Preaching from Matt 13: 24-30, 36-43 on the Parable of the Wheat and Weeds, summarised as follows: 1. In the world we live in today, we are brought up with the message that life is in our hands. We are responsible for how we turn out to be. We thus are eager to take action, in life and in faith. 2. We thus may be quick to judge and quick to punish. 3. Jesus spoke on the need to allow the weeds to grow amongst the wheat and not for the slaves to pull out the weeds ahead of time: for the wheat may be damaged as well. Also, when the time came, it is the Angels’ role to gather the weeds, not that of the slaves. 4. Today therefore, I am reminded to not be to eager to cry for justice, but to pray for mercy and for God’s grace to touch the hearts of the seemingly lost, for it is God’s will that all be saved. 5. Let us not be too quick to call for punishment, when there are so many more that are still yet to turn to God. 6. If the sower allowed the slaves to prematurely pull out the weeds, even I will be lost in the flames. So, in a hurry to prescribe judgement? pray for restraint on our part, so that God’s love May reach out to more, before He decides to pull out the weeds!

1. Leave it to
the Lord,
it is in His
Hands!
8th Sunday after Pentecost: 23rd July 2023

2. In this cruel and unfair world, We want to act….

3. Today…
What does God’s Word have to say to us today?
Matthew 13: 24-30, 36-43

4. 13:24 He put before them
another parable: "The
kingdom of heaven may be
compared to someone who
sowed good seed in his
field;
13:25 but while everybody
was asleep, an enemy
came and sowed weeds
among the wheat, and
then went away.
13:26 So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared as well.
13:27 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?'

5. What is the message for TODAY?
The players in the cosmic game
Sower: Jesus
Field: The world
Good Seed: Children of the Kingdom
Enemy: The Devil
Weeds: Children of the evil one
Harvest: End of the Age
Reapers: Angels
Slaves: The disciples, Christ followers

6. 13:28 He answered, 'An enemy
has done this.' The slaves said to
him, 'Then do you want us to go
and gather them?'
13:29 But he replied, 'No; for in
gathering the weeds you would
uproot the wheat along with
them.
13:30 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.'"

7. What is the message for TODAY?
Why God does not bring justice to the world?
Timing: According to God’s plan
Actors to carry out: Reapers, not the slaves
Slaves: Seem to recognise, and want to act
Jesus’ warning: The crop will get hurt
Us? We get on with the mission
MISSION?
Share the plan of God and the Love of Christ

8. 13:36 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."
13:37 He answered, "The one who
sows the good seed is the Son of Man;
13:38 the field is the world, and the
good seed are the children of the
kingdom; the weeds are the children
of the evil one,
13:39 and the enemy who sowed them
is the devil; the harvest is the end of
the age, and the reapers are angels.

9. 13:40 Just as the weeds are
collected and burned up with fire,
so will it be at the end of the age.
13:41 The Son of Man will send his
angels, and they will collect out of
his kingdom all causes of sin and all
evildoers,
13:42 and they will throw them
into the furnace of fire, where
there will be weeping and gnashing
of teeth.
13:43 Then the righteous will shine
like the sun in the kingdom of their
Father. Let anyone with ears listen!

10. What is the message for TODAY?
What shall we do then?
Taking matters into hands: Jesus and His angels
Until the end: We Make a Difference!

11. Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father
There is no shadow of turning with Thee
Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not
As Thou hast been, Thou forever will be

12. Great is Thy faithfulness
Great is Thy faithfulness
Morning by morning new mercies I see
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me

13. Summer and winter and springtime and harvest
Sun, moon and stars in their courses above
Join with all nature in manifold witness
To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love

14. Great is Thy faithfulness
Great is Thy faithfulness
Morning by morning new mercies I see
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me

15. Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth
Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow
Blessings all mine with 10, 000 beside

16. Great is Thy faithfulness
Great is Thy faithfulness
Morning by morning new mercies I see
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me