This morning I am contemplating the Parable of the weeds, found in Matthew's thirteenth chapter. Here is the parable and Jesus' explanation as well - Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43 NIV:
[24] Jesus told them another parable: “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. [26] When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared.
[27] “The owner's servants came to him and said, 'Sir, didn't you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?'
[28] “ 'An enemy did this,' he replied.
“The servants asked him, 'Do you want us to go and pull them up?'
[29] “ 'No,' he answered, 'because while you are pulling the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them. [30] Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.' ”
[36] "Then he left the crowd and went into the house. His disciples came to him and said, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field.” [37] He answered, “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 people of the kingdom. The weeds are the people of the evil one, [39] and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels. [40] “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 blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. [43] Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Whoever has ears, let them hear."
My first thought on reading this is that this doesn't sound like the rapture at all, in fact it sounds like the opposite for it is the evil ones who get collected first. Second, it seems that the culling of the weeds (evil ones) will actually cause the Kingdom of God to shine, as it will no longer be affected by anything that causes sin. Thirdly, Jesus appears to be talking about the actual end of the age for the workers are angels, and this description by Jesus has no apparent ties to signs and portents (at least not recorded by Matthew).
On a slightly different theme, God's reasons for allowing the weeds to grow is that He doesn't want to uproot the wheat. It appears that He really isn't concerned with "judging" the weeds, because it might affect good wheat growing right next to the weed. That is an interesting twist for those who prophecy judgment over peoples, cities, regions and nations because of their sin. Here God withholds judgment on just such people for the sake of His people (good wheat) living and growing in the midst of the weeds.
Finally, Jesus is very clear that there will be a judgment day, and we will be judged. However, as Paul writes in his letter to the Romans 9:22-24 NIV:
[22] "What if God, although choosing to show his wrath and make his power known, bore with great patience the objects of his wrath---prepared for destruction? [23] What if he did this to make the riches of his glory known to the objects of his mercy, whom he prepared in advance for glory--- [24] even us, whom he also called, not only from the Jews but also from the Gentiles?"
I am grateful that God has extended mercy and patience to this world, to all that inhabit it, for in doing so, there has been an opportunity for me to respond to His invitation to relationship.
One last thought, I find it interesting that the weeds (people) in this parable could actually become wheat, through hearing the word of God and responding to the offer of salvation that God extends to them. Paul does refer to the objects of God's mercy as being prepared in advance, and to me that sounds much like Paul's statements in Ephesians 1:4-14 NIV:
[4] "For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love [5] he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will--- [6] to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. [7] In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace [8] that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, [9] he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, [10] to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment---to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ."
[11] "In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, [12] in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. [13] And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, [14] who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession---to the praise of his glory."
Amen!
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