Proper 11A Sermon: Growing Among the Weeds

Preached on Matthew 13:24–30, 36–43
The Seventh Sunday after Pentecost
19 July AD 2020

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Summary: As God seeds believers in the soil of this world, so Satan plants a crop of wickedness in the hearts of evildoers. The Church’s task is not to remove sinners from this earth. Even the angels are forbidden to do so until the Last Day. Until then, we live and grow side by side with the unbelievers.

It is enough for us to know that Jesus continues to tend to His field, feeding and watering us through Word and Sacrament that we may bear good fruit. And while we still grow among the weeds, there is opportunity for us to speak and live the Gospel to and for them that they, too, might become new plantings and join us in the harvest unto life everlasting.

Text: [Jesus] put another parable before them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field, but while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and went away. So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared also.

“And the servants of the master of the house came and said to him, ‘Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have weeds?’

“He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’

“So the servants said to him, ‘Then do you want us to go and gather them?’

“But he said, ‘No, lest in gathering the weeds you root up the wheat along with them. Let both grow together until the harvest, and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, “Gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but 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 weeds of the field.”

He answered, “The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world, and the good seed is the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one, and the enemy who sowed them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels.

“Just as the weeds are gathered and burned with fire, so will it be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all law-breakers, and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 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

Scripture quoted from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®, © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Video: Click to view the YouTube video of Growing Among the Weeds.

Audio: Click Growing Among the Weeds to listen to the MP3.

Other Readings: Psalm 119:57–64; Isaiah 44:6–8; Romans 8:18–27