The Parable of the Weeds – Matthew 13:24-30

What would happen if believers were to isolate themselves completely from unbelievers? 

Bible Reading

Matt 13:24-30

24  Another parable He put forth to them, saying: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field;

25  “but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way.

26  “But when the grain had sprouted and produced a crop, then the tares also appeared.

27  “So the servants of the owner came and said to him, ‘Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have tares?’

28  “He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ The servants said to him, ‘Do you want us then to go and gather them up?’

 

29  “But he said, ‘No, lest while you gather up the tares you also uproot the wheat with them.

30  ‘Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, “First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn.”‘”

(NKJ)

                                   

Food for Thought

1.   Can you recall playing a practical joke on someone?  What did you do?

2.   Why do farmers dislike weeds?

 

Bible Study

3.   To what does Jesus compare the kingdom of heaven? (13:24)

4.   What happened while everyone was sleeping? (13:25)

5.   What appeared in the farmer’s field besides the wheat he had planted? (13:26)

6.   How did the owner’s servants react when they found weeds in the field? (13:27)

7.   How did the owner reply to his servants? (13:28)

8.   What did the servants volunteer to do for the owner of the field? (13:28)

9.   On what grounds did the owner turn down his servants’ suggestion? (13:29)

10. What plan of action did the owner choose to follow? (13:30)

 

Kingdom Dynamics

11. What today represents Jesus’ ‘kingdom of heaven?’

12. Is Jesus’ kingdom of heaven actually the kingdom of heaven?  Why, or why not?

13. How should we respond if a group of unbelievers disrupt our bible study?

14. What would you estimate to be the wheat/weeds ratio in the kingdom of heaven?

15. What are some ways believers blend in with unbelievers?

16. What would happen if believers were to isolate themselves completely from unbelievers?

17. What opportunities arise from the wheat and tares living side-by-side?

18. Who is to blame for the presence of the tares?

19. What is the significance of the fact that the enemy left after sowing tares?

20. Is it possible for us to identify the ‘wheat’ from the ‘weeds’?

21. What weeds have you identified among the wheat in the bible?

22. Can the weeds in the bible be deemed to be just as important as the wheat?

23. Whose responsibility is it to deal with the ‘weeds’?

24. How does Jesus’ teaching here compare with that of Paul’s in 1 Corinthians 5?

25. How does Jesus’ teaching compare with Paul’s on unequal yoking? (2 Cor 6:14-18)

26. What does this passage tell us about the prospect of the world getting better?

27. Why did the disciples find it difficult to understand this parable?

 

Practical Christianity

28. In what ways do you need to alter your lifestyle in order to be more like a wheat and less like a weed?

29. For which unbeliever co-workers, neighbours and friends do you need to pray this week?