Kingdom Treasure, Pentecost 8, July 30, 2017

Eighth Sunday of Pentecost (Year A)

Sunday, July 30, 2017

Jesus’ parables remind us that the faith we preach and the kingdom we announce finally isn’t an intellectual idea but an experience, an experience of the creative and redemptive power of God that continues to change lives.

– David Lose, senior pastor,

Mount Olivet Lutheran Church, Minneapolis, Minn.

Theme: Kingdom Treasure

Reflection: What is the one thing that we would ask for, if we were given one choice? What is our treasure, our pearl of great price that we would give everything to acquire?

That’s the gist of the final two parables in our Gospel text today. And the thread running through the lessons. What is the most important thing we can choose?

In the Old Testament lesson, God comes to the youthful, newly-crowned King Solomon in a dream. “One thing, Solomon. What will it be?”

Likewise, Jesus comes to the disciples after telling them a handful of parables…

(Just an aside, I can’t wait to read this gospel lesson in worship. Every time I read it, I think of Jesus telling these parables like someone of the Kingdom, trying to explain it to disciples and people who have never experienced the grace and freedom of the Kingdom. It’s like trying to explain the color blue to someone who is blind, or describing the sound of a flute to a person who is deaf.

Rapid-fire, he tries time and time again to help them understand: “The kingdom of heaven, it’s like …. Here’s a better example: the kingdom of heaven is like … Or the kingdom of heaven is like … No, the kingdom of heaven is like….”)

Out of breath, Jesus looks around at them. “Have you understood all this?” And the bewildered disciples together say yes. But not very convincingly.

If we look around us, we know we’re as clueless as the disciples. What is our treasure, the thing for which we would give up everything?

•  The bumper sticker in the church parking lot that reads “the one that dies with the most toys wins.” Wins what, for goodness’ sake? Do your possessions stop you from gaining real treasure?
• Is it your family? If your spouse and your children are everything to you, does God only become your treasure if you lose them all?
• Job, wealth and security? Some people think having it all means a great job, investing toward a large retirement income, and enough insurance that if something happened, their families would be set. A friend recently told me he worked five straight weeks of 11-hour days, seven days a week, and wouldn’t see the light at the end of the tunnel for weeks to come. And that was on top of family and community obligations. I asked him where that would get him if he endangered his health or relationships. Stop and think when making a living takes the place of living well.
• Or could it be the church itself? A friend and I mused one day about a new position either of us was qualified to do. Rolling our eyes, we each declined it. At that time, we already were serving eight roles apiece in the church. Most weeks, we were there or at off-campus church groups 4-5 days a week, and doing work at home in our “spare time.” Even the church can be a barrier between us and the treasure of a relationship with God.

Just because we’re ministry leaders and we’ve faced this question again and again, it doesn’t free us from these challenges. All of us can name other people, and list when we, too, have fallen prey to these situations. Jesus asked the disciples, “Have you understood all this?”

“Yes,” they said theoretically, not knowing the situations they would face in Jerusalem. “Yes,” they answered, not knowing that discipleship would mean leaving their lives, families and plans behind forever. “Yes,” they answered, not knowing that all but one would be killed spreading the Gospel.

Earlier, we left Solomon in his dream, pondering his treasure. New to his reign, he could have asked for wealth, victory over his enemies, even a long life so he could rule for decades. In his answer to God’s offer, he showed humility and reverence, asking for wisdom to be a king after God’s own heart. And his answer pleased the Lord. Solomon knew where to find his treasure.

(You always are welcome to respond with your thoughts and reflections in the comments section at the bottom of this post.) 

Faith App:  Focusing on only one thing is a powerful force for change. Find the one thing you can do (maybe 15 minutes of prayer or devotion, or prayer with your children, or an action of love) that moves you toward putting God first in your life. 

HYMN/SONG SUGGESTIONS

Be Thou My Vision, ELW 793

Jesus, Priceless Treasure, ELW 775

Give Me Jesus, ELW 770

O Word of God Incarnate, ELW 514

Neither Death nor Life, ELW 622

If God My Lord Be for Me, ELW 788

Take My Life, That I May Be, ELW 583

We Eat the Bread of Teaching, ELW 518

Eat This Bread, Drink This Cup, ELW 492

Your Love Never Fails, Jesus Culture/Newsboys

One Thing Remains, Passion/Kristian Stanfill

Fix My Eyes, for King & Country

Same Power, Jeremy Camp

I Am, The City Harmonic

Lay It Down, Brenton Brown/Matt Maher

LESSONS

1 Kings 3:5-12 Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people.

Psalm 119:129-136 Your decrees are wonderful; therefore my soul keeps them.

