how many of you have some of these in your yard right now?
It's the tireless battle.
Unless, of course, you're my daughters.
In which case, this is a beautiful bouquet and a gift.
And please don't throw it in the garbage, Daddy.
As my grade 6 teacher used to say,
a weed is just a flower in a place that it's not wanted.
Well, this morning we're going to be looking at another parable of Jesus,
a parable about the kingdom of heaven,
in which he uses weeds as an analogy to make a point,
to tell us something important that we need to know.
Verse 24, let's listen in.
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,
Well, do you want us to go and pull them up?
No, he answered.
Because while you are pulling the weeds,
you may uproot the wheat with them.
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.
I want you to put yourself there,
as Jesus tells this parable.
There you are in the crowd listening in,
and Jesus opens his mouth and says those first few words,
The kingdom of heaven is like...
And already he's got our attention.
He's about to say something about the kingdom of God.
As we talked about last week,
kingdom of heaven is really just a figure of speech
that essentially means the kingdom of God.
Matthew is the only one who uses or records Jesus
as saying that expression.
The other two gospel writers,
they kind of translated the kingdom of God.
It's not so much a reference as to
where the rule and reign and kingdom of God is,
like the heavenly realm,
but as to whose kingdom it is.
It's the kingdom of heaven, of the God of heaven.
Jesus says,
The kingdom of heaven is like...
And then he tells this story.
He gives this parable.
And it's quite an intriguing story.
You can imagine sitting there listening.
Oh, who would do such a thing?
Charles, you're a landowner.
How would you feel if you found out this morning
that while you were sleeping last night,
some guy was dragging his cedar through your field,
seeding weeds?
It explains a lot.
Like the audacity in my land.
Who would do such a thing?
For the rest of us,
maybe you have a garden bed
or a flower bed.
How would you feel
if you found out that last night
while you were sleeping,
some guy came along with a pound
of Canada thistle seeds
and spread it all throughout your flower beds
and your garden bed
and mixed it in real good.
Like the audacity.
Who would do such a thing?
Someone who hates you.
An enemy.
But what makes this even worse
is that
there's a specific kind of weed
that Jesus is referring to here.
And we don't really see this
in our English translations.
Most of them just say weeds.
But actually,
the word that he uses is zizanium.
Or in modern day lingo,
I don't know if we have it here in Canada or not,
but darnel.
In some regions,
it's actually called false wheat.
And apparently,
this plant
is so similar to wheat
that you actually can't tell the difference
until the heads begin to form.
And the darnel
is worthless.
Oftentimes, it's poisonous.
It plays host to this fungus
which just
wreaks havoc.
And
you kind of
see
the
intrigue
in this story.
What's happened here?
This is not just some farmer
wakes up a few days
after he seeded his field
and,
oh,
there's some little broadleaf weeds
kind of in my field.
No,
look at
what he says
in verse
26.
When the wheat sprouted
and formed heads,
this is already months
after the seed's gone
in the ground.
The crop is growing
and only once
the heads start to form
do they look out
and realize,
oh boy,
the field is full
of zazanium,
of darnel.
where did all this
come from?
The servants are baffled.
They go to
the owner.
Didn't you
sow good seed
in your field?
Did somebody
sell you a bad
batch of seed?
Where'd you get
that stuff from anyway?
No.
I know,
I sowed good seed
in my field.
Well,
where did they
come from then?
Well,
it leaves only
one explanation.
An enemy
did this.
Says the landowner.
Well,
what should we do
about it?
What do you want us
to do?
Do you want us
to go pull
them all out?
No.
Because by now
the roots
of the darnel
and the wheat
are all intertwined
in the ground
and if you pull
out the darnel
you might uproot
some of the wheat.
And I don't want
to lose any
of the wheat.
Let them both
grow together
until the harvest
time.
And at harvest
time I'll tell
the harvesters
to first pull
the weeds,
deal with them
and then bring
in the grain.
It's an intriguing
story and here
you are sitting
listening to Jesus
tell this story
and I imagine
that the people
are wondering
where is he
going with this?
What is this
story about?
What does it
mean?
you've got
this enemy
why would he
do such a
thing?
