Scripture:
Matthew 13:24-30 ESV
[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. [26] So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared also. [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. [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.”’”
Observation:
I fell in love with the parable of the seed and the sower a few years ago. I see it as a great example. When you are reading through the Bible, you see the seed and the soil explained just before this one. Jesus is telling HIS disciples about the condition of the soil. Also known as the condition of the heart. I believe this is an important aspect of all this. Good soil produces more fruit. I think it’s also important to pay attention to the seed as well. In the parable just before the one chosen, we see the seed explained as well the seed is the word. Now, when Jesus explains it, HE says the sower sows the word of GOD… but in this parable, HE says an enemy comes and sows weeds among the wheat. I think this is something we need to pay very close attention to. Especially if your desire is for fruit and the condition of your soil is to receive. Now, I have heard this parable preached by pastors, and they use this to say that there are people in the church who do not believe in Jesus. I can see that application as well. It seems to fit. But I want to go a little bit different route this morning. My question is, if the seed is the word of GOD, then what are weeds? The things that the enemy wants us to believe about who we are?? But why would we not want to remove the weeds? Does it make sense to leave them? We’ll If your desire is for fruit, you don’t want to damage the good stuff that has been planted. The weeds will try to steal the nutrients from the wheat, but the wheat that does grow will be strong and healthy because it has to fight to produce the good fruit that it brings.
Application:
Ok, I thought this was something important to bring up. All our lives, people are sowing into us. Good and bad. I remember things that were said to me when I was younger that have affected my life for years. The more, I understood who GOD made me to be led less the negative things that were said in my life affected me. I could tell you specifically things (seeds) that I allowed to take root in my heart that did not need to be there. These seeds (or words) became the driving force behind a lot of bad decisions. As we start to discover who we are in Christ, these things become the catalyst for change. I could give several examples of this out of my life. But one that seems to ring in my ears right now is “You will never amount to anything.” I believed that lie for a long time. But I’m going to tell you this… today, I know it’s a lie, and knowing the lie helps me identify the truth. I am more than a conqueror in Christ Jesus. Without getting into too much detail years ago, someone told me I was replaceable… I believed that lie for a long time… but not anymore. I was uniquely woven together in my mother’s womb for GOD’S purposes. HE has a plan specifically for me, and I can not be replaced. The weeds drive the fruit. But you have to know what fruit looks like and how weeds operate so that it can happen. My suggestion is to dig into GOD’S word and find out who HE says you are. So you can identify the weeds and stop planting weeds in your soil. Start telling yourself who you are in GOD’S eyes. I am a very smart man who the enemy did not want to find out. So he planted a weed that GOD used to drive who I am today. Now that being said… I know none of who I am is about me or anything I have done. It’s all for GOD’S glory. HE made me who I am. I didn’t do that. I dropped out of school, and HE continued to teach me. I gave up HE never did. My point is this sow wheat into yourself and others guard what you say. It determines the course of your life and the lives you are sowing into.
Prayer:
Father, help us to speak life. We do not want to break people or be broken ourselves. Plant your word in our hearts so we know who we are in you. Help us to identify the weeds that have been sown so that we can find the truth in your word that contradicts those lies the enemy has planted. So that we can live in the victory you have given us. It’s in the mighty name of Jesus I pray amen