Parable of the Weeds (Matt 13:24-30, NIV)

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 uproot 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.'"

Explanation of the Parable of the Weeds (Matt 13:36-43, NIV)

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 people of the kingdom. The 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 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 blazing 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. Whoever has ears, let them hear.

1. In telling the Parable of the Weeds (Matt 13:24-30), Jesus is making a comparison to the kingdom of heaven to a man sowing seed on his land. Who does Jesus tell the parable to and what does He emphasize? Who does Jesus explain the parable to and what does He emphasize?

2. As Jesus explains the parable (Matt 13:37-39), what does the imagery represent?

3. What happens at the end of the parable (Matt 13:40-43), "at the end of this age?" What is Jesus revealing about the kingdom of God?

4. Sometimes it is worthwhile to evaluate if Jesus is teaching a parable as part of a series of parables on a particular subject. A good example of this is a sequence of parables in Matthew 13 when Jesus teaches about the Kingdom of God with: the Parable of the Sower, Parable of Weeds, Parables of the Mustard Seed and Yeast, Parable of the Hidden Treasure and Costly Pearl, and Parable of the Dragnet. As you study each parable, discover what Jesus is saying and whether there is a significance in the order of His presentation. Fill in the row of the Parable of the Weeds.