Matthew - Week 40

Thorny Problems 

READ 

Matthew 13:22 

22 “The seed that fell among the thorns represents those who hear God’s word, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life and the lure of wealth, so no fruit is produced.” 

Jesus continued to explain the parable of the sower that He had told. Some hear God’s word but the message gets crowded out by worries and love of wealth. As a result no fruit is produced. Notice the desire Jesus had was to see fruit produced in the lives of His hearers. Emotional expressions at the time of hearing are not as significant as to whether fruit is produced in their lives.  

REFLECT 

Are the differences Jesus gave about hearing and producing fruit becoming more clear in your mind? 

RESPOND 

Talk with a friend about the concern over worries and the lure of wealth. Read Romans 8:37-39 about nothing being able to separate us from God’s love. Also read 1 Timothy 6:5-7 about what is truly great wealth. 

The Good Soil 

READ 

Matthew 13:23 

23 “The seed that fell on good soil represents those who truly hear and understand God’s word and produce a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted!” 

Notice concerning those who produce much fruit in their lives. It is the people who not only hear but also understand God’s word. Those today far removed from the culture of Jesus’ time may need the Bible explained to them so they have an understanding of what is being said. The Bible has symbols and figures of speech, but they are to be understood as meant at the time of writing. This may need explanation. 

REFLECT 

Do you find yourself growing in your appreciation of God’s Word as you more clearly understand it? Do you have an older one in the faith who can help you with this? 

RESPOND 

Consider the importance of understanding what is written in the Word of God. When God sent Philip to help the Ethiopian eunuch, notice in Acts 8:30 the question Philip asked him. See also Nehemiah 8:8 that provides the basis for explaining what the Scriptures mean. Do you need someone to help you understand the Scriptures? You can help others who know less than you, and others who know more about the Scriptures than you can help you.  

Weeds Among the Wheat 

READ 

Matthew 13:24-26 

24 Here is another story Jesus told: “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a farmer who planted good seed in his field. 25 But that night as the workers slept, his enemy came and planted weeds among the wheat, then slipped away. 26 When the crop began to grow and produce grain, the weeds also grew.” 

The story Jesus told is about “The Kingdom of Heaven.” This parable has to do with what the kingdom is like while the king is absent. The “good seed” was sown but then weeds also grew. What should be done now? 

REFLECT 

Have you seen some spiritual work begin that later was infiltrated with unbelievers who acted like believers? How did you tell them apart, or could you? 

RESPOND 

In Matthew 13, Jesus will interpret this parable. Up to this point, however, what do you and a friend think He may be alluding to? Perhaps what you are thinking is what the disciples were thinking.  

A Deeper Lesson 

READ 

Matthew 13:27-28 

27 “The farmer’s workers went to him and said, ‘Sir, the field where you planted that good seed is full of weeds! Where did they come from?’ 28 ‘An enemy has done this!’ the farmer exclaimed. ‘Should we pull out the weeds?’ they asked.” 

The reaction of the farmer’s workers was that the weeds should be pulled out. At least they asked permission before trying this. Remember, as a parable, this story is using something the disciples knew about to teach a deeper lesson. They knew what it was like to plant something and have weeds come up, but what did Jesus mean by this story? 

REFLECT 

It must be remembered that Jesus is not talking about a local church but what will go on in the world in the kingdom while the king is absent. 

RESPOND 

Talk with someone about what you would think if you had sown a field of grain and an enemy had sown weed seed that grew with your crop. Would you have been like the disciples and ask, “Should we pull out the weeds?” 

Bundle and Burn 

READ 

Matthew 13:29-30 

29 “‘No,’ he replied, ‘you’ll uproot the wheat if you do. 30 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.’” 

When the farmer was asked by the workers if they should pull out the weeds, the farmer gave them his answer. To do so would uproot the wheat. He told them to let them grow together until the harvest. At that time the weeds would be bundled and burned, but the wheat would be put into the barn.  

REFLECT 

Surely now you wonder to what Jesus was referring. He will tell you later in this chapter of Matthew. 

RESPOND 

With the reference to bundling and burning, it is apparent that judgment is a message that is coming from this parable. Putting the wheat in the barn is an apparent reference to blessing. Jesus’ explanation of this parable will be a warning for all to choose one’s destiny.