Romans 8:26-39 Who will separate us from the love of Christ?

Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52 Mustard seed, yeast, treasure and pearls of great price.

Summary: What is the one thing, our pearl of great price, that we would give anything to acquire? Would we want to be rich so we could acquire all things, as wise as Solomon, in good health to live a long life? Or would we wish for a listening heart to hear the needs of the world and allow God to act through us, bringing forth the kingdom, day by day?

OPENING LITANY based on Psalm 119:129-136

L:  Knowing your heart is what I desire most, Lord,

C:  I want my soul to follow where you will lead it;

L:  The “Aha!” moment when your Spirit shows me truth,

C:  Like a flash of lightning when you open my mind.

L:  Direct my ways, Lord, for I’m yearning to obey you;

C:  Look upon me with love, for your name brings me joy.

L:  Guide me to the high roads, as you’ve promised,

C:  And keep my sin-loving self from running the show.

L:  I want to live for you, Lord, so don’t let anyone stop me;

C:  Be kind to your servant when you point the right way.

L:  Does it cause you pain when your people miss the mark?

C:  I weep in disappointment because I can’t keep your law.

CONFESSION

L:  Lord, the kingdom of heaven is foreign to us;

C:  Parables are riddles – who understands them?

L:  Give it to us straight – just tell us what to do;

C:  And we’ll work on it, when we have the time.

L:  Lord, the kingdom of heaven defies our vision;

C:  A new crisis keeps happening, all of the time.

L:  And oppression undermines our call for peace;

C:  We doubt you could work this for your good.

L:  Lord, the kingdom of heaven seems so distant;

C:  Our streams of tears can’t wash away the pain.

L:  Open our eyes to see the kingdom coming now;

C:  And open our hearts to be part of the change.

(Silent reflection)

L:  In our confession, we pray together,

C:  Most Merciful God … our vision of your kingdom is far from yours. We get distracted by things of this world and see obstacles instead of treasure. We see yeast ruining the flour, and you see leaven to bake bread for the hungry. We see a field of useless shrubs, and you envision a nature preserve where your creation flourishes or new housing for the homeless. Keep training us for the kingdom of heaven in our worship and work for you in this place.

Hear this Good News: Nothing – Absolutely nothing we face can separate us from the love of God who came to us as Jesus the Christ. No troubles of today or troubles to come. There’s nowhere we can go that God isn’t there. Nothing in our lives or even death itself will take us away from God who calls us Beloved. You are forgiven and set free from anything that would come between you and this Kingdom-Force Love who calls you child.

In the name of…

Amen

PRAYER OF THE DAY

L:  We pray together, 

C:  God who searches our hearts … we pray today for the wisdom to get our life priorities straight. You have given us so many ways to invest our time and our finances: work, family, possessions, community organizations, travel and leisure. Give us understanding minds to seek the greatest treasure, to put you first in our lives. And after that, so many of our other priorities fall naturally in place. Help us to live well, making choices that please you and lead others to you. Amen.

COMMUNION BLESSING

L:  We pray together,

C:  We give you thanks, most gracious God, for the wisdom in this bread, for your steadfast love in this cup.  Give us not want we want, but what you see that we need. Give us understanding minds to know your will, and discerning hearts to reveal what will bring forth the kingdom of heaven in our community and our world.  Amen.

SENDING

L:  Like the finder of the pearl of great price,

C:  Or one who sells all to buy the treasure,

L:  We are disciples, learning to put you first,

C:  Seeing your blessings in every new day!

L:  Go now, kingdom seekers, to love and to serve the Lord.

C: Thanks be to God!

First Reading 1 Kings 3:5-12 (NRSV)

Setting the scene: Solomon wasn’t the oldest of King David’s sons, but God chose him as the new king, much like he chose David, the youngest of Jesse’s sons. Today’s encounter between God and Solomon sets the tone for his reign.

⁵ At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night; and God said, “Ask what I should give you.” ⁶ And Solomon said, “You have shown great and steadfast love to your servant my father David, because he walked before you in faithfulness, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart toward you; and you have kept for him this great and steadfast love, and have given him a son to sit on his throne today. ⁷ And now, O Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David, although I am only a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in. ⁸ And your servant is in the midst of the people whom you have chosen, a great people, so numerous they cannot be numbered or counted. ⁹ Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, able to discern between good and evil; for who can govern this your great people?”

¹⁰ It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this. ¹¹ God said to him, “Because you have asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life or riches, or for the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right, ¹² I now do according to your word. Indeed I give you a wise and discerning mind; no one like you has been before you and no one like you shall arise after you.

