The Parable of the Weeds.

Steve Gentry

[0:00] this morning. If you have your Bibles, go ahead and open them up to Matthew [0:03] chapter 13. [0:05] We’ll be starting in verse 24 this morning. [0:08] But before we get to that, I do want to just kinda talk about just one thing [0:12] here [0:12] at Village. Our goal and our desire is to create

[0:16] environments where you can grow as a disciple of Christ, where [0:21] we can put you in intentional places that [0:25] that maybe you struggle to find in your own life. One of those is [0:28] Village groups, and so we love that and we always drive you to be a part of that, [0:33] which is really [0:34] the veins and arteries that take the blood of the gospel really into our

[0:38] lives. [0:39] But the second place that we love to drive you that I think is significant is [0:42] to serve [0:43] somewhere here and to commit to that, week in and week out. Because what I’ve [0:49] found [0:49] is that the people that are most excited about what God is

[0:53] doing in His church are the people who are serving [0:57] somewhere in the church. And then also the people here that are the most excited [1:02] about [1:02] what God’s doing in the mission of Jesus in their lives [1:05] outside of the church are people who are committed to learn how to be a [1:10] servant

[1:10] in the church. And Jesus gave us this great [1:14] example of Himself where service is concerned. He [1:18] didn’t simply demand, He didn’t simply make commands for us to serve, [1:23] but instead He Himself, first of all, emptied Himself, the Scriptures [1:27] tell us, of all claim to sovereign rule, the King stepping off of the throne and [1:32] becoming one of us.

[1:34] And then secondly by serving on His hands and feet [1:37] as we see Him do with the disciples in Scripture, the One who spoke creation [1:42] into existence, the One [1:43] who formed man out of the dust of the ground, actually got on His hands and [1:48] knees to wash their feet, [1:49] to serve them and ultimately making the greatest sacrifice of servanthood and

[1:54] that is [1:55] that He died for all of us on the cross. [1:59] And so what we choose to do and what we push you to do, [2:03] if you stay here long enough you’ll get this, is that we want you to serve and [2:08] not just something where it’s like when you have time, not just something where [2:11] it’s just like, well if I show up, I show up.

[2:13] No, we want to teach you how to commit to serving day in and day out in your [2:17] life. So I just want to [2:18] urge you this morning, if you don’t have a place [2:21] where you’ve plugged in here to commit [2:25] to serve, if there isn’t a team leader [2:28] on a serve team here that’s keeping track of you, that

[2:32] knows they can depend on you, that has your name to contact you, [2:37] then I want you today to go onto the next steps table after the service [2:41] or maybe fill out the connection card and put on there, you know, how can I [2:46] get connected or plugged in or however it is that we put it on there. [2:49] And you can turn that in the next steps table to Mr. Clint Miller this morning [2:52] and he will find a place for you to serve. I mean we have an abundant

[2:57] amount of opportunities. We have tons of opportunities on Sunday mornings as you [3:01] see [3:01] people in the parking lot helping you to park, people greeting you, people [3:06] taking your kids back at Village Kids and watching them [3:08] and teaching them the gospel week in and week out, to the ushers [3:12] that maybe showed you your seat this morning, to maybe

[3:15] you want to be part of the clean team during the week or something else that [3:19] we have where you could commit to week in and week out. [3:23] The key is, is I want you to serve, not because [3:26] of any need that I have, but rather because of the need that you have. [3:31] And that is the need to live out discipleship [3:35] in the local church that you’re committed to.

[3:39] For some of you maybe we’re gonna ask you to step out of your comfort zone as [3:42] maybe you’ve got commitment issues, [3:44] but part of your discipleship is going to be getting over that and growing. [3:49] The key is that God has called us to be [3:53] servants. My question is where are you doing that? [3:57] It teaches us in the book of Galatians that we’re to do good under those who are the

[4:01] household of faith first. [4:03] Because I think that’s where God really shapes us to serve those outside of [4:07] the church. So this morning, if you don’t have a place where you’re plugged in here, [4:11] I want you to do that. I want you to find that. I want you to really take that [4:15] responsibility onto yourself, alright? [4:17] In Matthew 13, Jesus continues to give these parables

[4:22] about the Kingdom of God. Last week we [4:26] started this new series about the Kingdom where [4:29] Jesus is being asked, you know, what is the Kingdom like? And he’s gone through [4:34] the nation of Israel and he has taught with great authority. He has [4:38] healed many people. He’s made the blind to see, the deaf to talk, [4:42] the deaf to hear, the lame to walk. Maybe he made the mute to talk. He did that too, huh?

[4:48] The reality is that Jesus came as a conquering [4:51] King to deliver his Kingdom.

[4:55] When he’s asked, tell us about this. [4:59] He responds in a really unique and interesting way. He [5:02] responds with parables. He responds by taking [5:05] really what was everyday things for them and saying the Kingdom is like this. [5:10] And last week he began to use an agricultural [5:13] metaphor for them about the sower of seeds,

[5:18] the types of soil that he’s gone through this world [5:22] sowing the seed into. And he is the one who’s sowing the seed. And the seed is the [5:27] good news of who he is as the King. [5:30] His point is that the Kingdom is there and their response not [5:34] to what they want the Kingdom to be, but who the King of that [5:37] Kingdom is, is going to define their eternity.