Is he trying
to get back
at this
farmer,
this landowner
for something?
Why did he
do that?
And as
Jesus tells
the story
we're probably
all wondering
is he going
to find out
who did it?
Is he going
to get justice?
Is he going
to get revenge?
Is this a
story about
forgiveness?
About loving
our enemy?
What's your
point Jesus?
Where are you
going with this?
And the
disciples,
they too
didn't get it.
They came
to Jesus
later after
he had
finished teaching
some of the
parables in
verse 36.
It says 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.
We don't
get it.
You said
at the
beginning
the kingdom
of heaven
is like
and then
you told
this story.
Well,
how is it
like that?
We don't
get it.
And so
Jesus
explains.
He makes
clear what
this little
story,
this parable
means.
Verse 37,
he answered,
the one
who sowed
the good
seed is
the son
of man.
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 and
the enemy
who sows
them is
the devil.
the harvest
is the
end of
the age
and the
harvesters
are angels.
Jesus
breaks his
explanation
up into
two parts.
In this
first part
he just
kind of
explains
the various
elements
of the
parable
and what
they correspond
to,
who they
refer to.
Let's go
through it
a little bit.
The one
who sowed
the good
seed
is the
son of
man.
That was
one of
Jesus'
favorite
ways
to refer
to himself.
It's kind
of a curious
title,
the son
of man.
We know
that Jesus
was referring
to himself
because some
places it's
just so
obvious.
Probably the
one we're
most familiar
with is
Judas when
he comes
to betray
Jesus.
Judas,
are you
betraying
the son
of man
with a
kiss?
Jesus
meant
himself
when he
said the
son of
man.
But,
in many
cases,
like parables,
it was a
title that
people weren't
really sure
what he
meant by
that all
the time.
I'm sure
the Pharisees
and religious
leaders were
kind of
wondering,
is he
making a
claim to
be the
Messiah?
The son
of man
was used
in Psalm
8,
a son
of man,
just generally
to refer
to a
human
being,
emphasizing the
humanity
of somebody
compared to,
say,
the angels
or to
God.
Son of
man was
also what
God called
Ezekiel,
and he
was a
prophet.
So is
Jesus
claiming to
be a
prophet?
What do you
mean by
that title,
by calling
yourself the
son of
man?
And then,
of course,
Daniel,
in his
vision,
says that
he saw
one like
a son
of man
coming on
the clouds
of heaven,
one who
went before
the presence
of the
ancient of
days,
and glory
and authority
and sovereign
power was
given him
so that he
could rule
and reign
over a
never-ending
kingdom.
Clearly a
reference to
the Messiah.
And so
what did
Jesus mean
by that?
Difficult to
pin down
if they
wanted to
accuse him
of claiming
to be
the Messiah.
But Jesus,
as he
explains to
his disciples,
he's clearly
talking about
the Messiah
in that sense.
Look at
verse 41.
He says,
the son of
man will
send out
his angels.
This is
the son of
man who
has authority
and charge
over his
angels.
They're his
servants.
He will
send out
his angels
and they
will weed
out of
his
kingdom.
This is
the son
of man,
the king,
the Messiah.
That's
who Jesus
is talking
about here
when he
says son
of man.
That's
what the
one who
sowed
represents.
The one
who sowed
the good
seed is
the son
of man.
The field
is the
world.
This is
one of
those elements
that often
has been
misinterpreted.
People are
quick to
say,
well,
the field
is the
church.
The field
is the
nation of
Israel.
But this
is not a
story about
people in
the world
infiltrating the
church and
kind of living
among the
church almost
as imposters.
Jesus says
very clearly,
the field
is the
world.
As we're
about to
see,
this is a
parable about
the sons of
the kingdom
and the
sons of
the evil
one living
and growing
together in
the world.
Jesus goes
on to say
that the
good seed
stands for
the people
of the
kingdom,
literally the
sons of
the kingdom.
And here
again,
we've just
heard the
parable last
week of
the sower,
and there
the seed
represents the
word of
God.
But Jesus
is not
making the
same point.
