Please turn with me to Matthew 13 - starting at verse 24.  Last Sunday we began exploring a series of parables that Jesus shared as He was teaching about the Kingdom of God.  Last Sunday, we saw that the Kingdom of God is the reign of God in today’s world.  The Kingdom is the ultimate reality and sovereign movement of God in the universe. (1)

Put differently, the crowds that were following Jesus were trying to make the to make the Kingdom of God into a circus - with Jesus the star act - performing miracles - conforming to their wishes and desires.  Jesus is teaching about the Kingdom and they’re all hanging around for the next miracle.

There are times when we try to make the Kingdom of God to be something less than it is.  We get this idea make the Kingdom to be anything we want it to be.  God in His sovereignty needs to conform to our experiences - our needs - our desires - our understanding - our will.

But the Gospel - the good news of the Kingdom - the reign and movement of the sovereign God in the universe is more than a circus act.  Church - life in the Body of Christ - life with God - is not for our entertainment purposes.  We’re part of God’s Kingdom.  Jesus’ teaching is about what the sovereign God desires to do in us and through us.

Jesus taught this crowd in parables - using illustrations - stories that paralleled what He’d been teaching them about the Kingdom of God.  Parables where the meaning was hidden - hard to understand - in order to get their attention - to jog them out of their circus focused mentality.  So they’d ask, “What did He mean by that?”  So Jesus would have the opportunity to explain what it means to live within the Kingdom of God.

That’s what we are exploring together - looking at these parables - what it means to live subject to the reign and the movement of the sovereign God within His universe.

Coming to Matthew 13 - starting at verse 24 - we’ve come to the second of these parables - what is often called the Parable of The Wheat and The Tares.

Verse 24:  Jesus presented another parable to them - “them” meaning this large crowd - saying, The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field.

Something like this was probably going on nearby.  It goes on around here all the time.  Jesus could have pointed down the curve of the shore of the Sea of Galilee to where the crowds could see a person sowing seeds.   

Verse 25:  But while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed tares - weeds - among the wheat, and went away.

This is a premeditated process leading up to sabotage.  An enemy harvesting and storing weed seeds - his granary filling over a period of time with the seeds - for just the right moment - to be sown in the field while his competition’s men are sleeping.

Verse 26:  But when the wheat sprouted and bore grain, then the tares became evident also.

Until the wheat actually produces grain the weeds are growing up together with the wheat and not even the experts can tell the difference.  I don’t pretend to know a whole lot about wheat farming.  What I’ve read is that there’s a plant that today is called a “darnel” - that’s a poisonous weed that grows like wheat - looks like wheat.  But, when it comes time to harvest even a 2 year old could see that its not wheat.

How evil is this?  The enemy is devious - sinister - choosing just the right seed that mimics the wheat.  Dangerous and hard to deal with.

Verse 27:  The slaves of the landowner came and said to him, “Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field?  How then does it have tares?”  And he said to them, “An enemy has done this!”  The slaves said to him, “Do you want us, then, to go and gather them up?”  But he said, “No; for while you are gathering up the tares, you may uproot the wheat with them.  Allow both to grow together until the harvest; and in the time of the harvest I will say to the reapers, ‘First gather up the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them up; but gather the wheat into my barn.”’

In verse 31, Jesus goes on to another parable - which we’re going to look at next Sunday.  Skip down to verse 36 - which is where Jesus gives the explanation for His wheat and tares parable.

Verse 36:  Then He - Jesus - left the crowds and went into the house - the house being Jesus’ headquarters in Capernaum - up on the north shore of the Sea of Galilee.  Jesus left the crowds and went into the house and His disciples came to Him and said, “Explain to us the parable of the tares and the field.”

There are no stupid - what?  Questions.  Last Sunday we saw - after Jesus shared with the crowd The Parable of the Soils (Matthew 13:1-23) - we saw the disciples come to Jesus - trying to act like they understood Jesus’ point.  Afraid to show their ignorance.  We saw Jesus lovingly and patiently explain the parable to them.

Here the disciples are learning.  Its okay to ask questions.  God really does want His disciples to understand what all this means.  

There was a couple that owned a poodle.  They loved this dog.  It was the object of their affection.  On one occasion the wife had to take a trip.  On the first day of this trip she made it to New York.  She called home and asked her husband, “How are things?”  And the husband - who never was one for tact - said, “The dog is dead.”  The wife - of course - was devastated.

After collecting her thoughts, she asked, “Why do you do that?  Why can’t you be more tactful?”

He said, “Well, what do you want me to say?  The dog died.”

She said, “Well, you can give it to me in stages.  For example, you could say when I call you from New York, ‘The dog is on the roof.’  And then when I travel to London the next day and call, you could tell me, ‘Honey, the dog fell off the roof.’  And when I call you from Paris, you could add, ‘Honey the dog had to be taken to the vet.  In fact, he’s in the hospital, not doing well.’  And finally, when I call from Rome, “Honey, brace yourself.  Our dog died.’  I could handle that.”

