Wow! My morning reading was so interesting and eye-opening!I've read and/or have heard read and even heard preaching based upon the parable of the Wheat and Weeds, or as some say, "The Tares." I do not recall ever hearing about the significance of the master telling the servants NOT to remove the weeds until harvest time. Have you?
Well, the Bible study guide I'm using enlightened me and it makes so much more sense to me. I had always thought that the reason was in the 'fruit'. They'd be able to distinguish by the appearance - the shape, size, color and so on. But this is not the assumed case.
The guide's leader's notes note that the wheat had already sprouted and formed heads. The wheat heads are obviously identified compared to what the weed heads look like. The writer says the enemy's weeds were likely darnel and easily distinguished.
So why wait?
Ah. This is where the interesting crux of the matter lies. They said that the roots of both the wheat and weeds entangle and therefore if one tries to pull up the darnel, then the wheat roots would be pulled up too, thus destroying the wheat, thus incurring loss of profit.
A wise farmer knows his wheat.
The author of this particular study guide, John White, further elaborates. He said some believers have made the mistake of equating the field in which the wheat and weeds were sown, as being the Church. But God's Word clearly stated in Matthew 13:38 ESV,
"The field is the world ..."
Why would this understanding be so important?
The message is that it's not about church discipline nor purging out heretics. Much damage and tragedy has been escalated and perpetrated from such scenarios. For instance, the Crusades, the 'Spanish Inquisition, the Salem Witch Trials, the persecution and martyrdom of Anabaptists and the like.
Instead, what did Jesus say? He said,
"the field is the world"!
O, the difference this makes. This puts the onus on the individual follower of Jesus Christ to be the salt and light in society. We need to be strong and courageous to stand firmly and not be swayed by society's standards and norms. To stand against the wiles of the evil one - the devil with his plans and influencers to topple a believer and saturate the world with his lies and deceit.
It is not our job, I learned, to eradicate the evil either. It is to bring salt and light to the world. A great example of the salt that rubbed recently into society's cognisance was Charlie Kirk and his Turning Point ministry. He brought the light of the gospel and God's ways that acted like salt in society's wounds. But he also brought light and hope to the world of the lost should they wish to choose it.
The big question too is why does God allow the wicked to flourish? Well, think of the parable. He's waiting for the harvest time.
Then,
"The Son of Man will send His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all causes of sin and all law-breakers" (Matthew 13:41 ESV).
They will go to the place they deserve and justice will have been served (see vs 41 & 42).
It is tough for us to abide all the hate and wickedness in the world now and to look back at the past cruelites but our God has His timing and justice will come.
Until then, let's not tear whole churches apart but be the salt and light against the backdrop of the wicked and wicked world. Don your armor and pray (see Ephesians 6:10-18).
~ ERC November 2025 ~
Based on Matthew 13:24-30 & 36-43 ESV and Parables, Lesson 6 The Wheat and the Weeds by John White.
Sing, Salt and Light, along with Lauren Daigle.
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