Matthew 13: Let Them Grow Together

Matthew 13: 24-30

Weeds among Wheat

24 Jesus gave them another parable [to consider], saying, “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. 25 But while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed [c]weeds [resembling wheat] among the wheat, and went away. 26 So when the plants sprouted and formed grain, the weeds appeared also. 27 The servants of the owner came to him and said, ‘Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? Then how does it have weeds in it?’ 28 He replied to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ The servants asked him, ‘Then do you want us to go and pull them out?’ 29 But he said, ‘No; because as you pull out the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them. 30 Let them grow together until the harvest; and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, “First gather the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; but gather the wheat into my barn.”’”
Matthew 24:36-43

The Weeds Explained

36 Then He left the crowds and went into the house. And His disciples came to Him saying, “Explain [clearly] to us the parable of the weeds in the field.” 37 He answered, “The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man, 38 and the field is the world; and [as for] the good seed, these are the sons of the kingdom; and the weeds are the sons of the evil one; 39 and the enemy who sowed them is the devil, and the harvest is the end of the age; and the reapers are angels. 40 So just as the weeds are gathered up and burned in the fire, so will it be at the end of the age. 41 The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend [those things by which people are led into sin], and all who practice evil [leading others into sin], 42 and will throw them into the furnace of fire; in that place there will be weeping [over sorrow and pain] and grinding of teeth [over distress and anger]. 43 Then the righteous [those who seek the will of God] will shine forth [radiating the new life] like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears [to hear], let him hear and heed My words.

The parable of the weeds and the wheat explains why evil remains in the world.  Those who perform evil (the weeds) live right beside those who are righteous (those who belong to God). 

For reasons unknown, God has said that uprooting the "weeds" or removing the evil from among us, would in some way damage us (the wheat).

Over the course of my life, evil has been done to me, and  I have witnessed evil done to others.  In my humanness, it seems as though the evil is doing the damage to the wheat. 

BUT God doesn't see situations from an earthly, temporal perspective.

When we find ourselves as a recipient of an evil act, we have a choice to become like the weed by reacting with evil 

OR we can respond as wheat with understanding, love and forgiveness.

Without the weeds, the wheat would not have the opportunity to BE wheat. 

SO what does wheat look like?

Earlier in Matthew 13, Jesus speaks about seeds being sown on the good soil.  These seeds grow and bear fruit to varying degrees. (Matthew 13:23).  It's the fruit that determines what kind of plant is grown. 

SO does fruit look like in a Christian's life?



Galatians 5:22-23

But the fruit of the Spirit [the result of His presence within us] is love [unselfish concern for others], joy, [inner] peace, patience [not the ability to wait, but how we act while waiting], kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law.

Christians bear the fruit of His Spirit as listed in the preceding verse.  Note that the fruit is "the result of His presence within us."  True fruit cannot be grown by our own efforts. 

Fruit, even good fruit, takes time to ripen.  Did you ever eat a green banana?  Yuck!  The sweetness of character ripens over time.  What develops "unselfish concern for others" and "inner peace," joy, kindness, gentleness, self-control and the ability to wait with a positive attitude as a person stays remains connected to His Spirit.  Just a wheat grain (fruit) ripens in the presence of sunshine and water, in good soil.

Dear wheat, don't strive to grow fruit; cling to Jesus (His Spirit) and the fruit grows and ripens naturally, supernaturally!
 

Matthew 12: The Man With the Withered Hand

Matthew 12:9-14
 
9 And going on from there, He went into their synagogue.

10 And behold, a man was there with one withered hand. And they said to Him, Is it lawful or allowable to cure people on the Sabbath days?—that they might accuse Him.

11 But He said to them, What man is there among you, if he has only one sheep and it falls into a pit or ditch on the Sabbath, will not take hold of it and lift it out?

12 How much better and of more value is a man than a sheep! So it is lawful and allowable to do good on the Sabbath days.

13 Then He said to the man, Reach out your hand. And the man reached it out and it was restored, as sound as the other one.