[5:41] When he talks about the good soil, he says this is what you will [5:45] produce in your life if you trusted in the King, [5:48] the one who has come to deliver his Kingdom. And that is you will have fruit [5:52] for God’s Kingdom springing up into [5:56] your life. We talked about the greatest fruit which is the understanding [6:00] that Jesus is God because that is the reality that he is confronting them with

[6:07] day in and day out with his life [6:09] on this earth. And it’s the soil that’s been prepared by that truth of who he is [6:15] that will grow to produce that type of fruit. [6:19] But in Israel, most lived with an expected [6:23] Kingdom for them. Had less to do [6:28] with Jesus and more to do with who they thought they were. They thought that they

[6:32] were the special ones, [6:34] the ones who would have the Kingdom for themselves. And when Jesus comes [6:37] speaking of the Kingdom, it makes no sense because it wasn’t the Kingdom that [6:41] they were expecting to come. [6:43] Because they had taken authority over what they thought [6:47] the good Kingdom for them would look like. And Jesus comes with real

[6:51] authority saying, no, I’m the author, [6:56] I’m the definer, I’m the deliverer of the Kingdom. [7:00] And he continues the metaphor of the seeds [7:04] again to continue to explain what his Kingdom is all about. [7:08] Look at verse 24. He put another [7:12] parable before them saying, the Kingdom of Heaven may be compared to a man

[7:18] who sowed good seed in his field, but while his men were sleeping his enemy [7:23] came and sowed seeds among the wheat and went away. [7:27] So when the plants came up and bore grain, [7:30] then the weeds appeared also. And the servants of the master of the house came [7:34] and said to him, [7:35] Master, did you not sow good seed in your field?

[7:38] How then does it have weeds? He said to them, [7:42] an enemy has done this. So the servants said to him, [7:46] then do you want us to go and gather them? But he said, no, [7:50] lest in gathering the weeds you root up the wheat along with them. [7:55] Let both grow together until the harvest. [7:59] And at the harvest time I will tell the reapers,

[8:02] gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles [8:06] to be burned. But gather the wheat [8:10] into the barn. So he comes with this other parable, this parable that he’s [8:15] saying that he’s going to compare the Kingdom of Heaven [8:17] to this. And it’s a completely confusing parable to them, no doubt, [8:23] when he begins to speak things that their agricultural lifestyle would

[8:26] actually go against. [8:28] And that is that when you see weeds growing among the field, he doesn’t just [8:31] immediately vanquish the entire field and start over. [8:35] You see, he’s put himself, as we saw last week, [8:37] in the shoes of the sower. [8:41] And so Jesus is coming and he’s saying that I’ve gone out

[8:44] and I’ve sowed my seeds. And he says that I’m doing this [8:47] on the good soil. So all of the seed that’s sown in this metaphor [8:51] is seed that’s gone into good soil. And he says it’s going to grow, it’s going to [8:55] produce fruit. [8:56] But while those whom he had said, [8:59] I want you to cultivate the plant, I want you to care for the plants, I want you to

[9:03] look over my fields, [9:05] they kind of turn their back, they get a little lazy, they fall asleep on the job [9:09] and the enemy of the master comes in and he sows a different type of seed. [9:14] In this day and age it’s thought that [9:17] it’s possibly a type of seed that is [9:21] a seed for a weed that looks very much

[9:24] like wheat. And so the two will grow together and it’s very hard for you to [9:30] distinguish [9:31] the difference. But those [9:34] who were cultivating it for them, they know that something’s wrong and of [9:37] course the master knows what the reality is that’s happening. [9:40] And so the servants look to the master and they say,

[9:45] Master, we’ve got to do something about this. Things have gone [9:48] wrong in your good land.

[9:54] Without understanding, [9:56] really, this metaphor is about creation [9:59] itself. Have you thought of another time that God [10:03] sowed good seed among the world [10:06] and those whom he entrusted with the care of it allowed the evil one to come [10:11] in and plant weeds among the wheat?

[10:15] I believe he’s referring to the creation narrative of Adam and Eve when [10:19] the evil one, the enemy came in and [10:22] he tempted them with sin and then [10:25] the curse fell upon man and man is separated from God and what is our [10:30] response? God, how did you let this [10:32] happen? Not the responsibility to say, God, look at what we

[10:36] did, but instead to look at the master and say, Master, did you not sow [10:41] good seed because we see weeds [10:44] instead of taking full responsibility. But the master looks and he says, [10:49] No, my plan will not be undone because [10:53] the servants, they look at the field and they say, all is lost, [10:57] all is hopeless, it’s been marred completely by the presence of these

[11:01] weeds. [11:02] The evil has come in, surely it will conquer [11:05] all of the good that the master can do, but the master has a different [11:09] perspective. [11:11] The master has the perspective of one with authority. [11:15] The master has the perspective of one who sees the beginning from the end

[11:19] and knows that his plans cannot be undone. [11:22] So ultimately this parable is a story of the narrative of scripture.