The husband paused and said, “Oh, I see.”  Then she asked, “By the way, how’s mother?”  And he said, “She’s on the roof.” (2)

God has gone to such great lengths to communicate to us - in creation - the inspiration and preservation of the Bible.  Jesus, Who is God’s Word in the flesh - wrapped up in the easier to understand packaging of where we live our lives - speaking directly to us - about God’s Kingdom.

While the crowd is focused on everything else - closed their hearts to His words - Jesus comes to His disciples - invites their questions - desires to explain what it means to live within His Kingdom - within God’s sovereignty - to be spiritually alive as a child of God.  That’s exciting.  God wants us to get this.

Verse 37:  And He said to them, “The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man, and the field is the world; and as for the good seed, these are the sons of the kingdom; and the tares - the weeds - are the sons of the evil one; and the enemy who sowed them is the devil, and the harvest is the end of the age; and the reapers are angels.”

There it is - boom - boom - boom - all the symbolism explained. 

Who’s the One who’s sowing good seed?  Jesus.  What’s the field?  The world.  Who’s the good seed?  The sons of the Kingdom.  Who are?  Disciples - believers - sons of God - Christians - those who have come into the Kingdom by faith in Jesus Christ.  Who are the tares?  The sons of the evil one.  Who’s the enemy?  Satan.  The harvest comes?  At the end of the age.  Which we’re going to come to in verse 40.  Finally the reapers are?  Angels.

Think with me about this phrase, “the sons of the evil one.”  Is it like there are the sons of the Kingdom and then there’s everyone else - the world - the men, women, and children are all Sons of Satan?  Those who are in and those who are out?

So we don’t make mistakes with this - its important to remember that the only people Jesus ever called a son of the devil were the Pharisees.  Those who taught evil in the name of righteousness.

Last Friday, NBC premiered its new series, “Book of Daniel.”  Have you heard of this?  The star of the show, Aidan Quinn described the program as “a pretty down-the-middle, wholesome show.”  Family viewing at its best.

Quinn plays the title role of Daniel - who’s an Episcopal priest who’s hooked on Vicodin.  He has a 23 year old son who’s gay and struggling with the loss of his twin brother - a 16 year old daughter who’s dealing pot - another son who, in Quinn’s words, is “jumping on every high school girl he sees” - a wife who’s an alcoholic - and for comic relief Daniel was frequent chats with Jesus who’s portrayed as kind of either a psychosis or an imagined therapist.

Quinn was asked, “Does this demean a man of God?”  Predictable answer, “Not a bit.”

Jack Kenny - the producer says this, “Daniel faces the same relatable problems that every father has to deal with.  And if the problems seem heightened because of what he does for a living, then that just raises the stakes.  And that makes better drama.” (3)

Church - this isn’t about better drama.  Its about an agenda that’s aimed directly at shredding Christians and blaspheming God.

Who Jesus is talking about are those who give the pretense of righteousness - wholeness - innocence - even godliness - and yet are working against God and His Kingdom.  Deceiving others - defaming God - distorting God’s truth.  Those who are taking their orders from Satan - being used by Him against God and God’s people.

Who’s wheat?  Who’s a weed?  It becomes evident when we look at the fruit.  But, let’s be honest - sometimes were not sure - even in the church.  What we need to know is that both are sown into the world.  They grow up together side-by-side.  But, each has a different source and reason for being here.

Verse 40:  So just as the tares are gathered up and burned with fire, so shall it be at the end of the age.  We’re back to the harvest Jesus was talking about.

Verse 41:  The Son of Man - Jesus - will send forth His angels - the reapers - and they will gather out of His Kingdom all the stumbling blocks, and those who commit lawlessness, and will throw them into the furnace of fire; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father.

Ever see those huge piles of wood and debris burning out in the fields?  These people had.  They knew exactly what Jesus was talking about.  Crops grow for a season - then its time to harvest.  When the harvest comes - the weeds are gathered out of the wheat - bundled up - and burned.  

The harvest Jesus is talking about comes when?  At the end of the age.  When is that?  When Jesus returns.

Flip forward with me to Revelation 20 - starting at verse 10.  Look with me at what’s coming - at the end.  Verse 10:  And the devil - our enemy - who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire - a lake not made of water - but fire - eternal fire - and brimstone - sulfuric gas - acrid steam - foul odor - a place of eternal burning a choking - where the beast and the false prophet are also; and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.  Torment without relief.  That’s where Satan ends up.

Verse 11:  Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat upon it, from whose presence earth and heaven fled away, and no place was found for them.  When the harvest comes there isn’t going to be any place to hide from judgment.

Verse 12:  And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds,.  And the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead which were in them; and they were judged, every one of them according to their deeds - no one escapes this.