14 But the Pharisees went out and held a consultation against Him, how they might do away with Him.


The last time I wrote a post was July.  The sermon this past Sunday inspired me to take the time.  Imagine my surprise when the next Bible reading just happened to be the very stories which Sunday's sermon included.  

I don't believe in coincidences!

Many years ago, I had a dream set in a church.  

I was standing in the front when I noticed a black man with a withered right hand sitting in the front pew.  This man was not black as a matter of of race, he was black because he had been burned, charred. As I prayed for the man, his hand was healed.

I understood that the man represented those people who had been "burned" by the religious structures (Pharisees) within the church.  These people were so hurt that part of who they were (gifting, talent, personality, etc.) had withered. 

The Lord is speaking! If you have been hurt, there is healing!  Jesus has placed great value on you, because He loves you!  He doesn't want any part of who you are to be withered.  

You and I were made to shine!  We were made to go into the world spreading His love to all we contact.
 
We were made to demonstrate compassion!
  

Luke 2:1-38: Seeking the Face of God by Grace

Luke 2:36-38 

Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC)

³⁶ And there was also a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old, having lived with her husband seven years from her maidenhood,

³⁷ And as a widow even for eighty-four years. She did not go out from the temple enclosure, but was worshiping night and day with fasting and prayer.

³⁸ And she too came up at that same hour, and she returned thanks to God and talked of [Jesus] to all who were looking for the redemption (deliverance) of Jerusalem.

I remember when the Holy Spirit revealed to me the symbolism in these verses.  A feeling of Holy excitement stirred my spirit as I thought about the name of Anna's father, Phanuel.  

You might ask, what is so special about that name?  Often, the Bible uses genealogy as a descriptor of a biblical character.  The name Phanuel is special because of its meaning, "the face of God."  Think of it using your holy imagination.  As a child, Anna gazed adoringly into her earthy father's face.  See loved and sought for intimacy with her daddy. This was a foreshadow of what was to come.

The prophetess, Anna, was one who dedicated her life to God through fasting and prayer.  She sought the "face of God."  Intimacy with her heavenly Father through worship and prayer was her desire both night and day.  After eighty-four years of seeking the face of God through worship, was graced to see Jesus physically! 

That revelation was one that solidified my desire to worship God, to seek His face.  Anna's desire was stirred by grace, and it wasn't surprising to discover that Anna's name means grace.

Anna and I have much in common.  God has reminded us of His grace through our given names.  Over the course of my life, I could have been destroyed physically, emotionally and spiritually, BUT for grace, I continue to seek the face of my heavenly Daddy.  And for as long as I live on this earth, I will continue to gaze adoringly.  

As you walk your personal path into eternity, remember to seek the face of God, and His grace will flow.  Be thankful for life, for destiny, and for the season of New Beginnings!

Zechariah 1-2: Be Still All Flesh

It's been awhile since I have read Zachariah...WOW!  This symbolically rich, Old Testament book instills courage and direction.  Even the name, "Zachariah" instills comfort by its meaning, "the Lord has remembered" (Introduction to Zachariah, Amplified Bible).

The Jews have returned to Jerusalem after their seventy year captivity in Babylon.  The Lord is reminding the people, "Return to Me" and "I will return to you" (Zechariah 1:3, Amplified). 

In Zechariah 2:4, the second angel declares that Jerusalem will be "without walls." But this is not a cause for concern, because the Lord promises that He "will be a wall of fire round about" (Zechariah 2:5). 

Use your holy imagination...

There are so many people and livestock that a physical wall can't contain them.  Without a wall for protection, I imagine that the Jews might be a little worried. 

Would another enemy attack them and carry them off into captivity once again as the Babylonians had done?

