The Parable of the Wheat and the Weeds Pastor Dan Hiatt 11/8/15

Transcription

1 The Parable of the Wheat and the Weeds Pastor Dan Hiatt 11/8/15

2 What is a parable? A story that illustrates a truth or several truths Not every detail of a parable is always meant to have significance or direct applicability Requires thinking about it to understand what it means Jesus told culturally relevant parables so people could relate

3 The Parable of The Weeds Matt 13:24-30 (NIV) 24 Jesus told them another parable: The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. 25 But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. 26 When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared. 27 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? 28 An enemy did this, he replied. The servants asked him, Do you want us to go and pull them up? 29 No, he answered, because while you are pulling the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them. 30 Let 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. Y

4 The Parable of The Weeds Explained Matt 13: 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. 37 He answered, The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man. 38 The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the people of the kingdom. The weeds are the people of the evil one, 39 and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels. 40 As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. 41 The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. 42 They will throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 43 Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Whoever has ears, let them hear.

5 The Parable of The Weeds Explained Matt 13:36-43 The Parable Sower of the good seed Field Good seed (The Wheat) Weeds Sower of the weeds Harvest Reapers Separate Weeds/Wheat Blazing furnace The fate of the Weeds Kingdom of the Father The reward of the Wheat The Meaning Son of Man (Jesus) The world People of the Kingdom (Followers of Jesus - Christians) People of the evil one (Followers of the Devil) The Devil End of the age (The end of time - the final judgment) God s angels (Separate the good and evil people) Lake of Fire (The final place of judgment for all evil, including those that reject Jesus and follow the Devil.) Rev 19:11-21* New Heaven and New Earth (The final place of reward for the righteous with God) Rev 21 and 22* * See The Future Revealed (Part 3) 4 Key Events 9/6/15 for a sermon on these topics Y

6 The Overall Meaning Good and evil people will co-exist in this world until the end of time, when they are separated forever to a reward or judgment. Who are we serving?

7 Salvation by God s Grace Only 22 Many will say to me on that day, Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles? 23 Then I will tell them plainly, I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers! Matt 7: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. Roman 3: For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. Ephesians 2:8-9

8 We have an enemy the Devil (or Satan) 25 But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. 26 When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared. The weeds are the people of the evil one, 39 and the enemy who sows them is the devil. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Ephesians 6:12 We are in a war with the Devil (not people)!

9 The Weeds of War False Wheat (Darnel?) 26 When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared. Looks like wheat till it is mature poisonous when infected with a fungus Why weeds as part of warfare? Weeds use up the resources the crops needs to mature The devil wants to strengthen evil influence and choke out the good wheat - to attack and weaken the Christians and their good influence in the world for Jesus He wants to make the wheat crop unusable with the poisonous weeds

10 The Good News We Are Overcomers Through The Power of Jesus Christ in Us! Jesus says to us: 33 I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. John 16:33 Matthew 24 (Signs of the End Times*) 12 Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, 13 but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. Matthew 24:12-13 * The Future Revealed (Part 2) Signs of the Times/The Last Days Pastor Dan Hiatt 8/30/15

11 The Good News We Are Overcomers Through The Power of Jesus Christ in Us! Dan Brophy, a disabled Vietnam vet and retired Marine Corps captain, answers the question Before I die I want to Pay it all Forward

12 The Good News We Are Overcomers Through The Power of Jesus Christ in Us! Romans 8 11 And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you. 31 What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us (Nothing) will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:37-39)

13 The Parable of the Wheat and the Weeds Good and evil people will co-exist in this world until the end of time, when they are separated forever to a reward or judgment. In light of this fact - Who are you serving? If you are following Jesus, then you are in a war. We have to endure this war and fight the good fight. We are on the winning team with Jesus, overcoming in the here and now and assured of final victory at the end of time How goes the battle?