[11:29] That what it looks like when sin comes into this world is absolute devastation, [11:35] God looks and says, [11:38] Oh, I have a plan, [11:40] don’t worry. See, number one this morning, what I want you to understand is that the [11:45] delivery of the kingdom must be entrusted to the king. [11:49] Because that’s what Jesus is ultimately confronting them with with all of these

[11:53] parables. [11:54] Who is the master of this kingdom? [11:57] Because the kingdom to the master is completely certain. [12:01] It cannot be lost regardless [12:04] of how many people come against it. The enemy [12:07] is completely undone by the master of the field.

[12:12] Master says, No, my wheat will still grow, [12:17] my fruit will still ripen out in the field. [12:21] And in the end, the enemy, he’ll be completely undone. [12:25] Because understand that I have a plan as the master [12:28] to allow both of them to grow, but in the end I will remove the weed from the [12:34] wheat and I will

[12:35] reap my harvest.

[12:40] Oftentimes in our lives things don’t go as we planned. [12:45] We plan our lives out, maybe [12:47] you planned your life out to the nth degree and things just went off the [12:53] tracks really early on and you’re just like, [12:56] all hope is gone, we gotta scrap this. [13:00] God cannot undo the wreck

[13:04] that’s happened in my life. Or maybe you didn’t plan very well. [13:10] And through that you’re suffering too and you say, how can this [13:13] be repaired? God can’t use this. [13:17] God can’t do anything in my life. All hope is lost. [13:20] Let’s scrap it and start over. Time and time again [13:23] our responses to what happens in our lives really does show our faith

[13:28] in God. Because we often [13:32] weekly look to a God who can speak nothing [13:35] into existence, excuse me, speak out of nothing, [13:39] everything into existence. We look to him and we say, [13:44] I don’t even think you can do anything with this mess. Even the mess you’ve made by [13:48] your own hands,

[13:51] yet maybe you still look to God and say, how could you let this happen? [13:55] Maybe God’s looking at you saying, mmm, I think you’re looking the wrong guy here.

[14:04] You see, even in Israel, [14:06] they struggled with that and even today we struggle. [14:09] This parable is completely applicable to each and every life this morning because [14:14] all of us [14:14] look to the kingdom that God is delivering into our lives. [14:18] And oftentimes we look to that and we say, I don’t know about this one.

[14:24] I don’t think you can do anything with me. I don’t think you can resurrect [14:27] this life. And God says time and time again, [14:31] do not scrap my wheat. [14:33] I have a plan. The King is standing directly in front of them. [14:40] You see, Jesus seemed to be teaching that they needed to change themselves [14:45] before anything else could possibly change.

[14:49] You see, what Israel was doing at this point in time is they’re looking at the [14:52] way that the world around them is acting and they’re saying, [14:55] Jesus, let’s march into Rome. If you’re the one that is to come, [14:59] you’re gonna deliver the kingdom into our hands [15:02] because it’s all about us. We are the wheat. [15:05] We are the ones that are going to get your kingdom and all the while Jesus is

[15:09] looking and saying, [15:10] if I were to march into Rome and I were to free you from their rule, [15:14] then you’ve got to understand one thing. I would have to turn around and destroy [15:18] Israel as well because you are just as sinful as they are.

[15:25] And oftentimes we look around and we say, man, [15:29] this world is completely hopeless.

[15:33] Glad I’m not a weed. Glad I’m part of the wheat. [15:37] That’s what Israel said. But even those that know about the promises of God, [15:42] even in moments like that, they struggle to trust God with the design and the [15:47] delivery [15:47] of his kingdom. John the Baptist is [15:52] one that was proclaimed in the Old Testament would come to prepare the way

[15:56] for Jesus. It’s called the voice that cried out in the wilderness. He baptized [16:01] Jesus, saw the moment when Jesus was lifted up out of the water. The dove [16:05] descends. The Father cries out, this is my son in whom I’m well pleased. [16:09] He speaks out to the people when Jesus comes and he says, behold the Lamb [16:12] of whose sandals I’m not even worthy to [16:16] lace. He goes to prison

[16:20] for the very message that he’s preaching because he was preaching to a king, the [16:24] values of that kingdom. He says, you’re a sinner, bro. [16:28] So he sends him to jail for it. John’s waiting execution [16:32] and his faith grows dim. He sends one of his disciples and in Matthew chapter 11, [16:38] right before Jesus begins to speak these parables, it says, now when John heard [16:43] in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by his disciples and said

[16:47] to him, [16:48] are you the one who is to come? [16:51] Shall we wait? [16:52] Excuse me, look for another. [16:55] And Jesus answered them, go and tell John [16:58] what you hear and see.

[17:02] The blind receive their sight and the lame walk. Lepers are cleansed and the [17:06] deaf hear [17:06] and the dead are raised up and the poor have good news preached to them [17:10] and blessed is the one who is not offended by me.

[17:16] See, there are times when things will be very [17:20] dark, but God desires for our trust [17:23] to be in his ability to deliver his promises above everything else. [17:28] Then in spite of what’s going on practically day in and day out, no matter how [17:31] dark this world can go around us, no matter how powerful the weeds of [17:36] evil seem to be in our life, what Jesus is saying

[17:39] are you going to be like those servants who thought everything needed to be [17:43] scrapped [17:43] or will you trust that the master has a plan [17:46] that will be true.