He's using
the farming
analogy again,
yes, but
the seed
does not
represent the
word of
God in
this parable.
He's making
a different
point.
He says
the seed,
the good
seed,
represents
the sons
of the
kingdom.
The son
of man
is going
to, he
comes into
the world,
into his
field,
and as a
result of
his labor,
there will
be sons
of the
kingdom.
people,
children of
the kingdom.
The weeds
are the
people of
the evil
one,
and the
enemy who
sows them
is the
devil.
At this
point,
some of us
might feel a
little
uncomfortable.
Jesus is
pretty black
and white
here.
There really
only seems
to be two
options,
sons of
the kingdom
and sons
of the
evil one,
sons of
the devil.
That thought
makes some
of us
uncomfortable.
And it's
not the only
time that
Jesus talks
like this.
I mean,
is that what
we're meant
to see here,
that the
world really
only is made
up of two
different kinds
of people,
sons of
the kingdom
and sons
of the
evil one.
Well,
Jesus,
on another
occasion,
he had a
conversation
about where
he talked
about this
with some
Jewish people
who at first
seemed to
believe what
he was
saying,
John chapter
eight.
And it
came up in
the conversation
about,
they said,
well,
we're descended
from Abraham.
Abraham.
We've got
credentials.
And Jesus
challenges that.
He says,
if you were
Abraham's
children,
then you
would do
what Abraham
did.
You are
doing the
works of
your own
father,
he said
to them.
And they
were offended.
It says,
they protested.
We are not
illegitimate
children.
The only
father we
have is
God himself.
Jesus said
to them,
if God
were your
father,
you would
love me,
for I
have come
here from
God.
You
belong to
your father,
the devil,
and you
want to
carry out
your father's
desires.
He was a
murderer from
the beginning,
not holding
to the truth.
So we
see in
this case,
Jesus
making this
distinction.
Children
of the
devil,
children
of God.
But,
not
everybody
who's
a son
or a
daughter
or a
child
of the
devil
thinks
they are.
They're not
people who
would say,
well,
I'm a
Satanist,
or I
worship
the devil.
It's kind
of something
that they
seem to
fall to
by default
because they're
not children
of God.
They're on
the side
of the
devil.
There's
only two
families
here.
The
family of
God
and the
family
of the
devil.
Two
factions.
The
kingdom
of
God,
the
kingdom
of
the
devil.
Jesus
kind of
frames it
that way.
And
the people
who are in
the camp
of the
devil,
they don't
think they
are.
In fact,
they probably
would have been
offended and
disgusted
even at the
thought,
at the
suggestion that
you belong
to your
father,
the devil.
And yet,
that's what
Jesus says.
The devil,
he was a
murderer.
And you
guys here
listening to
me in this
conversation
that Jesus
is having,
you want to
kill me.
You want to
murder me.
He had a
problem with
the truth.
He didn't
hold to the
truth.
And you
guys have a
problem with
the truth
that I'm
saying to
you right
now.
there are
only two
families.
There are
only two
kingdoms.
The sons
of the
kingdom and
the sons
of the
evil one.
That's the
way Jesus
paints it.
And while
we're on the
subject of
this, I
heard someone
this week
say to
me,
they had
heard somebody,
some people
had done some
terrible things
and they
said,
those people
are children
of the
devil.
The thing
that they
did was so
wicked.
How could
you do
that unless
you're a
child of
the devil?
Just a
couple things
I want to
say about
that.
First is,
the devil
doesn't make
us do
anything.
What does
James say
in his
little letter?
he says
that each
one
is tempted
when they
are dragged
away by
their own
evil desire
and enticed.
Then after
desire has
conceived,
it gives
birth to
sin.
It's our
own evil
desires,
more often
than not,
that lead us
to sin,
the reason
that we
sin.
And even
when the
devil is
tempting
or his
minions are
tempting us,
it's our
choice to
listen and
to do it.
And we're
responsible for
that.
The devil
doesn't make
us do
anything.
He's not
the reason
why some
people seem
more wicked
than others
or why some
people do
terrible things.
We're quite
capable of
that on our
own.
That's what
James says.