Second Reading Romans 8:26-39 (NRSV)

Setting the scene: Paul wraps up four chapters of his theology teaching to the new Christian church in Rome. Today’s lesson is the climax Paul has been writing toward in this letter.

²⁶ Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words. ²⁷ And God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

²⁸ We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. ²⁹ For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn within a large family. ³⁰ And those whom he predestined he also called; and those whom he called he also justified; and those whom he justified he also glorified.

³¹ What then are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us? ³² He who did not withhold his own Son, but gave him up for all of us, will he not with him also give us everything else? ³³ Who will bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. ³⁴ Who is to condemn? It is Christ Jesus, who died, yes, who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us. ³⁵ Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will hardship, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? ³⁶ As it is written,

“For your sake we are being killed all day long;
    we are accounted as sheep to be slaughtered.”

³⁷ No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. ³⁸ For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, ³⁹ nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Gospel Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52 (NRSV)

Setting the scene: Like a good teacher, Jesus mixes teaching with practical experience of ministry. Jesus’ stories used the everyday items of the disciples’ lives to teach about the kingdom of God.

³¹ He put before them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in his field; ³² it is the smallest of all the seeds, but when it has grown it is the greatest of shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.”

³³ He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed in with three measures of flour until all of it was leavened.”

⁴⁴ “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which someone found and hid; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.

⁴⁵ “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls; ⁴⁶ on finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it.

⁴⁷ “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and caught fish of every kind; ⁴⁸ when it was full, they drew it ashore, sat down, and put the good into baskets but threw out the bad. ⁴⁹ So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous ⁵⁰ and throw them into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

⁵¹ “Have you understood all this?” They answered, “Yes.” ⁵² And he said to them, “Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like the master of a household who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old.”

Growing Together, Pentecost 7, July 23, 2017

Seventh Sunday of Pentecost (Year A)

Sunday, July 23, 2017

Jesus' parable makes clear that any attempt to root out the weeds will only do more damage to the crop. This has played out far too many times in congregations and denominations, with some determined to root out anyone who does not agree with the "right" interpretation of Scripture, liturgical practice, or stand on a particular issue. There are also those who pronounce judgment on people outside the church -- on people of other faiths, for instance -- declaring them to be destined for eternal damnation. Whether judgment is focused within the church or without, it does serious damage to the church and its mission.

– Elisabeth Johnson,

Lutheran Institute of Theology, Meiganga, Cameroon

Theme: Growing Together

Reflection: If ever there was a text for a fire and brimstone sermon, this would be the day.

Jesus ends the parable of the weeds among wheat like this: “…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.”

Be wheat, the parable seems to suggest. Because the weeds will end up in hell, gathered together and burned. You don’t want that to be your destination, so shape up now.

There’s only one problem with that line of thinking – Jesus’ parables didn’t mess with the facts of life. Wheat is wheat, and weeds are weeds. Weeds do not magically become wheat, and wheat does not transform into weeds. So if you were born a weed, into the burn pile with you, no matter if you are plucked as soon as you sprout, or at harvest time.

So, if I was born into the wrong family, raised among atheists, never had the chance to hear about this God who loves me, I’m going to that pile.

Nope, no way that fits into what author and theologian Richard Rohr calls the “Golden Thread.” Rohr’s point is that there are great themes running through the entire Bible. Any passage, or even any one book of the Bible, isn’t a very good representation of The Way.

“The fact is, if we simply go searching after "proof texts," we can assert anything we want from the Scriptures,” Rohr said. “In order to interpret each passage properly, the whole trajectory of the Bible must be honored. And surely this takes time, study, and experience.”

I wouldn’t dare claim I have put in the time, or had the training or ministry experience to map that trajectory. No one gets to claim that, least of all, this seeker who was overtaken by a hunger to go deeper just a few years ago. I’ve had no seminary experience and clung for decades to my early faith story.

But I am beginning to find traces of this faint golden thread that connects Creation with the End of the Age, woven through 66 books, most clearly seen in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus the Christ. And love is in each fiber. If Jesus wasn’t saying “to save the wheat, we must ignore the weeds that will be cast into the eternal fire later,” what is the point of this passage?

Back to another one of my childhood gardening experiences (read more about gardens last week) …

I have no idea how young I was when I started helping my mother in the garden. But I wanted to be a big girl helper and pull weeds like Mom and my big sister Lucy. So I knelt down in the moist earth of the garden to do my little-sister share.

Weeds were easy: there were the broad-leafed ones, the crabgrass, the vines that mom called creeping jenny, and the ones with the feathery green tops. I pulled and pulled, until Mom came over to check my work.

