Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43:

“He presented them with another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a person who sowed good seed in his field. ²⁵ But while everyone was sleeping, an enemy came and sowed darnel among the wheat and went away. ²⁶ When the plants sprouted and produced grain, then the darnel also appeared. ²⁷ So the slaves of the landowner came and said to him, ‘Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Then where did the darnel come from?’ ²⁸ He said, ‘An enemy has done this!’ So the slaves replied, ‘Do you want us to go and gather it?’ ²⁹ But he said, ‘No, since in gathering the darnel you may uproot the wheat along with it. ³⁰ Let both grow together until the harvest. At harvest time I will tell the reapers, “First collect the darnel and tie it in bundles to be burned, but then gather the wheat into my barn.”’”

Then he left the crowds and went into the house. And his disciples came to him saying, “Explain to us the parable of the darnel 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 are the people of the kingdom. The poisonous 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 reapers are angels. ⁴⁰ As the poisonous weeds are collected and burned with fire, so it will be at the end of the age. ⁴¹ The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather from his kingdom everything that causes sin as well as all lawbreakers. ⁴² They will throw them into the fiery 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. The one who has ears had better listen!”

Prepare

Quiet yourself and ask God to prepare your heart and guide your imagination.

Picture

Picture yourself listening to Jesus tell the parable. He tells of a man who sows good seed in his field, but his enemy comes and sows darnel (weeds) among the good seed, contaminating the field. This passage is relevant to the people in the crowd. How do they react? What emotions are you feeling, knowing what you do about the importance of keeping your wheat field clear of darnel? What else stands out to you as Jesus speaks?

Pray

Like the disciples who asked Jesus to explain His parable, ask God for the desire to understand His Word. Spend time in prayer, asking God for a kingdom focus on the things to come and to help you prepare for the time when Christ returns and makes all things new.

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Content in this article taken from the NET Abide Bible.

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