Matthew 13.30 NLT




”Let both grow together until the harvest. Then I will tell the harvesters to sort out the weeds, tie them into bundles, and burn them, and to put the wheat in the barn.”
In order to understand this parable we need to be clear about the kind of weeds that Jesus was referring to. They were called bearded darnel which, in the early stages of their growth, look exactly like wheat so they have to be left alone. As they grow, they start to look very different but by that time their roots are so entwined with the roots of the wheat that it is impossible to remove them without destroying the crop. As a result, it is necessary to allow the darnel to grow until harvest time and then the separation can take place. The grain of the bearded darnel is slightly poisonous and it can cause dizziness and sickness.
The point of the parable is clear. Jesus was telling his disciples that they were living in a world in which there were good and bad people. But it was even more complicated than that because some people appeared to be good and turned out to be bad, whilst others gave every appearance of being bad but turned out to be good. Jesus was sending his disciples into this confused situation and they needed to trust that God truly was a God of justice and, one day, he would judge the world. It wasn’t their job to be judges. They could leave that to God to do at the right time.


This is an important parable for us. We should always be disappointed, but never surprised, by the evil that exists in the world. We would all choose to live in a world where everyone was good and just, but that is not our world. However, it is not for us to be the judges. What an incredible burden it would be if we had the responsibility to make final judgement on each person and their actions. That is God’s work and because we know that he is loving, merciful and entirely just, we can trust him to do what is best.




QUESTION: How does this parable help you to cope with living in an evil world?
PRAYER: Loving God, give me grace and strength to live for you in this confused and evil world. Amen

Released on 5 Dec 2021