[17:51] Often times people, even John the Baptist struggles and they look to Jesus and they say [17:55] this is not what I expected, this is not how I would do it. [18:01] I’m sure God and all of his sovereignty and Jesus even in those moments [18:05] looks and they say yeah and that’s kind of the point.

[18:10] We can go 90 miles per hour in the wrong direction and when we begin to pay the [18:15] price for that we blame God rather than ourselves.

[18:22] Note what Jesus says to John. [18:23] He doesn’t give him any new information he doesn’t already have. Jesus sends them [18:29] because he’s heard what he was doing [18:32] and Jesus sends a report back, oh tell him what I’ve been doing.

[18:39] It’s not that John didn’t know this. [18:42] It’s not that John didn’t have the information of the truth. John had all this information. [18:46] It’s that he was struggling to believe what this information confirmed [18:49] and that is even in prison, even awaiting execution [18:53] God has a plan, trust it. Note [18:57] how he finishes the statement, he says blessed is the one

[19:01] who is not offended by me. You see the kingdom is ruled by Jesus and looks [19:07] as God would have it look. You either trust what he’s doing or you do not. [19:13] God desires for the story to play out. [19:17] He desires for his people to give him glory [19:21] by believing him. Not by looking at the world the way that you want it to be [19:27] and then not trusting God when your plan doesn’t work out

[19:30] but looking at the world the way that it is trusting God, [19:33] obeying God and leaving him with the results.

[19:38] When he says John do not be offended by me what he’s saying is John [19:42] do not be offended by how I rule my kingdom because it’s mine. [19:48] It’s not yours, it’s mine.

[19:53] It will play out as I designed it to play out, not the way you designed it to play out. [19:58] Often in our lives day in and day out we act offended. [20:02] That God’s kingdom would put us into a situation that we [20:06] do not appreciate in our lives. But in those moments [20:10] the greatest thing that you can do is continue to trust God. [20:15] Is continue to bring glory to him because he’s the one that has said the

[20:19] harvest is certain. [20:21] The harvest will happen, the harvest will ripen the way that I wanted it to ripen. [20:25] My kingdom will be delivered the way that I wanted it to be delivered. You keep [20:29] trusting me [20:30] in the dark of night because the sunshine of the morning [20:33] will certainly come as God designed for it to come.

[20:40] Look in verse [20:42] 36. It says, [20:46] Then he left the crowds and went into the house and his disciples [20:49] came to him. I love this because remember last week the disciples looked to him [20:54] and it’s almost like they’re saying Jesus we’re not asking you, we don’t understand. [20:57] We’re kind of asking for a friend.

[20:59] They drop that here and they’re like Jesus we don’t get it. [21:03] They say explain to us the parable of the weeds of the field. [21:06] I can just imagine that they’re like Jesus seriously more of this parable [21:10] stuff. [21:11] You know how dense we are? Cut it to a straight. [21:16] So Jesus says the one who sows the good seed is the son

[21:20] of man. So what he’s saying is, he’s saying guys [21:23] first off we got to get one thing straight. I’m talking about myself. [21:27] Do you understand that? I’m God. [21:30] That’s the first priority that you must see that the son of man has come. [21:35] He is in control. He has a plan. [21:38] I’m God. I’m going to deliver this kingdom.

[21:42] Then he says the field is the world and the good seed is the sons of the kingdom. [21:45] The weeds are the sons of the evil one and the enemy who sowed them is the devil. [21:51] The harvest is the clothes of the age and the reapers [21:55] are angels. [21:58] Number two this morning, I want you to understand that the kingdom comes [22:02] with limitless grace in the middle of an evil world.

[22:07] You see, the gospel triumphs over all sinners. [22:12] When Jesus explains the parable to his disciples, he does so in a way that makes [22:16] sense to us. [22:17] He’s the master of the field and the weeds are the sons of Satan. [22:21] But why doesn’t he just reap the harvest? [22:24] Because that’s the ultimate question.

[22:27] Why in the world would you allow the weeds to grow? [22:31] You’re God, they’re under your control. [22:33] Vanquish them, kill them now. [22:35] Why does evil exist in this world?

[22:40] That’s the large question that we will get in this day as in any day. [22:45] So why does evil exist? [22:47] Why give evil any time to grow while the kingdom grows? [22:52] Do you see it’s not an issue of power. [22:54] God has the knowledge and power to wipe out the weeds without destroying the [22:58] wheat immediately.

[23:00] It wouldn’t be gracious, though.

[23:04] See, that’s the key.

[23:07] For the very moment.

[23:11] There’s evil. [23:13] The very moment sin enters into the life of man. [23:16] God had immediately vanquished the weeds. [23:20] Friends, there would be no wheat. [23:25] I think oftentimes in our understanding of the world, that’s what we miss. [23:30] We miss the reality that we are not naturally wheat in a world of weeds.

[23:38] We are the weeds in a world that God sovereign over, and he’s gracious [23:44] to turn some of the weeds into wheat.

