Words from the Rock
The kingdom of heaven is like what happened when a farmer scattered good seed in a field. But while everyone was sleeping, an enemy came and scattered weed seeds in the field and then left.
When the plants came up and began to ripen, the farmer’s servants could see the weeds. The servants came and asked, “Sir, didn’t you scatter good seed in your field? Where did these weeds come from?”
“An enemy did this,” he replied.
Matthew 13:24–28 CEV
Jesus is using another agricultural metaphor—more seeds and planting and weeds. But this story takes a different twist. This time the seeds represent the lives of believers—believers who were carefully planted by Jesus in a field ready for cultivation. The field represents the world we live in—a world where anything can happen, a place where good and evil cohabitate and sometimes collide. The weeds represent those who try to destroy the faith of believers. And Jesus states clearly that the weeds are not planted by him; they are planted by the enemy.
Jesus understands the frustrations of trying to be a strong Christian while evil influences push in from all sides—kind of like those obnoxious weeds crowding in. He knows what we’re up against. Whether it’s sleazy things we see or hear or the way someone mistreats us, Jesus realizes that it’s not easy being a Christian and that it can be a challenge to consistently make good choices. Although we have control over our own actions, we can’t control what others do. We can’t prevent weeds (evil) from cropping up next door.
Fortunately, Jesus has a strategy for dealing with the weeds all around us, and he has a plan to rescue us. Mostly we just need to sink our roots into him and trust his timing.
My Prayer
Dear God,
I see that, like weeds, evil is alive and well on planet earth. Help me to root myself deeply into you so you can protect me.
Amen.
Final Word
The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man. 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, and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels.
Matthew 13:37–39 NIV
Stone for the Journey
I trust that God will deal with the evil in this world.