Matthew 13:24-30
24 [Jesus] put before [the crowds] another parable: “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to someone who sowed good seed in his field,25 but while everybody was asleep an enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and then went away. 26 So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared as well. 27 And the slaves of the householder came and said to him, ‘Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? Where, then, did these weeds come from?’ 28 He answered, ‘An enemy has done this.’ The slaves said to him, ‘Then do you want us to go and gather them?’ 29 But he replied, ‘No, for in gathering the weeds you would uproot the wheat along with them. 30 Let both of them grow together until the harvest, and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, Collect the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.’ ”
…‘No, for in gathering the weeds you would uproot the wheat along with them. 30 Let both of them grow together until the harvest,…
Didn’t you just hate it when your whole elementary school class got punished because a few of the kids misbehaved? I’m sitting there, minding my own business, doing my worksheet, while three other kids are running around screaming. The teacher walks in and takes recess away from all of us. How is that fair?!!!
In today’s parable, the Master tells the workers not to do anything to destroy the weeds that would also damage the wheat. Pulling up the weeds would make it easier for the wheat to grow up strong and healthy, but some of the wheat would be lost in the process.
So, here’s the thing. Weeds are sneaky. Sometimes they pretend to be one of the plants – often quite convincingly. Sometimes they sneak their own roots around the roots of the plants so that when one is pulled up the other comes with it. Sometimes they hide under the shadow of the plants where they can’t be seen until it’s too late.
Sin, death and the devil are sneaky weeds. They come in while we’re sleeping or distracted or just not paying attention. Then they quickly get themselves so intricately entangled in our hearts and in our communities that there’s no way to see where the weed stops and the wheat begins.
Only God can disentangle the weeds from the wheat and God is going to do that in God’s perfect time. Our job is to live and love and trust in God’s love made known to us in Christ Jesus.
Prayer: God, Our Perfect Gardener: Thank you for caring so deeply for each little sprout of faith. Guide me in your ways so that the weeds will have no power over me. AMEN