[23:50] Look at Ephesians, chapter two. [23:53] Starts in verse one, I believe this gives great explanation when he says, [23:57] and you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, [24:01] following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, [24:05] the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience, among whom we all [24:09] once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body

[24:13] and the mind, and we’re by nature children of wrath like the rest of mankind. [24:18] But God being rich in mercy [24:22] because of the great love with which he loved us and when we were dead [24:25] in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ. [24:29] By grace, you’ve been saved.

[24:34] See, oftentimes we treat the world as if all of our problems [24:37] are external forces against us. [24:40] Oftentimes, that’s even how we attempt to wield the word of God. [24:44] Like I’m wheat and everything that’s against me is weeds. [24:48] And so we have enemies, we have problems and we’re fighting them. [24:52] And they’re the problem.

[24:53] This person is the problem. [24:55] This situation is the problem. [24:57] This thing is the problem. [24:58] I could just change that one thing. [24:59] My life would be right. [25:01] Your biggest problem in your life is not outside of you.

[25:07] You are your problem.

[25:11] The moment that you understand that, you begin to understand [25:16] the great grace of God. [25:18] And until you understand that, you will not get grace. [25:23] You won’t. And some of you will say that you believe this. [25:28] But functionally and practically, you live day in and day out [25:33] as if someone else is the problem, as if something else

[25:38] is the biggest obstacle in your life. [25:40] No, when you wake up in the morning, take a look in the mirror [25:43] and say to yourself, that’s my problem. [25:47] Me, I’m it.

[25:52] Because we are naturally weeds. [25:55] It says that the enemy came in and sowed weeds among the wheat. [26:01] Ephesians, Chapter two says that each and every one of us [26:05] are born children of wrath, like everyone else. [26:12] We are sinners and it is an amazing grace of God [26:18] that he does not destroy us, but rather plays the long game of the gospel

[26:25] for our sake. [26:28] It’s a story of grace here for you, not against you. [26:33] The weeds are not your detriment. [26:35] The weeds are so that grace can take full effect and the kingdom [26:39] can flourish among sinners. [26:41] The master was certain that the wheat would not be harmed by the weeds

[26:45] because he knew the plan. [26:48] He was the plan.

[26:51] You see, Jesus knew that the ultimate thing that needed to happen [26:55] was the sacrifice of one who was perfect for those who were imperfect. [26:59] Someone who had no sin must die for those who did have sin. [27:02] And the only person that ever existed like that was God himself. [27:07] So in his great grace, he plays the long game of the gospel, [27:11] doesn’t give Israel what they want, gives them something far better.

[27:17] Redemption through the sacrifice of God on the cross, where he died for our sins. [27:24] In Matthew, Chapter nine, we have such a message of God’s grace [27:29] that we should stand amazed in it. [27:32] Jesus is looking over a crowd that he’s preaching to. [27:36] He said to his disciples, the harvest is plentiful, [27:41] but the laborers are few.

[27:44] Therefore, pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest [27:47] to send out laborers into his harvest. [27:51] Jesus is looking out into a crowd. [27:55] Full of sinners.

[27:59] He’s looking out into a crowd that, frankly, we would say to crowd of weeds.

[28:05] Jesus doesn’t look out in that crowd and he say, [28:08] there’s maybe one or two guys out there that are going to believe in me. [28:11] There’s maybe, you know, two or three. [28:13] No, he looks out in his crowd and he says, look at how plenteous my harvest is. [28:19] See, this is the grace of God that he looks into a crowd and he says, [28:24] not because of who you are, not because of what you’ve done.

[28:28] That’s actually the problem. [28:30] But because of who he is, he knows that he is walking directly towards a cross [28:35] that he will die on to sacrifice himself for those who have lived in nothing [28:41] but rebellion against him, nothing but build a kingdom that has nothing to do [28:45] with his, nothing but trust themselves more than he. [28:48] Excuse me, more than they trust God.

[28:51] And he looks to them in great grace and he says, this is my harvest of wheat.

[28:59] Friends, we have a great grace from a great God who even now prolongs the harvest [29:07] on this side of the cross so that the grace of God can grow in faith in our lives. [29:14] And for the message of the gospel to spread more and for more wheat [29:19] to grow through that message being spread. [29:21] The world is full of evil, but it is also filled with one great truth.

[29:28] Jesus saves.

[29:32] That has changed everything, if you’ll trust in him. [29:34] And for us to understand his kingdom, we must know the limitless grace of God [29:38] in the face of evil. [29:40] We must know that it triumphs and we must take the responsibility [29:44] to be sent as those with a message among a world in which Jesus says, [29:49] I’ve sowed my harvest.

[29:50] It is my world. [29:52] My will will not be undone. [29:54] I’ll reap my harvest and I’ll use you to do it.

[29:59] Look in verse 40.