Verse 14:  Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire - same place where Satan ends up.  And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.  The weeds get bundled and burned - forever.  Unending weeping - sorrow - gnashing of teeth.

What’s that song? “They don’t serve breakfast - where?  in Hell.”  Nasty place.  Very real.

In contrast, The grain is gathered into barns - cared for - stored - kept safe.  Revelation 21 - start in verse 3:  I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people and God Himself will be among them, and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will not longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.”  

The righteous will shine - glowing in the presence of God.  Whatever Hell is - Heaven is the opposite.  Given a choice.  Take the barn.

Going back to Matthew - in verse 43 Jesus finishes His explanation with these words:  He who has ears, let him hear.

Disciple - is your heart open?  Are you open to what God wants to do in you and through you?  Pay attention.  And so live.

Three thoughts of application.  First:  There will always be weeds.  Try that with me, “There will always be weeds.”

Jesus is not being a spiritual bigot - spiritually profiling the Pharisees - dividing humanity into two groups of people.  He’s being honest.  We need honesty - truth.

We’re all members of a fallen race.  In this world there will always be those who are under Satan’s control and those who are living in surrender to God.  Until Jesus returns - until the harvest - we won’t really know who’s who. 

Our role is not to hunt for heretics.  To weed out the undesirables  To create pure and holy monastic communities of pious Godly people - like us!  Churches filled with our kind of people.  Little Christian cliques.  Our own version of the Kingdom. 

Our role is not to dominate society.  We can’t legislate Godliness.  To make sin illegal.  To make society safe for our kind of people.  To force the weeds to become wheat.  Burn the heretics!  Convert the pagans with the sword.  Every time the church tries that we get into trouble. 

The Jews wanted Jesus to do that.  The Messiah was suppose to kick the Romans out of Palestine clear back to Rome.  Judea for the Jews!  Instead Jesus starts talking about wheat and weeds. 

Jesus does what to the wheat seeds?  He sows them.  Purposefully.  Right there in the field.

One of the great joys and struggles of the Church - of living in the Kingdom of God - is that it exists in the world.  The same sins that we struggle with make it imperative that we exist - seeds - serving - sharing - building - witnessing.  That there are people here - even this morning - who do not know Jesus as their Savior - is awesome.  Not because you don’t know Him.  But because your being here gives us the opportunity to tell you about Him - His great love for you - what it means to live with Him.  And that you can come to know Him.

The whole point of there always being weeds is for us to see the value in being wheat.  Right where God has sown us.  To see the potential for fruit.  What He can do in our lives.  To be a seed for Jesus.

Turn to the person next to you and remind them of that, “You’re a seed.  Be seedy.”

Second thought of application:  God knows about the weeds.  Try that together, “God knows about the weeds.” 

Sometimes we doubt that truth.  “Maybe God isn’t aware of what we’re going through down here.  Why doesn’t God do something about this?  Why doesn’t God take care of so-and-so?”

When the slaves come to the master with the news about the weeds he gives them the answer.  Which was what?  “An enemy has done this.”  He knows what’s going on.  Been watching it for some time.  When they ask their master what they should do - even coming up with their own plan of action - the master already has a plan in place.

The sovereign God isn’t surprised by the weeds.  He’s not panicked by them.  He’s patiently waiting.  Biding His time.  The harvest will come when its time for the harvest.

Remember these words from 2 Peter:  By God’s command the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.  But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is a like a thousand years, and a thousand years like - what?  one day.  The Lord is not slow about His promises, as some count slowness, but is patient towards you, not wishing for any to - what? perish but for all to come to - what?  repentance.”  To salvation.  (2 Peter 3:7-9)

The point is that God has all this under control - and He will not allow one grain of wheat - destined for His barns - to be lost along the way.  The harvest is not threatened by the weeds.  There is great confidence and reassurance for us in that truth.  Amen?

Third thought:  We have choices to make.  Say that with me, “We have choices to make.”

One choice is to see the field as God sees it - under His control - growing - readying for harvest.  To see our lives as having purpose - meaning - destined for heaven - not hell.  To get on God’s program and work in the field.  People need Jesus.

There’s also the choice of our destination.  When the harvest comes - will you burn forever or be gathered into God’s barn?  God is offering you a that choice - giving you the freedom to make that choice.

Remember that those Jesus calls weeds are those who under the control of Satan - who are working against God and His Kingdom.  There’s a difference between being a son of the Devil - and someone that God is speaking to - calling into a relationship with Him through Jesus Christ.  All this isn’t about some fatalistic path for your life that you’re hopelessly lost - never ever going to be good enough for God - destined to burn in Hell.

God wants you in His Kingdom.  Jesus has come - spoken about what it means to be in the Kingdom.  God has dealt with the issue of sin - what separates us from Him - dealt with it on the cross through the death of Jesus.  But you need to trust Him.  Accept that He’s done that for you - and give your life to Him.