Matthew 13:24-30 The Wheat and the Tares

After many forms of teaching and miracle stories in the first twelve chapters of Matthew, the gospel writer fills this chapter with parables. The first parable is the Sower and the Seed, after which the disciples ask Jesus why he teaches in parables. Jesus speaks, “I do it to show you that people can hear and see something without understanding it” and “it fulfills the prophecy in Isaiah.” Then Jesus explains the parable of the Sower.


The second parable is a literary duplicate of the first. Jesus tells a parable of the wheat and tares. Matthew then tells us another place in the Old Testament (Psalm 78) where the Messiah will speak in parables. Then Jesus explains the meaning of the parable to the disciples.

Why? Why would Matthew want to show us that those who met Jesus face to face, who heard his teachings and saw his miracles, didn’t understand what Jesus was trying to teach them? If people who had direct physical interaction with Jesus didn’t understand, then why do we think we can understand at all? Maybe the point is found in the follow up to each parable. Only Jesus can help us to understand his teachings.

I think this might encourage us to go away with Jesus to a quiet place. To be alone with him. To sit at his feet. To let the Word himself enter our thoughts and imagination. As we read the story in Scripture, to place ourselves within it, then he can teach us what he wants each of us to learn. That doesn’t mean we will come away with the same learning points. He will teach me something applicable to my life today, and he will teach you what you need to hear. This is the mystery and wisdom of the parables, one tree can yield many fruits.

I can give one example of hearing without hearing. For six years, in sermons and in Bible studies, I’ve been sharing my understanding of the kingdom of heaven. To make a long story short: the words ‘kingdom of heaven’ can be replaced with the words, the ‘reign of God.’ The kingdom of heaven is is a current state of being – allowing God to reign in your life today. The KOH in these parables is not teaching about where you and I are going to go when we die. I’ve been teaching these replacement words for six years, and last week, when we were analyzing this parable, the initial focus was ‘how is this like heaven?’

So what is the reign of God in the current day like? The seeds of trust in God are sown by Jesus himself. When they are placed in fertile ground, trust grows well. Yet, life is not all roses. There will be weeds and obstacles that get in the way of growing trust. There will be people and teachings (or fear and distrust) that interfere with the ability for trust to grow. Not to worry. Let it all develop together. Who are we to be able to separate out the good from the bad (people, teachings, feelings) when they all look alike. Leave it up to God to sort things out at the end. Just do your best to continue growing in trust for God, and the kingdom, the reign of God in you, will grow.

And get into the habit of going away with Jesus to be alone. Let him teach you.

Blessings - PWM