God's Final Harvest

INTRODUCTION

In Matthew 13 Jesus tells seven classic parables about the Kingdom of heaven. Last week we studied the parable of the Sower, which also is recorded in Mark and Luke. Today we’re going to examine the parable of the “Wheat and Weeds,” which appears only in Matthew. This is an amazing parable because it encompasses God’s work of redemption from the beginning of time until the end of time. Several times in scripture the end of time is compared to a harvest. That’s why I’m calling this “God’s Final Harvest.”

Before we examine this parable, let me ask you: Do you think our world is getting better or worse and worse? For a few years at the beginning of the 20th century, most Americans were very optimistic that the world was moving toward utopia. They thought the world was getting better and better. But then World War I came, the war that was to end all wars, followed by World War II. There don’t seem to be too many people in the 21st century who believe the world is getting better. With the rise of terrorism and economic problems around the world things seem to be going from bad to worse.

Actually, almost every generation thinks the world is going to the dogs. I came across a humorous poem that expresses this idea.

My granddad, viewing earth’s worn cogs,
Said, “Things are going to the dogs.”

His granddad, in his house of logs,
Said, “Things are going to the dogs.”

And his granddad, in the Flemish bogs,
Said, “Things are going to the dogs.”

And his granddad, in his old skin togs,
Said, “Things are going to the dogs.”

But there’s one thing I have to state:
The dogs have had a good long wait.”

Vance Havner once said, “I used to say the world was going to the dogs, but I’ve stopped saying that out of respect for dogs!”

So, are things going to get better or are they going to get worse? Jesus answers that question in this parable found in Matthew 13:24-30:

“Jesus told them another parable: ‘The Kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared. The owner’s servants came to him and said, ‘Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?’ ‘An enemy did this,’ he replied. The servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’ ‘No,’ he answered, ‘because while you are pulling the weeds, you may root up the wheat with them. Let them both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.’”

Then Jesus told two additional parables we’ll examine in the next couple of weeks. After that, He took a break (maybe a coffee break). That’s when His disciples asked Him about that particular parable.

Matthew 13:36-43. “Then he left the crowd and went into the house. His disciples came to him and said, ‘Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field.’ He answered, ‘The one who sowed the good