“Gail!” she said. “These are carrots!”

Unbeknownst to me, those “ones with the feathery green tops” were a row of tiny carrots, mixed in with the weeds. Mom tried to replant what she could, but I don’t recall any bumper crop of carrots.

It wouldn’t be my gardening rule to let the weeds and wheat grow together in my garden, but I think Jesus had a point. We are too interconnected to all of God’s people to separate weeds from wheat. Dividing them up before the end of the age would be a disaster. Who would we be to judge, anyway?

We who are on our faith journeys are a lot like children of the Master Gardener. We’d be pulling up carrots and onions, potatoes and turnips, because they don’t look anything like wheat. We can’t see any of those crops as they grow.

Here in the garden, the Master Gardener tends all of it. Some folks bear different fruit, and some mature later than others.

“Wait and let them grow together,” Jesus said. “Then I’ll send my reapers to collect the harvest.”

And, in the end, may we be astounded at the abundance of the harvest in God’s barn.

Going back to the parable, I had a wild thought: Perhaps what the enemy planted – not in the field but in the field hands’ minds – was the disruptive, inflammatory notion that the Master’s wheat field was chock-full of weeds.

(You always are welcome to respond with your thoughts and reflections in the comments section at the bottom of this post.) 

Faith App:  Plant and propagate a garden full of peas (P’s):

• Provide presence – observe and listen to what is happening around you now.
• Practice patience – everyone doesn’t mature in the Spirit together.
•  Pray persistently – stay rooted in relationship with God.
• Proclaim praise – worship regularly and live with gratitude.
• Ponder peace – live with compassion, seeing the possibilities in everyone.

HYMN/SONG SUGGESTIONS

God the Sculptor of the Mountains, ELW 736

Come, Ye Thankful People, Come, ELW 693

As the Grains of Wheat, ELW 465

Praise and Thanksgiving, ELW 689

Father, We Thank You, ELW 478

Lord, Let My Heart Be Good Soil, ELW 512

You Are the Seed, WOV 753

There’s a Wideness in God’s Mercy, ELW 587/588

Sent Forth by God’s Blessing, ELW 330

On What Has Now Been Sown, ELW 550

The Way, Jeremy Camp

Children of God, Third Day

Before the Morning, Josh Wilson

Do you wonder why you have to,

Feel the things that hurt you,

If there's a God who loves you,

Where is he now?

Or maybe, there are things you can't see

And all those things are happening

To bring a better ending

Someday, somehow, you'll see, you'll see

Would you dare, would you dare, to believe,

That you still have a reason to sing,

'Cause the pain that you've been feeling,

It can't compare to the joy that's coming

So hold on, you gotta wait for the light

Press on, and just fight the good fight

'Cause the pain that you've been feeling,

It's just the dark before the morning

Love Come to Life, Big Daddy Weave

Fearless, Jasmine Murray

Good, Good Father, Chris Tomlin

LESSONS

Isaiah 44:6-8 Isaiah proclaims there is no god besides the one true God.

Psalm 86:11-17 Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth.

Romans 8:12-25 As we are children of God, we are heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ.

Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43 An enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat. 

Summary: From God’s instruction book … grow together. Be rooted among all God’s children with grace, waiting with patience for what God has in store for us. It is not up to us to identify and rid the world of weeds, just to learn our Lord’s lessons of truth and love, to mature and bear our own fruit.

OPENING LITANY based on Psalm 86:11-17

L:  I have a lot to learn, O Lord, to understand your ways,

C:  How you accept me where I am, in your unfailing love,

L:  I’ll always give you thanks and praise your holy name,

C:  For you rescue me from danger, baseless are my fears.

L:  Not too long ago, bullies plotted to take my life,

C:  Took me for an easy mark – they didn’t know my God.

L:  Terrible and tough they were, but I could be fearless,

C:  Because my God is faithful, I could face every peril.

L:  Stand with me and keep caring for me, Lord,

C:  Empower me, for I want to follow you forever;

L:  Smile on me so everyone knows I belong to you,

C:  Your everlasting love protects me day after day.

CONFESSION

L:  Over and over, God’s messengers tell us “Do not fear,”

C:  But every day we find new things to grow anxious about:

L:  We worry about school, jobs, kids, health and retiring –

C:  Spirit of God, lead us to trust in your provision and timing.

L:  We try to put you first, loving you with all that is in us,

C:  But we keep failing to seek you with undivided hearts;

L:  We disappoint you so often we’re sure you’ll reject us –

C:  Spirit of adoption, assure us we are God’s children forever.