[30:06] He says, Just as the weeds are gathered and burned with fire, [30:10] so it will be at the close of the age. [30:14] The Son of Man will send his angels and they will gather out of his kingdom [30:18] all causes of sin and all lawbreakers. [30:23] And throw them into the fiery furnace. [30:26] In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

[30:32] You see, Jesus, as he explains this out, he wants us to understand [30:37] that his kingdom will not be undone by this world [30:39] and nothing in this world that is attempting to undo his kingdom [30:42] will make it to his kingdom. [30:45] That when he reaps his harvest, it will be beneficial for the wheat [30:51] because all sin will be vanquished, not just all sin, all causes of sin,

[30:57] all temptation to sin, all pain from sin, all burden from sin. [31:03] Everything that evil has ever touched will be burned for eternity. [31:09] But he also says all lawbreakers will be burned for eternity.

[31:16] This is a sobering reality that the scripture gives us time and time again [31:20] and that Jesus himself gives us time and time again. [31:23] And that is that there is a people and there are those [31:28] whom this reality will not be beneficial for, [31:31] but rather it will be to your detriment. [31:34] And that is that you will feel the fiery wrath of God forever.

[31:38] If you do not come to trust Jesus, you are not part of the wheat. [31:44] You see, thirdly this morning, patience in judgment though [31:46] is a significant grace of God. [31:50] Jesus wants us to understand that judgment is coming at the end of the age. [31:55] When is the end of the age? I do not know.

[31:59] I do not know and none of us do.

[32:04] Jesus gives us a picture of a master who is fully aware of the evil one’s attempt to sabotage. [32:11] The evil one is actually though playing directly into his hand [32:15] because once his judgment has been laid out, [32:17] it will reveal that he is wiser and more powerful than any other power that has ever existed. [32:25] Certainly he has power that evil can never overcome.

[32:32] So Jesus’ point here is that he is more powerful than evil [32:37] and that is why his plans can never be undone. [32:41] You see, the scripture never specifically tells us why evil exists. [32:49] It does not. One of the greatest questions that has existed for all time that we have known. [32:55] So why is there evil, Lord? [32:57] I wish that there was like Ephesians 7 and there was like a bullet point

[33:01] so that I could just answer that succinctly for you, but I cannot. [33:05] In his divine wisdom, God has chosen to withhold that knowledge from me. [33:09] He has not given the specific reason, but what he has given us is something greater than a reason. [33:15] He has given us a solution. He has given us the cross. [33:20] See, he is not discouraged by evil. [33:24] You know the master, when the servants come to him in their epic failure,

[33:28] they have totally failed at their task to have dominion over this world.

[33:36] He never looks to them and says, oh no, what am I going to do?

[33:43] He never looks to them discouraged. He never looks to them dissuaded. [33:47] Jesus is not discouraged or dissuaded even by the growth of evil.

[33:55] Because he has the solution to evil. [34:00] Jesus is certain because of the cross. [34:05] Jesus is not discouraged by evil because of the cross. [34:09] Jesus is not dissuaded from the task at redeeming sinners [34:14] because he knows that the cross is coming and that he will bear the sin of all mankind.

[34:22] The harvest is coming and the weeds, though, will be burned. [34:27] Here is where Jesus inserts himself. He is the son of man that will send the angels.

[34:34] They will suffer eternally. [34:36] In Revelation 14, we see this mindset, this analogy, this vision put further. [34:44] It says, then I looked, and behold a white cloud, [34:49] and seated on the cloud, one like a son of man, [34:53] with a golden crown on his head and a sharp sickle in his hand. [34:59] And another angel came out of the temple calling with a loud voice to him who sat on the cloud,

[35:04] put in your sickle and reap for the hour to reap has come, [35:08] for the harvest of the earth is fully ripe.

[35:14] See, the harvest of God is a joy to some and it is a terror to others. [35:22] And when we take that out, we take the very message that Jesus came to proclaim to us out of the gospel. [35:29] See, our gospel is not a judgmentless gospel. [35:32] Our gospel is a gospel that is full of judgment on and for sinners. [35:39] And ultimately, those whom have joy in the gospel of judgment [35:43] are those whom understand what Jesus meant when he said in John chapter 9,

[35:47] for judgment I have come into this world. [35:49] Because Jesus came to bear the judgment for our sin, [35:53] that judgment for the evil one, that judgment for the weeds. [35:57] He came to bear it directly onto himself on the cross, [36:01] as he took the very wrath of God for sin onto himself. [36:06] But for those who will not trust in that, for those who will not repent of their sin,

[36:11] those who will not trust in the master of the field, [36:14] it is those who will still endure that very wrath that Jesus said he came to bear. [36:20] And so for them, it is a message of absolute terror and I cannot take that away.

[36:27] Because Jesus has done everything to redeem us for our sin. [36:30] But when we will not trust the King of the kingdom with the design for the kingdom, [36:38] and the delivery of the kingdom, [36:40] and the life that trusting in him for the kingdom will build [36:45] when we do not live for that,

[36:52] then we are saying that we want no part of the kingdom. [36:56] You see, the wheat anticipates this moment. [36:59] We long for this moment.

[37:03] But for the weeds,

[37:05] there is nothing better than what is in this life to begin with. [37:09] You see, the sickle is a metaphor of terror to those who will not trust Jesus. [37:16] I believe that is how the grim reaper got his design.