The Lord ignites a fire wall around His people!  His glory is shining directly from the middle of His people.  I imagine His glory as the fuel for the fire wall.  The people are protected, safe and secure.  God has them, all around.  They are living in the midst of Living Flames of Fire!  The people respond with courage!  Their souls immersed in Peace!  They develop confidence in the Lord of Hosts...they have returned to Him, and He has returned to them!  Cries of celebration replace the cries of captivity!  Songs of joy sung; "He has come into our midst!" It is another day, a different season, a New Beginning!!!  The Lord of Hosts assures them that any enemy who touches them is touching His eye!  He will not stand for an enemy poking Him in His eye!  He swings His hand and the former masters now become plunder for God's people.  The enemy is defeated!  No more, can he enslave.  The people, they are free and their souls are stilled!!!


Zechariah 2:13
Amplified Bible (AMP)

Be still, all flesh, before the Lord, for He is aroused and risen from His holy habitation.


I can feel Your Presence, Lord!  You are reminding me that Your flaming wall of protection surrounds and Your glory shines from the midst of me.  My flesh is still!!!

Thank You, thank You, thank You!!!

Ezekiel 16-17: Life, Allegorical

The whole chapter of Ezekiel 17 demonstrates God's creative communication by an allegorical message to the house of Israel through Ezekiel. 

God uses trees, eagles and mountains to describe His people, kings and protection/growth.  Did you ever wonder why God doesn't speak in plain language?  For me, symbolic language sparks thoughtful consideration of what is being communicated.  Could it be that God wants us to meditate on what He says?  Should we be asking Him about its application to our lives?

As long as I can remember, I have enjoyed looking "deeper" than the surface meaning of seemingly ordinary circumstances.  Apparently, God also enjoys symbolic language.  Reading through His Word reveals layers of meaning through subtle symbolism sparking thoughtful interpretation, to straight up, to-the-point expression, leaving nothing for the listener/reader to debate or analyze. 


How would my life-story be depicted in the symbolic, allegorical form?



What would your life-story sound like if told through allegory?


Holy Spirit, we are open to ALL forms of communication with You, symbolic or straight forward.  We trust that any message You have for us would be easily discernible and that You would empower us with the ability to follow through with any direction or receive any encouragement You may have for us. 

We are listening...

Ezekiel 1-4: The Serpent is Trampled

I am a runner. To vary my workouts, I change up my running routes. My newest route takes me over a dirt road beside a creek. While running, I noticed a snake which had been squished most probably by a passing car. As I ran yesterday, I ran over the flattened snake then the Lord showed me the symbolism.

The car represents what Jesus did on the cross. He crushed the head of the serpent (satan). Jesus power trumped the power of the evil one. As I run here on earth, I run over the crushed snake; it's power is already defeated. I am free to keep running my race, doing the things God has called me to accomplish here in this life! No power of hell can stop me, because Jesus has won!!!

The evil one's attempts to seduce by whispering lies and using the spirit of fear to control, BUT the serpent is crushed. Fear's attempts are useless as long as we (I) remember the crushed serpent. Fear of men, their judgments, their "behind door" conversations hold no power.


Ezekiel 2:6
Amplified Bible (AMP)

6 And you, son of man, be not afraid of them, neither be afraid of their words; though briers and thorns are all around you and you dwell and sit among scorpions, be not afraid of their words nor be dismayed at their looks, for they are a *rebellious house.


My God certainly has a way of encouragement! Yesterday morning, I had the choice to succumb to the fear of men or to obey the voice of His Spirit. I chose the listen and obey the Spirit and deny the voice of fear. The result was a young man who desperately needs the Lord witnessed the actions of one who loves the Lord with all of her heart and demonstrates that love with abandoned worship. Obedience resulted in a young man's heart being exposed to passionate worship!

The serpent is crushed. Life results. Keeping running. Keep listening. Keep obeying!

Spirit of the Living God, You have empowered us to run our earthly race.  We run over the crushed serpent; it holds no power over us!  Thank You for Your grace!  In the name of Victorious Jesus!  AMEN!!!

*Note:  I was not in an atmosphere of a "rebellious house" though the evil one still attempted to stir the fear of men.