Contents
Introduction
The Gospel according to Matthew chapter thirteen (13), contains series of parables generally grouped as “kingdom parables” because of the way they are introduced: “the kingdom of heaven is like….”
The parable of the Sower was read last Sunday. The parables of the tares (also called the Parable of the Weeds, Parable of the Wheat and Tares, Parable of the Wheat and Weeds, or the Parable of the Weeds in the Grain), the mustard seed and the yeast belong to this Sunday. The rest of the parables will be read next Sunday. Because this Sunday Gospel is long, the shorter version might be read in some Churches. But I advise you read the longer version (vv.24–43) or even read the whole of Matthew chapter thirteen. These parables are the very heart of the teachings of Jesus.
Let them grow together
“So the servants asked their master, do you want us to go and gather the weed? But he replied, no; for in gathering the weeds you would uproot the wheat along with them. Let both grow together until the harvest. At harvest time I will tell the reapers, first collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned, but then gather the wheat into my barn” (Matt 13:28–30). When the servants noticed weeds in their master’s farm, they went to him and asked him “Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? Where, then, did the weeds come from? The master told them that the enemy was responsible for the weeds. They would have gone to remove those weeds, but the master stopped them, for fear they might as well remove the good seeds. Both the good seeds and the weeds should remain and grow together till the day of harvest, when they will be separated. The Greek term for weed zizanion is a weed resembling wheat but produces poisonous seed, hence, zizanum, darnel, tare. It is a weedy rye (Secale cereale) grass with poisonous black seeds which resembles wheat in its early stage but is easily distinguished from it at maturity. It is a member of the wheat class (Triticeae) and is closely related to barley (genus Hordeum) and wheat (Triticum). This is the reason the master did not allow the servants to uproot them, since their roots are intertwined with that of wheat.
Conclusion
God sowed only good seeds in the world, in your life, in your family, in the churches, in every organization and among friends. How is it that the same men and women whom God created in his own image and likeness have decided to destroy God’s handiwork by planting weeds? How many weeds have you planted in another person’s life? How many people have encouraged directly and indirectly to plant weed in the life of others? How many weeds have you seen in the life others without informing them just as the servants informed their master (Matt 13:27)? Every Christian must ask God to grant him or her the gift and spirit of discernment to be able to know all the ponēros people (evil doers) surrounding him/her. You have them everywhere: in your family, in your domicile, in your town, in your place of work, in the market, among your friends, in various gatherings, and especially in your Church and in your various groups in the Churches, where you find many of them disguised as “brothers” and “sisters.” For Jesus, Peter would have been an obstacle to doing God’s will. What about you, who or what is your own obstacle? Who is the Devil of your life? Can you identify him, her or it? Remember, one can also be the Devil (enemy) of his/her own life and progress. Others must not always be responsible for your failures, setbacks, misfortunes and stagnancy.
FOR DETAILS, GET YOUR OWN COPIES OF THE BOOK “THE WORD OF LIFE:
SUNDAY REFLECTIONS” (vols. I‑II-III)!! The reflection for the 16th Sunday of the year (A) is found in The Word of Life, vol. I, pages 378–385. Happy reading!
For details on how to get it, contact the author on this link: https://m.me/uchennabiblia?fbclid=IwAR2yeg4a6sDGBp9QGkIvKj6FSADumMokN6lshdE0zuo-JHs6qOmlhA7jyHo
or email me at: postmaster@uchennabiblia.com
or simply send an SMS on 08116100926, and I will get back to you.