So I think
as Christians
we should not
when we hear
of a terrible
thing,
we shouldn't
be quick to
say,
well,
they're
children of
the devil.
That's where
we all
start.
We all
have the
same sin
problem
inherited
from Adam.
We all
start as
children of
the devil.
The second
thing I want
to say is
more often
than not
when people
speak of
others as
being children
of the devil,
it's with a
tone or an
attitude of
self-righteousness.
those children
of the devil.
I'm not
one,
but you
guys,
you're
especially
wicked.
Or kind
of a
vindictiveness,
you know,
maybe sometimes
even name
calling.
You're a
child of
the devil,
you know.
You want
to know what
people hear
when we say
that to them,
especially if
they have no
religious background
and haven't
been in the
church?
this is what
they hear
when we say
things like
that to
them.
You're
despicable.
You're
disgustingly
evil.
You're as
evil as
the devil
himself.
Is that
what we
mean to
communicate?
If we
take up
the language
of children
of the
devil,
it better
be because
like Jesus,
we are
having an
honest and
thoughtful
conversation
about the
spiritual
reality of
our world.
So the
weeds in
Jesus'
parable,
he says,
represent the
sons of the
evil one,
the devil.
The harvest
is the end
of the age
and the
harvesters
are angels.
So Jesus
has made
his correlations
to reality
from the
story and
now he's
going to
draw out
of that
and give
us the
point and
tell us
what this
little story
is about.
And so he
does,
starting in
verse 40,
he says,
as the
weeds are
pulled up
and burned
in the
fire,
so it
will be
at the
end of
the age.
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.
They will
throw them
into the
blazing
furnace
where there
will be
weeping
and gnashing
of teeth.
Then the
righteous
will shine
like the
sun in
the kingdom
of their
father.
Whoever
has ears,
let him
hear.
This is
Jesus'
own
explanation
of his
story and
what it
means.
And I
think one
of the
first things
to notice
is what
he doesn't
explain.
I mean,
the initial
parable that
we heard,
it talked
about how
if we
deal with
the weeds
early,
then the
wheat will
be uprooted
or be hurt.
Jesus doesn't
say anything
about that
in the
explanation.
We notice
that a lot
of these
elements of
the story
have something
they represent.
Jesus kind
of lists
them all
out for
us,
but who
are the
servants?
Are they
the disciples?
Are they
the angels?
What about
the gathering
into the
barn?
Jesus
doesn't say
anything about
that.
He just
says the
righteous
will shine
in the
kingdom.
Is it
implied that
they were
gathered?
We don't
know.
And the
reason why
I bring
these things
up is
because we
need to
follow Jesus'
lead on
what his
own story
means.
It's easy
for us to
look at the
various things
that he
kind of says
mean this,
this means
this,
this means
this,
and then to
want to jump
in there and
start saying,
yeah,
and these are
the things
that he
didn't explain
mean this,
and this,
and this.
But just
like when
any of us
gives an
analogy,
if you
press every
single detail,
eventually the
analogy breaks
down.
We're kind
of in the
realm of
speculation
when we
do that.
So I think
it's important
that we
listen to
Jesus and
acknowledge
what's here.
What's his
explanation
for this?
What's his
main point?
And almost
all of it
has to do
with the
weeds.
Most of
it.
All the
detail,
all the
emphasis
seems to
be on
the weeds.
And so
what does
Jesus say
it means?
What's his
explanation?
The first
thing that we
notice is
this.
The end
of the age
is coming.
Just like
the harvest
is coming
for the
farmer,
the end
of the
age is
coming.
There will
be a
time and
it's
time.
It's
happening.
And what
will happen
at the
end of
the age?
So will
it be at
the end
of the
age.
What?
The weeds
will be
pulled up
and burned
in the
fire.
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.
Jesus
gives
two
kind of
references
to the
sons of
the evil
one.
He
describes
them in
two
different
ways.
As
stumbling
stones,
those who
cause
others to
sin,
and as
those who
do evil,
literally
those who
practice
lawlessness.
Jesus has
already said
a word about
those who
practice
lawlessness.
If you
remember back
to the
Sermon on
the Mount,
did we
not do
this and
that and
this and
this in
your name?