[37:23] See, Jesus is not the grim reaper. [37:24] Jesus is the good reaper. [37:27] See, he does come to reap a harvest.

[37:30] But he comes to reap his harvest. [37:32] And the question this morning is, are you part of his wheat? [37:36] Or will your lot be thrown in with the weeds?

[37:42] The parable of the sower must sober us to the reality of what we are finding our identity in. [37:49] Last week as we gave that parable, we talked about the weeds that were thrown among the path, [37:53] the seeds that were thrown among the rock, [37:57] and the seeds that were thrown among the thorns, [37:59] and then there were the seeds that were thrown on good soil. [38:02] We came to find out that our identity is wound up in one of those types of soil.

[38:08] The question is, what is yours? [38:11] Is it the king who will with certainty reap the harvest that he has designed? [38:17] Or is it with the path of the evil one as Ephesians 2 describes? [38:21] The answer to that is in your life. [38:26] What are you building with your life? [38:30] In Matthew 13, 42, Jesus is describing an eternal hell.

[38:36] Those who do not desire God’s plan will not experience the joy of his heaven. [38:42] You cannot live for another kingdom and experience the joy of Jesus’ kingdom. [38:49] This is why the harvest is a terror to some. [38:52] The harvest is the destruction of all that is made by our hands that is not for Jesus. [38:59] So look at the life that you are living, look at the life that you are building. [39:03] Look at the things that you invest yourself into.

[39:06] And the question is, will any of it survive what Jesus will reap?

[39:13] Will any of what you are making by your hands survive the harvest? [39:17] Or will it be bound up with the weeds and burned eternally? [39:21] Because what we are doing with our lives very much shows [39:25] what we are trusting in as the kingdom of God. [39:32] Either the true God, Jesus, or a false God, sadly ourselves.

[39:40] Will anything you have made be left in the kingdom?

[39:47] You see the joy of the harvest is building a life in which you are investing [39:51] so that others will enter the kingdom as well. [39:55] Because all those who hear the gospel and trust in it will be delivered into his kingdom [40:00] and our great desire must be to live in such a way that we invest in all that God has commanded us to [40:07] in his word so that we can look to his kingdom and say, [40:11] God, I am investing eternally.

[40:15] Not just temporarily, not just transiently. [40:18] I don’t live for things that won’t outlive me, Jesus wants us to say. [40:22] I am investing for things that will endure forever in his kingdom. [40:29] Friends, trusting Jesus lastly this morning is the only path of joy. [40:37] Look in verse 43.

[40:43] Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their father. [40:52] He who has ears, let him hear. [40:56] See, there he goes, quoting Isaiah 6 again, letting us know that if we don’t understand, [41:04] we’re the problem.

[41:07] This is a hard passage. [41:09] This is a hard reality because this is the truth of death. [41:15] This is the truth of eternal destinations. [41:20] And God would have us to understand that our lives matter eternally. [41:26] He would have us to understand that what we do in this life does matter [41:29] and that everything that we’re seeking joy in will be fruitless if it’s not him.

[41:38] He gives this message in verse 43 to those who trust in him, to those who are weak. [41:43] See, he wants us to understand that we should not be tempted or discouraged by evil [41:50] because grace will ultimately triumph over it all. [41:56] He gives us this great picture that the righteous will shine like the sun. [42:00] And it’s so fitting because yesterday we had come out of really wintry and dark weather [42:07] and the sun shined and I hope maybe it took just a minute and you went outside

[42:10] and you just let it shine on you for a moment and it just felt right. [42:15] It just felt good. [42:16] And Jesus wants us to know that he gives us that type of feeling [42:20] so that we will understand maybe a one millionth of the joy [42:25] that we will enter into when we enter into his kingdom. [42:29] Maybe just a small degree of what it will be like when we see Jesus face to face

[42:35] when we’re gathered with the wheat, we’re ushered into his kingdom, [42:39] when the God of the universe looks to us and he says, [42:41] Well done, thy good and faithful servant. [42:44] Enter into the rest of eternal joy. [42:47] He wants us to know that even though the dark days are upon us, [42:52] the joy is coming that no one has ever known before besides God himself.

[42:57] And he will in his grace give it liberally to all who believe. [43:02] An unending fountain of peace, an unending fountain of rest, [43:07] an unending fountain of joy that in this life we will invest for his kingdom [43:13] and through that trust and through that faith

[43:19] he will make the righteous to shine like the sun.

[43:24] Don’t hear that and say, I’ve done some good things, [43:28] I’ve had some good moments, I’ve been pretty moral. [43:32] No, you haven’t.

[43:36] He doesn’t say that because there’s anything good in your life. [43:40] He doesn’t say that because there’s anything special about you. [43:42] He doesn’t say that so that you will get moral and self-righteous in this moment. [43:47] He says that so that you will look to the master and say, [43:50] There’s none good but you master. [43:52] There’s none righteous but you master.

[43:54] There’s none obedient but you master. [43:56] Jesus, you are the Messiah. [43:59] Jesus, you are the Savior. [44:00] I beg that just for a moment you take me into his kingdom [44:04] and he will give you grace eternally [44:07] when you trust in him.

