Jesus Explains the Parable of the Wheat and the Weeds

Text: Matthew 13:36-43

Reflection and Question: Jesus’ parable of the wheat and the weeds, or tares, holds one of the central messages from Scripture for my church right now. Both wheat and tares are sown in the field and grow up together. Jesus explains to His disciples that “the harvest is at the close of the age”(verse 39) and angels will separate them so that the tares are thrown into the fiery furnace while the righteous will shine. But, right now, we do not know who is the wheat and who is the weed; we are to do the best we can growing in the field together. Are you able to reserve judgment and allow others to flourish around you?

Prayer: All the world is God’s own field, fruit unto God’s praise to yield;
Wheat and tares together sown unto joy or sorrow grown;
First, the blade and then the ear, then the full corn shall appear;
Lord of harvest, grant that we wholesome grain and pure may be. Amen.

This meditation is based on the Daily Lectionary Year 1 from the Book of Common Worship for the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) (1993).