Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43

If you've ever been a farmer, or even done any gardening, you know that weeds are a problem. Besides being ugly plants, weeds can completely take over a healthy garden, field, or lawn and before it's too late, you have patch of weeds instead of a healthy bed of flowers or a nice green lawn. In the portion of God's Word we examine today, Jesus tells a parable about a wheat field. Everything looks like it is growing well; that is... until the weeds show up. And it's too late to pull them up, because the roots are already intertwined with the crop. So the natural question the servants in the parable ask, and also the question we ask this morning is "WHAT DO WE DO WITH THE WEEDS?" And the first point to consider is that We can't always tell the difference. And the second point is that the Sower (the one who plants the seed) makes all the difference.

Jesus said, "The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. ^25 But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away." A short while later, he explained this to his disciples by telling them, "The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man. ^38 The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one, ^39 and the enemy who sows them is the devil.^" The word that Matthew records for us refers to a weed that closely resembles wheat, especially in the early stages of its growth. When Jesus tells us that he isn't talking about weeds, but people, we can begin to understand what he is getting at. We live in a world where unbelievers and believers live together. We drive the same cars, live in the same kinds of houses, eat the same foods, have the same kinds of jobs. In other words, if we just look on the outside, we can't always tell the difference between the weeds and the wheat.

What does this have to do with your life? Think of how many people you see every day. At first glance, you have no clue whether these people are sons of the kingdom or sons of the evil one. Because for the most part, they look the same. But then you see a coworker who is lazy on the job, or you hear a neighbor using foul language, or you hear through the grapevine that an acquaintance is cheating on her husband, and you have a pretty good idea, right? This person can't be a Christian! No true believer would do something like that!

Or maybe the other way around. You have a coworker who goes out of his way to be helpful, honest, and efficient. Your neighbor might take pride in the fact that she never lets a dirty word come out of her mouth. You see a man who is a caring, loving husband and father and think, "this person sure looks like a Christian. He/she is living an ideal life. All the while we really have no idea if this is a Christian or not. The weeds blend in with the wheat pretty well, don't they?

Now switch the focus. What if your coworkers could watch you all the time at work? Could they tell you are a Christian? What if your neighbors could hear every word that comes out of your mouth? What would they think? What if your spouse or parents could read every thought that crosses your mind? Would they be convinced that you are a son or daughter of the kingdom? Sometimes the wheat blends in with the weeds, don't we?

You, know, I am ashamed to say that sometimes I am glad that no one is always watching me. I am sure that you feel the same way. But then we remember that God sees it all. The God who gave us the ten commandments is the same one who has seen us break every one in some way or another. The God who demands perfection of us has seen us fall short of his goal every single day of our lives. But the God who uncovers our shameful hypocrisy is also the same one who had to sacrifice his only son in our place. But you know something? He loves us so perfectly that he was happy to do it. Paul tells us in Ephesians 1 that "God chose us in Christ before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will—to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves." God saw all of our sins, and he wiped them out before they ever happened. He made us a wheat field that produces a crop of righteousness for his glory.

But that brings us back to the original question: What do we do with the weeds? What can we do when we can't always tell the difference? Well, when it comes to judging others, don't try to take care of it yourself. The wheat is too valuable to risk it. So don't be too hasty. Let God take care of that. He sees what really matters. God tells us that where we look at the outward appearance, he can look into the heart and will make the right decision. His angels will carry to heaven those who trust in Jesus as their only Savior from sin. What do we do with the weeds? Should we pull them out? Jesus tells us, "No, because while you are pulling the weeds, you may root up the wheat with them. ^30 Let both grow together until the harvest."

God will take care of judging between the weeds and the wheat. Does that mean that we should sit back and do nothing? Absolutely not. Because the harvest is coming. It is certain, and it is final. And the sower makes all the difference. Listen to how Jesus describes the final judgment. "As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. ^41 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. ^42 They will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."

There will be no second chance. That makes it all the more important that we continue to grow in the Word of the one who sows the good seed. We are the good seed he has planted, and he promises, "If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit. Apart from me he can do nothing." Jesus finishes this parable with an important encouragement in a short sentence: 7 words: "He who has ears, let him hear." Is there anyone here this morning who doesn't have ears? Then hear what God has done for us! When we first entered this world, each one of us was just another weed. But God in his grace performed a gardening miracle. With just a little water and his Holy Word, he gave dead weeds new life as his children. He gives us spiritual nourishment by providing his very body and blood to give us new growth. We have opportunities every week to gather as a crop waiting for the harvest, to hear the good news of what is waiting for us in heaven. Jesus tells us today, "Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father." We will no longer live in a world of evil and corruption, of sorrow and heartache, of sickness and death. A few months ago, my wife's uncle Jimmy died. I didn't know him that well, but I do know that he wasn't perfect. But you know what? He is now. He is shining like the sun in the kingdom of the Father. And that is exactly what we look forward to. Our salvation is coming. It is certain, and it is final.

So what do we do with the weeds? Do we sit back and just wait for the trumpets to sound? Absolutely not. We are the good seed, and God in his wisdom gives us an opportunity to share the precious gift he has given us. Spread his word! Share it with those around you: start with your family, your friends, your neighbors, anyone you meet as you have the chance. Now you can say that it is difficult, you can say that you've tried and it seemed like you failed, but one thing you cannot say is that it doesn't make a difference. Because the sower makes all the difference when sinners hear his Word. Again, I remind you of what that Sower has given you, how his Word made all the difference in your life, in your eternity, even. There is no question that God's Word makes a difference whenever it is spoken. Listen to how God promises to bless his Word as it goes out. "As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it." God promises that no matter how hard Satan is working to sow his evil seed, the gospel is powerful enough to overcome. In the struggle between the sowers, the victory has already been won by Jesus' perfect sacrifice.

Until we shine in heaven, we can let our light shine on earth by sharing the gospel with those around us. The fields are ripe for the harvest. What will we do with the weeds? Will we pull them out? No, that is not our job. But we do have ears that have heard the life-giving word. Now for a time, we have the opportunity to share the one who sows the good seed. Friends, Jesus makes all the difference. I want to share with you one more portion of God's Word, from Romans 10. "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."^14 How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? ^15 And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!" Take that good news, and share it with the wheat and the weeds. He who has ears, let him hear. AMEN

And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard and keep your hearts through faith in Christ Jesus. AMEN.