Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43 (NRSV)
Read Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43 on biblegateway.com
Verse 24He put before them another parable: "The kingdom of heaven may be compared to someone who sowed good seed in his field; Verse 25but while everybody was asleep, an enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and then went away. Verse 26So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared as well. Verse 27And the slaves of the householder came and said to him, 'Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? Where, then, did these weeds come from?' Verse 28He answered, 'An enemy has done this.' The slaves said to him, 'Then do you want us to go and gather them?' Verse 29But he replied, 'No; for in gathering the weeds you would uproot the wheat along with them. Verse 30Let both of them grow together until the harvest; and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, Collect the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.'" Verse 36Then he left the crowds and went into the house. And his disciples approached him, saying, "Explain to us the parable of the weeds of the field." Verse 37He answered, "The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man; Verse 38the field is the world, and the good seed are the children of the kingdom; the weeds are the children of the evil one, Verse 39and the enemy who sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels. Verse 40Just as the weeds are collected and burned up with fire, so will it be at the end of the age. Verse 41The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will collect out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all evildoers, Verse 42and they will throw them into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Verse 43Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Let anyone with ears listen!
Devotion
How could an omni-benevolent and omnipotent God have permitted such evil and human suffering to be part of His creation? This question places our feet on the well-worn path of theodicy – explaining the existence of suffering and evil in the creation of a benevolent God – and what we can do about them.
Speaking of an enemy who sows weeds among the grain, Jesus seems to touch upon in this question in the parable. But the parable does not answer how or why this was allowed and gives no measures to kill the weeds.
"Wait," Jesus says, "until the harvest. Then I will cause them to be separated."
There are no satisfying answers to "why." There is nothing to do now to fix the situation. There is only a promise that the end of this situation will come. Jesus gives us no theodicy, only a promise that appeals to neither head nor heart but only to faith.
Prayer
Gracious Lord, you show your greatest power in the midst of sin, death and despair. Open our eyes so that we may see you at work and make us the instruments of your holy will, in Jesus’ name. Amen.