[44:10] He’ll give you his very righteousness that you do not deserve [44:14] but he will give.

[44:17] See, Jesus wants us to long for him. [44:21] I’ll be honest with you this morning. [44:24] We don’t always want this world to end, do we? [44:29] We have things we look forward to. [44:33] We have dreams that we want to live and see come to fruition. [44:38] In verse 43, Jesus wants us to know that the kingdom is better than any of that.

[44:47] It’s greater than any joy this world has to offer. [44:53] The fully realized kingdom of heaven is delayed [44:56] so that we can grow in that. [44:59] You see, maturing as wheat is experiencing the pain that makes us long for relief.

[45:10] Maturing as wheat is experiencing worldly satisfaction [45:13] while seeing that it doesn’t fully satisfy us.

[45:18] You see, friends, if faith is a substance of things hoped for [45:20] and the evidence of things unseen, [45:22] then maturing in faith is growing in realizing [45:25] that God has something better in him [45:28] than anything we will ever have in this life.

[45:35] And when we never come to that place

[45:39] or if we aren’t journeying there, [45:43] we don’t know the true beauty of the Gospel.

[45:50] Are you growing towards it? [45:53] Or are your deepest longings satisfied by other, lesser gods?

[46:01] Jesus came with what no one expected [46:03] and those who saw that it was better than what they wanted [46:07] received joy that is eternal. [46:11] Those who did not and still will not [46:16] only have what their hands are holding [46:20] and what they know they cannot keep forever.

[46:25] God’s kingdom is better.

[46:28] God’s kingdom is more beautiful, friends.

[46:32] Jesus means that God will reap for our joy if we trust him.

[46:40] Jesus is the King of the kingdom. [46:44] His purposes will not be undone. [46:46] His plans will not be undone. [46:52] He marches forward to a future that he has deemed certain.

[47:01] It’s where the world’s going, friend.

[47:04] It’s where we’re going.

[47:06] The question is, will Jesus reap to your joy [47:10] or to your very doom?

[47:18] Trust Jesus because he saves.

[47:23] As the band comes up, I want us to understand this morning [47:25] that Jesus is the King and his kingdom is spread through the cross.

[47:31] Every week here at Village we reflect on communion. [47:35] It’s an interesting meal. [47:37] We don’t often look at it like that, but that’s what it is. [47:41] It’s a meal that has existed really for thousands of years. [47:44] In the Old Testament the Jews would reflect on this. [47:47] It was called Passover to them.

[47:50] And every year at a special time they would have this meal [47:53] as commanded by God in the Scriptures [47:55] and they would come together and they would reflect [47:58] through the bread and through the cup [48:00] on the promises that God has made [48:03] as well as the promises that they have received.

[48:06] Not by their own hands, but by God’s hands [48:10] because God delivers what God promises for them. [48:17] Then when Jesus came, right before he went to the cross [48:21] he gathered his disciples and they didn’t realize this [48:25] but it was their last meal with their God on earth.

[48:32] And he looks to them and he says, [48:34] I’m not going to eat this again. [48:35] I’m not going to drink of the cup until I’ve reaped the harvest.

[48:42] He says, you, you continue to reflect on this when you meet [48:48] in remembrance of me and proclaim this promise [48:53] that the King’s coming to reap the wheat. [48:59] And then he went up to the cross. [49:02] His hands were nailed, his feet were nailed, [49:05] a crown of thorns was placed on his head,

[49:07] a spear in his side, beaten, bruised, bloodied. [49:12] And he lived out this meal [49:14] because the cup represents his shed blood, [49:19] the bread, his broken body.

[49:23] The blood of the sinless Savior, [49:27] the God who created all that is, shed for you, for me.

[49:37] His body was broken for you, for me. [49:42] So that I would never have to endure the wrath of God for my sin.

[49:52] And he wants us to share this meal as a church, [49:57] to reflect on the delivery of the promise, [50:02] as well as any anticipation of another promise. [50:06] And that is that because of Jesus, [50:08] one day we’re going to share a meal face to face

[50:14] with that sinless Savior.

[50:19] Friends, if you’ve not trusted in Jesus,

[50:26] maybe this morning you’ve realized, [50:29] I’m not invested in a kingdom like that, [50:31] I’ve not known a grace like that, [50:34] but I want to know it.

[50:37] Today can be the day of salvation for you [50:40] if you will trust Jesus.

[50:44] Today you can share a meal with the God of the universe [50:47] and proclaim His coming.

[50:50] And if that’s you this morning, [50:51] I’m going to ask you to do something, [50:52] maybe you won’t be comfortable with it, I don’t know, [50:54] but I’m going to ask you that while we’re reflecting on communion [50:57] that maybe you just walk across the room [50:59] and chat with me for a moment,

[51:01] maybe walk out into the foyer, chat with someone there, [51:04] because I’d love to tell you more about the gospel, [51:06] I’d love to talk to you about the kingdom, [51:08] I’d love to pray with you, [51:09] I’d love to help you follow Jesus.

[51:14] But Jesus saves, friends, make no doubt.

[51:18] And He wants to pour His grace on you, [51:22] forever.

[51:24] When you’re ready, come.