wheat
represents good people, and the weeds represent bad people. In the world, there are both good and bad
people.
B) LET THEM GROW TOGEHER UNTIL HARVEST
The slave is instructed not to take any action until the harvest when
there will be a separation of the wheat and weeds. God permits both good and bad people to live. There will be a separation of the two at the last
judgment.
3. APPLICATION TO LIFE
A) THE WORLD HAS BOTH GOOD AND BAD PEOPLE
In the home, the church, and in the world, there are both good and
bad people. Good people, but their words
and actions, harm us and we should avoid them.
B) GOD IS PATIENT AND GOD IS JUST
God wishes to save all and so is very patient with both the good and
bad. He gives people a chance for the
better, to improve their moral lives. He
sent Jesus to help us, and his work is carried on by the Church. Jesus gives us the wisdom and strength to be
good. God is just as he will separate
the good from the bad on judgment day. He
will reward the just and punish the bad.
4. CONCLUSION
In the story, John learned that it is dangerous to associate with a
rattlesnake. In the parable, we learn
that in the world there are both good people, represented by the wheat, and bad
people represented by weeds. God permits
both to live side by side in the hope that bad people, the weeds, will have a
change of heart and repent their ways. Jesus has come to help us to be good. Finally, God is just and at the last judgment
will separate the good from the bad by rewarding the good and punishing the
bad.
