PARABLE

PARABLE.

Got stranded by a breakdown yesterday, arriving home after 11pm! 

Left TT until today. So it is WT!

Sorry

David

In the midst of an uncertain world, Jesus is our rock.

May we remember Him this Christmas time as Saviour and Lord of our lives.

David

The Parable of the Weeds

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 root up 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.’”

The Parable of the Weeds Explained

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 sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons 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 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. He who has ears, let him hear. Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43)

This parable is viewed on two levels.

Firstly, as a picture of the church and the world. In the world we have both believers and non-believers, which can be viewed as wheat and tares. The problem with this interpretation however, is that many in the world have no pretence of godliness, in fact, they are obvious weeds!

The more relevant interpretation though, relates to the church itself, described here as the kingdom of heaven, in which are found both wheat and tares.

Tares are not like the normal weeds which we pull out of the garden with great frustration, for they always seem to grow faster than the plants we have planted!

In Wikipedia we have a botanical explanation of tares. The words translated "weeds" ("tares" in the King James Version) is ζιζάνια (zizania), plural of ζιζάνιον (zizanion). This word is thought to mean darnel (Lolium temulentum),[2][3] a ryegrass which looks much like wheat in its early stages of growth.[4] Roman law prohibited sowing darnel among the wheat of an enemy,[4][5] suggesting that the scenario presented here is realistic.[6]

What interests me is that the Romans forbade the planting of darnel amongst wheat, which both Jesus and his audience would have known and understood the reason why, thus giving a real and relevant understanding to what Jesus was saying.

(Illustration of Darnel)

This parable, this teaching of Jesus, is particularly relevant to the church today where we promote 'Father Christmas Christianity' - a bag of blessings without any mention of sacrifice. I am so sad to have to say it, but our churches are filled with tares who have come to church, not because they are repentant sinners who have understood the need for and requested God's forgiveness, but through being promised a 'better life'. That is, one of more money and less problems. This is not what the Bible teaches. Look at the 'trouble - free life' Paul had!

How many preach this sort of Christian lifestyle?

God is, of course, here to comfort us in our troubles, but not to remove them from us.

Are we prepared to make the 'wheat sacrifice' of being 'overcomers' or are we simply satisfied to be 'tare' 'pew warmers' on a Sunday?

Remember, as the parable says, and confirmed in Corinthians, we will all be called to judgment on the final day.

The Parable of the Ten Minas

11 While they were listening to this, he went on to tell them a parable, because he was near Jerusalem and the people thought that the kingdom of God was going to appear at once. 12 He said: “A man of noble birth went to a distant country to have himself appointed king and then to return. 13 So he called ten of his servants and gave them ten minas. ‘Put this money to work,’ he said, ‘until I come back.’ 14 “But his subjects hated him and sent a delegation after him to say, ‘We don’t want this man to be our king.’ 15 “He was made king, however, and returned home. Then he sent for the servants to whom he had given the money, in order to find out what they had gained with it. 16 “The first one came and said, ‘Sir, your mina has earned ten more.’ 17 ”‘Well done, my good servant!’ his master replied. ‘Because you have been trustworthy in a very small matter, take charge of ten cities.’ 18 “The second came and said, ‘Sir, your mina has earned five more.’ 19 “His master answered, ‘You take charge of five cities.’ 20 “Then another servant came and said, ‘Sir, here is your mina; I have kept it laid away in a piece of cloth. 21 I was afraid of you, because you are a hard man. You take out what you did not put in and reap what you did not sow.’ 22 “His master replied, ‘I will judge you by your own words, you wicked servant! You knew, did you, that I am a hard man, taking out what I did not put in, and reaping what I did not sow? 23 Why then didn’t you put my money on deposit, so that when I came back, I could have collected it with interest?’ 24 “Then he said to those standing by, ‘Take his mina away from him and give it to the one who has ten minas.’ 25 ”‘Sir,’ they said, ‘he already has ten!’ 26 “He replied, ‘I tell you that to everyone who has, more will be given, but as for the one who has nothing, even what he has will be taken away. 27 But those enemies of mine who did not want me to be king over them—bring them here and kill them in front of me.’” (Luke 19:11-27)

This is a most interesting parable form several perspectives.

Firstly, Jesus indicated that His kingdom was not coming straight away. We have now waited 2000 odd years and are only starting to realise that the kingdom is not just a heavenly one, but is to be established on earth also! How long that will take, we surely don't know!

Secondly, (verses 14-15), not everyone wants the king (Jesus) to be king over them. Not all the world will accept Jesus, in spite of what some are erroneously preaching today. In spite of what people want, Jesus has been appointed king, and He does/will reign and rule over His creation.

Thirdly, there is judgment! In verse 27, the 'king' wants his enemies to be killed in front of him!

Fourthly, and most importantly, for it comprises the bulk of the parable, there are 'degrees' of believers. We all share the same salvation but not the same reward. We do tend to get the two mixed! A great excuse not to live the life!
However the Bible clearly warns us...

This parable of the 10 minas emphasizes this. The greatest rewards will be given to those who are the most diligent for the Lord. As I am wont to say, to disciples rather than believers.

The Parable of the Sower comes to a similar conclusion, that not all Jesus followers are the same. The good seed is lifelong Christians.

..... with the Parable of the Talents and that of the Ten Virgins.

Life tomorrow, despite what many would like to think, is a result of decisions made today.

So it is with eternal life. Our reward is the culmination of decisions made in this life.

Worth pondering what your reward will be?

IMAGES AND ART: Jerusalem

Mount of Olives

Dome of the Ascension

The Church of the Holy Ascension was taken by Saladin in 1187 and converted into a mosque and remains such today. It contains what is traditionally the last footprint of Jesus on earth before he ascended into heaven.

Two other places are claimed to be the location of the ascension. Constantine's mother Helena built a church under the modern Paternoster Church to commemorate this event. A much later tradition connects the Russian Orthodox Church of the Ascension to Christ's return into heaven.

Scripture indicates that the Jesus ascended into heaven in the vicinity of Bethany. This village is down the east slope of the Mt. of Olives about 1.5 miles (2 km). In this case, none of the traditional locations for the ascension are correct.