L:  We want to live in a world without evil, where no one hurts,

C:  But creation groans as it labors, as God’s vision comes alive;

L:  We should be midwives, birthing a world of peace and justice –

C:  Spirit of joy, move us to speak and act as your kingdom now.

(Silent reflection)

L:  In our confession, we pray together,

C:  Most Merciful God … we can get so focused on the challenges of today and the evil in our world that we lose hope in your promises. Plant in us a taste of your glory that will be revealed as your kingdom comes to us and through us. Reassure us of our place in your kingdom, as your children, your heirs, and use us to lead others into a relationship with you.

Here is Good News: You did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received a spirit of adoption. You are the children of our Mothering God’s womb, the first fruits of the harvest, heirs to the Kingdom of Heaven. Each of us is our Lord’s beloved, and nothing, NOTHING can separate us from Love itself. You are forgiven and set free from your divisions with each other and with God.

In the name of…

Amen

PRAYER OF THE DAY

L:  We pray together, 

C:  God of Wisdom … we thank you for the way you see the possibilities in every living thing. You nourish us, encouraging us to grow together, our roots intertwined in the garden of this earth. Tend us with your Spirit and water us with your word, that we would flourish and bear the fruit of joy and understanding, until the goodness of this harvest spreads over your world. Amen.

COMMUNION BLESSING

L:  We pray together,

C:  We give you thanks, most gracious God, for this community of hope joining all your family everywhere around this simple meal. We thank you for every beloved person, tangled together like wheat and weeds, inseparable from our roots in this place, growing toward the Son. Produce in us a rich harvest of your love and compassion, that we would show this world the glory of your kingdom.  Amen. 

SENDING

L:  God, we are at once both sinners and saints,

C:  Yes, we are the weeds and wheat of your fields,

L:  Rooted deeply together, maturing in your word,

C:  Becoming the harvest you are raising us to be.

L:  Go now, growing in grace, to love and to serve the Lord.

C: Thanks be to God!

First Reading Isaiah 44:6-8 (NRSV)

Setting the Scene: The Israelites, in exile, were surrounded by nations that worshiped idols. This second writer of Isaiah reminds them they have one God, the Lord. Today’s lesson sounds like those parents today who tell their children: Remember who you are, and whose you are.

⁶ Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel,
    and his Redeemer, the Lord of hosts:
I am the first and I am the last;
    besides me there is no god.
⁷ Who is like me? Let them proclaim it,
    let them declare and set it forth before me.
Who has announced from of old the things to come?
    Let them tell us what is yet to be.
⁸ Do not fear, or be afraid;
    have I not told you from of old and declared it?
    You are my witnesses!
Is there any god besides me?
    There is no other rock; I know not one.

Second Reading Romans 8:12-25 (NRSV)

Setting the Scene: If Paul were alive today, his slogan might be “Less is More.” Paul was attacked for not doing enough miracles, not having enough to show for his ministry. Paul didn’t try to pull the spotlight on himself.

¹² So then, brothers and sisters, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh— ¹³ for if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. ¹⁴ For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. ¹⁵ For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received a spirit of adoption. When we cry, “Abba! Father!” ¹⁶ it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God, ¹⁷ and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ—if, in fact, we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.

¹⁸ I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory about to be revealed to us. ¹⁹ For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the children of God; ²⁰ for the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope ²¹ that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and will obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. ²² We know that the whole creation has been groaning in labor pains until now; ²³ and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly while we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies. ²⁴ For in hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what is seen? ²⁵ But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

Gospel Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43 (NRSV)

Setting the Scene: The writer of the book of Matthew no doubt had overzealous members who wanted to quickly remove members who weren’t bearing the right fruit. Jesus, however, says it isn’t up to us to discern who is “in” or “out.” It’s our job to follow Christ and live the Good News.

²⁴ He put before them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to someone who sowed good seed in his field; ²⁵ but while everybody was asleep, an enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and then went away. ²⁶ So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared as well. ²⁷ And 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?’ ²⁸ He answered, ‘An enemy has done this.’ The slaves said to him, ‘Then do you want us to go and gather them?’ ²⁹ But he replied, ‘No; for in gathering the weeds you would uproot the wheat along with them. ³⁰ Let 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.’”

³⁶ Then 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.” ³⁷ He answered, “The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man; ³⁸ the field is the world, and the good seed are the children of the kingdom; the weeds are the children of the evil one, ³⁹ and the enemy who sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels. ⁴⁰ Just as the weeds are collected and burned up with fire, so will it be at the end of the age. ⁴¹ The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will collect out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all evildoers, ⁴² and they will throw them into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. ⁴³ Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Let anyone with ears listen!