In this study of the Parables of Jesus, we are reading many of the stories Jesus used to teach hearers about how to live as His followers. Each day we’ll read parables in their immediate context, focusing on a different category of parables each week. Then we will work through a series of questions to understand the meaning of the text and take to heart the “secrets of the kingdom.”
Editor’s Note: In this Parables study, Jesus Himself is telling us stories—stories He wants us to reflect on and process. Rather than asking our writers to write their own stories about Jesus’ stories, we thought it would serve you and the text better to provide questions to help you dig into the meaning of each day’s parable. If you find a parable or passage particularly confusing, stop and pray. Ask the Lord to reveal Himself to you in His Word, and thank Him that we can know Him without knowing all the answers to our questions.
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Week 1: Parables about God’s Kingdom
Parables are stories with a point. They are designed to make us think about what is being said, why, where, to whom, and in what context. To get to the heart of Jesus’ parables, we need to pull them apart and take a careful look at the details He gives us. One detail that runs through this week’s selection of parables is that Jesus says they all describe the kingdom of God in some way. As you read through these passages, use the following questions to unpack the stories Jesus tells.
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Day 2 Reading: Matthew 13:24-43
Questions:
1. Jesus says the kingdom of God can be compared to the parable of the wheat and the weeds. How so?
2. What is the problem Jesus addresses in the parable of the wheat and the weeds, and what is the outcome of the story?
3. What is the central point of this parable?
4. How did Jesus explain this parable to His disciples? What is your response to Jesus’ explanation?
This is also a great reminder that it’s not our job to worry about evil people in this world because Jesus will take care of them at the harvest. Our job is to grow as wheat in spite of the weeds around us. So good!
after reading this parable i think that we should all learn from it!! it shows a great lesson that can impact loads of peoples lives!! the wheat and weeds make perfect sense as jesus describes it and i hope that we are all the wheats!!
Only those who produce fruit of the spirit will inherit the kingdom of God – go and tell it to the word, the Good News
This parable reminds me of people who ask, ” If God is good, why doesn’t He just erase evil from the world?” and other questions along those lines. To our minds it makes sense that something evil or bad should disappear as soon as possible, but by God’s logic it’s quite different! In the end He’s always thinking of His children and those who are still growing or getting to know Him. In a way, I think the fact that He still allows such things to happen shows just how much grace He’s given to us.
A really great point about the amount of grace God shows us – thanks for sharing!
I’ll come back to this one often I think. There are so many things to ponder and see through this parable. I love all the comments and insight. This parable is full of promise for believers. Promise of trouble here on earth but also promise of abundant every lasting life. Beautiful
I hope this makes as much sense as it does in my head lol , but in reading this I see the weeds not as people, but as trials, persecution and attacks from the enemy that we experience while on this earth (the field). As Christians (the good seed), we will be surrounded by weeds until we enter the barn (Heaven). During the midst of these trials it may seem like we are entangled with the weeds, but if we keep our faith in God, when harvest comes we will be standing tall and beautiful, set apart from the weeds.
Exactly where my mind was going!
I was really struggling with this but you really pitch it in a way that really makes sense to me. Thank you!
Love how you viewed this parable! So insightful and helpful.
This really explained things to me
Spot on! Thank you!
I love that! I never considered the wheat being persecution, trials, evil, etc without being tied directly to a person. Thanks for sharing this!
This has really helped me understand and see this parable from a completely different perspective – thank you!
I feel comfort from this parable knowing that once you are a wheat you can’t become a weed. However I think it can be a hard balance sometimes loving and spending time with the weeds without getting entangled in their sin. I also see the weeds as Satan’s lies he feeds our minds to make us feel abandoned by God. It will be a constant battle to not let the weeds trick us!
Debbie…I am so very sorry to hear this. May God continue to blanket your family with peace and comfort.