Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
This is the day the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it!
As we start a new week there will be many opportunities to see the events of our gospel lesson from yesterday unfold in our lives and in the world. Yesterday we read Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43 in worship. It is the parable of the Weeds in the Field. In the parable a man plants good wheat seed in his field, but an enemy comes along and plants weed seed in the field. But it’s not just any weed that the enemy plants. It is darnel grass, or what is commonly called “cheat” because it looks so much like wheat. The owner of the field decides to let the wheat and the cheat grow together until the harvest so as to not harm the wheat in the weeding process.
You will see wheat and cheat at work in the world this week. In this parable we are encouraged because we know there will be an end to the cheat. There will be an end to the evil, the struggles, and the sorrows that the devil has sown into the world, and which have grown as people continue to choose sin over righteousness. As Jesus-followers, we look ahead to the day when Christ will come again, and we long for the salvation that day will bring for us.
Yet our longing for Jesus’ return is tempered by the knowledge that those who don’t know Jesus are like the cheat, destined for the place where there will be “weeping and gnashing of teeth.” We long for our salvation, but there is compassion for those who are lost.
What then should we do?
We should really have compassion on people! Love them as Jesus loves them, and share the good news that saves all people through the blood of Jesus. God has provided the way for all people to be saved, and He has put that good seed in our hearts to grow and produce more seed to plant in other people’s hearts. There is no other name given under heaven, given among men, by which we must be saved than the name of Jesus. This is true for us, and it’s true of all.
We should stay awake; be alert. The enemy sowed the weeds into the field while everyone was sleeping. Jesus has warned us to keep watch. Look out for false doctrine and wrong ideas about God, who He is and what He does. Continually test everything by God’s Word, and hold tight to the Word, your Baptism, and the Lord’s Supper to remind you that you are His.
We should also be at peace. The Father knows wheat from cheat. He knows you are His. Trust Him to bring the field to harvest as you grow, fed on the Word and Sacrament. Believe his promises as He ripens you and you scatter seed. Others will come to faith through you. Remember the harvest is coming, and God will bring you home.
God bless you.
Comments