And I
will tell
them,
depart from
me,
you who
practice
lawlessness.
I never
knew you.
let's
not miss
the truth
that the
weeds are
not just
flowers that
are innocent,
that just
happen to be
planted in
the wrong
place at
the wrong
time.
No.
They are
generally
those who
cause others
to sin
against God,
who incite
rebellion
against God,
and those
who themselves
practice lawlessness,
who live
without regard
for God
and what
he has
commanded
and said.
They ignore
it as a
practice,
as a habit,
as a way
of life.
They have
been people
who lived
in rebellion
against him.
Those are
the weeds.
And Jesus
says,
at the end
of the age,
they,
the sons
of the evil
one,
will be
gathered,
they will
be weeded
out of
his kingdom.
They have
no place
in his
kingdom.
They will
be gathered
and thrown
into the
furnace of
fire,
the blazing
furnace,
where there
will be
weeping
and gnashing
of teeth.
Jesus is
talking about
hell.
And it's
not the
first time,
it's not
the only
time.
He talks
about hell
in many
places.
And the
words that
he uses
are awful.
The images
that come
to mind,
people being
thrown into
a furnace,
being burned
alive,
a place
of weeping,
gnashing of
teeth,
a place of
anguish
and torment.
torment.
This is
what Jesus
says will
be the
fate of
those who
are not
sons of
the kingdom.
He will
send out
his angels
and they
will throw
them into
hell.
That's
heavy.
Some of
our minds
might be
thinking,
how could
God do
that?
Oftentimes,
though,
as I've
said before,
we tend
to downplay
our sin
and our
rebellion
against God.
we minimize
it.
But God
is just.
He sees
that the
punishment
fits the
crime.
And so,
if that's
what the
punishment
is,
then what
does that
say about
the crime?
What have
I done
against the
God of
heaven?
Have we
caught and
understood the
seriousness of
my offense
against this
glorious,
good,
righteous
God?
it's a
terrible
punishment
for a
terrible
crime,
for terrible
sin.
The
mercy and
the love
of God
is not
seen in
his
willingness
to break
the rules,
to bend
the rules
and just
let them
get off
scot-free.
the mercy
and love
of God
is not
seen in
his
willingness
to pervert
justice and
just give
them less
than what
they deserve.
The mercy
and love
of God
is seen
in his
willingness
to let
someone come
and suffer
the wrath
that they
deserve,
the punishment
they deserve
in their
place.
Jesus
rescues,
saves us
from the
coming
wrath,
as we
talked about
earlier.
That's what
happened when
he died
on the
cross,
so that
we could
be spared
what we
deserve.
Why is
this parable
here?
Why did
Jesus tell
this parable
of the
weeds?
Was it
just to
give us
information
about the
spiritual
reality of
our world?
Just to
let us
in a little
bit behind
the scenes,
backstage
pass,
FYI?
Or does
Jesus expect
some kind
of response?
I don't
believe that
Jesus just
gave us
this parable
as an
FYI.
Here's how
things are.
And I
don't
believe that
the point
of the
parable is
some kind
of hopeless
fatalism.
Well,
you're either
a son of
the kingdom
or a son
of the
devil,
and it's
not really
up to
you which
one you
are,
and this
is what's
going to
happen to
you at
the end.
I don't
think that's
what Jesus
meant.
Why did
he speak
this?
Why does
he say
these things?
That those
who are not
sons of the
kingdom will
be thrown
into hell,
what is
that meant
to do
in our
hearts?
To stir
up inside
of us?
I believe
Jesus gave
this as a
gracious
warning.
This is
the fate
of those
who are
not sons
of the
kingdom.
A
gracious
warning
which is
meant to
cause us
to ask
the question,
am I
of the
wheat
or am
I of
the
weeds?
Whose
camp am
I in?
Am I
in the
camp of
God
or the
camp of
the devil?
Whose
side am
I on?
Do I
wholeheartedly
have my
allegiance to
the Messiah,
to the
Son of
Man,
to the
kingdom
of God,
God,
or do I
default to
the other
side?
And along
with that
is,
it's not
stated here,
but the
analogy breaks
down if we
go here,
because weeds
don't change
and become
wheat,
not in
ordinary
life,
but the
unspoken
thing that
goes along
with all
of this,
that Jesus
has been
saying throughout
all of his
preaching about
the kingdom,
what has he
been saying
about the
kingdom?
Mark gave
it to us in a
nutshell right
at the
beginning,
we talked
about it
last week,
the time
has come,
the kingdom
of God
is come
near,
repent,
and believe
the good
news,
you're not
doomed to
be a
son of
the evil
one,
repent,
acknowledge
that you
have blown
it against
God,
seek his
forgiveness
and you
can become
a son of
the kingdom,
that's why
the kingdom
is good
news,
because some
people are
going to
live in it
as children
of the
king,
but they
have to
admit and
acknowledge
their sin
and what
they have
done against
the king.
Verse 43,
then the
righteous will
shine like
the sun in
the kingdom
of their
father,
he who
has ears,
let him
hear.
What a
contrast,
the sons
of the
evil one
are cast
into hell,
they receive
what they
deserve,
but the
sons of
the kingdom,
they shine
in the
kingdom of
their father,
they live
in the
kingdom,
they belong
in the
kingdom.
It says
they are
righteous,
then the
righteous
will shine.
what has
been planted
by the
son of
man has
grown,
the heads
have formed,
righteousness
shines through,
they're beautiful,
they're glorious,
and they
will live
in the
kingdom
of the
son of
man,
of God,
as true
sons,
as true
children of
the king.
John said
it this
way,
for as
many as
received
Jesus,
to those
who believed
in his
name,
he gave
the right
to become
children of
God.
And so
this parable
is a
gracious
warning.
are you
a son
of the
kingdom?
Or do
you default
to the
other
side?
It's
not too
late
to change.
The
disciples,
one time,
they said
this,
they went
to a
town and
they were
not
welcomed,
and they
said,
what should
we do,
Lord?
Should we
call down
fire from
heaven to
destroy
them?
Jesus
rebuked
them.
No.
Why?
Because God
is patient.
The day
of the
Lord is
coming,
the harvest,
the end
of the
age is
coming,
but he
does not
want any
to perish.
He is
patient,
wanting all
to come
to repentance.
This is
the window
of opportunity
right here.
Are you
a son
of the
kingdom?
A son
of the
king?
for those
of us
who are
and who
know it,
what does
it do
in your
heart
to think
that everyone
in our
world
who is
not
is headed
for hell?
will you
do about
it?
What will
you do
about your
neighbor
who
doesn't
want anything
to do
with
Jesus?
What will
you do
about your
co-worker
who
hasn't even
been to
church,
doesn't know
anything about
it?
What will
you do
will you
pray for
them?
Will you
tell them
the good
news
of the
kingdom?
Will you
graciously,
lovingly,
like Jesus
did,
warn them?
What do
you desire
more?
Your own
comfort?
To be
appreciated
by them?
To tell
them what
they want
to hear?
Be liked
by them?
Popular?
What's
stronger?
That or
your faith
that this
is the
spiritual
reality in
our world?
Thankfully,
when the
disciples said,
should we
call down
fire,
Jesus said,
no.
God is
patient.
He wants
all to
repent,
to be
saved.
Do you
know why
you're here?
do you
know what
he has
for you
to do?
Let's
pray.
Father in
heaven,
these words
are heavy.
We want
to hear
nice things.
We want
our hearts
to be
brought to
the place
of joy
again and
again,
but again
and again,
you give
us hard
truths.
You speak
hard words.
We receive
them,
Lord.
We feel
that mixture
of sadness
and sorrow
as we think
of people
in our lives
that we love
who don't
know you,
who are not
sons of your
kingdom,
but we also
feel joy.
We feel
thankfulness
for those
of us
who are,
that you
have
graciously
come into
this world
and given
us the
chance,
given us
the opportunity,
given us
the gift
of repentance
and a
relationship
with you.
You are
our king
and we
love you
and we
look forward
to and
long for
the day
when we
will shine
in your
kingdom
forever.
In
Christ's name
we pray.
Amen.