1 00:00:00,000 –> 00:00:04,360 We’re continuing our series that’s entitled Ministry Matters and we’re 2 00:00:04,360 –> 00:00:10,520 looking at what it takes to sustain a lifetime of ministry. Obviously, it takes 3 00:00:10,520 –> 00:00:16,020 character, it takes commitment, but it takes something else. It takes wisdom, and 4 00:00:16,020 –> 00:00:23,000 in these parables of Jesus, our Lord is giving us wisdom for sustaining a 5 00:00:23,000 –> 00:00:27,660 lifetime of ministry. Here’s what you need to know in terms of expectations. 6 00:00:28,100 –> 00:00:31,480 It’s limitations, that’s what we looked at last time, limitations, which is what we’re 7 00:00:31,480 –> 00:00:36,540 looking at today, progress, which is what we’ll look at, God willing, next week, and 8 00:00:36,540 –> 00:00:42,139 then also joy, the week that follows. Now, we began last week with the theme of 9 00:00:42,139 –> 00:00:46,740 expectations. We saw from the parable of the sower that the core ministry by 10 00:00:46,740 –> 00:00:50,939 which God gets His work done in the world is the sowing of the word of God. 11 00:00:50,939 –> 00:00:55,919 And that while other seeds may be sown, this is the only seed, the word of God is 12 00:00:56,040 –> 00:01:01,820 only seed that will bring the harvest of a Godward life. And we saw what will 13 00:01:01,820 –> 00:01:04,279 happen when you sow the seed of the word of God. 14 00:01:04,279 –> 00:01:08,620 You sow the seed of the word of God as a parent. You try and establish some prayer 15 00:01:08,620 –> 00:01:12,839 and some reading of the Bible in your home. You sow the word of God as a life 16 00:01:12,839 –> 00:01:17,440 group leader or as a pastor or as a church planter or as a cross-cultural 17 00:01:17,440 –> 00:01:21,620 missionary. Here’s what will happened, Jesus says, you need to understand. 18 00:01:21,620 –> 00:01:25,040 Here’s wisdom for you. Know first that some people will be more 19 00:01:25,120 –> 00:01:30,000 responsive than others. You have two children, one drinks it all in. 20 00:01:30,000 –> 00:01:33,239 The other one doesn’t seem to think that it has anything to do with them. 21 00:01:33,239 –> 00:01:36,400 Why the difference? Jesus says, you should expect that. That’s what it’s going to 22 00:01:36,400 –> 00:01:41,720 be like. Then you’ll find that there are some people who are immediately 23 00:01:41,720 –> 00:01:45,239 enthusiastic, but then they will fall away because they have no root 24 00:01:45,239 –> 00:01:48,000 in themselves. It will be a huge disappointment. You have to expect 25 00:01:48,000 –> 00:01:51,400 that that is going to happen if you’re going to sustain a lifetime 26 00:01:51,400 –> 00:01:55,639 of ministry. It will be part of your experience, Jesus is saying. 27 00:01:55,639 –> 00:02:00,680 Then there will be some people who profess faith, but what will happen is 28 00:02:00,680 –> 00:02:05,400 that the word will be choked in them because it has to compete with other 29 00:02:05,400 –> 00:02:10,399 already established dreams, commitments, priorities that occupy the 30 00:02:10,399 –> 00:02:14,639 ground of their life. And you will experience that, 31 00:02:14,639 –> 00:02:18,940 so don’t be surprised by it, Jesus says, and then you will find that some 32 00:02:19,259 –> 00:02:24,259 profess faith and it will be abundantly fruitful. 33 00:02:26,940 –> 00:02:31,039 The fruitfulness of the word of God will be different and more 34 00:02:31,039 –> 00:02:33,940 abundant in the lives of some believers than others, 35 00:02:33,940 –> 00:02:37,360 some will be 30, some will be 60, some will be a hundredfold. 36 00:02:37,360 –> 00:02:40,139 There will be a difference in the fruitfulness of the word in varying 37 00:02:40,139 –> 00:02:45,500 believers, but this will be true of every single believer that the word 38 00:02:45,600 –> 00:02:48,679 of God will bear fruit in that person’s life. 39 00:02:48,679 –> 00:02:53,179 This is the distinguishing mark of a true Christian. 40 00:02:53,179 –> 00:02:57,259 Now, that’s all about expectations, Jesus sets them very clearly for us so we 41 00:02:57,259 –> 00:03:02,220 know what we’re getting into when we give ourselves to a lifetime of service 42 00:03:02,220 –> 00:03:04,820 and of ministry. 43 00:03:04,820 –> 00:03:10,240 Now, today, we come to a second parable in which the Lord tells us more about the 44 00:03:10,240 –> 00:03:14,759 experience of true believers in the world. 45 00:03:14,779 –> 00:03:20,160 Think of it this way, Jesus has spoken about four different kinds of soil and 46 00:03:20,160 –> 00:03:26,479 now it is as if the camera zooms in on the good soil. 47 00:03:26,479 –> 00:03:31,880 So forget about the path, forget about the thorns, forget about the stony ground, 48 00:03:31,880 –> 00:03:39,399 we’re now just looking at a beautiful field that is plowed and furrowed, 49 00:03:39,399 –> 00:03:44,080 long straight lines and sown, rich, dark soil. 50 00:03:44,100 –> 00:03:47,520 The very best. 51 00:03:47,520 –> 00:03:49,660 And what will happen to the good soil? 52 00:03:49,660 –> 00:03:52,720 Well, Jesus has already told us one thing that will happen. 53 00:03:52,720 –> 00:03:59,880 In the good soil, the seed of the word of God will produce an abundant crop. 54 00:03:59,880 –> 00:04:03,820 But that is only half of the story. 55 00:04:03,820 –> 00:04:08,460 There’s more to be said about what happens in the soil and so 56 00:04:08,559 –> 00:04:12,720 So Jesus tells us this second parable in which he focuses 57 00:04:12,720 –> 00:04:17,040 in more closely on our experiences as true believers, 58 00:04:17,040 –> 00:04:22,079 servants of the Lord Jesus Christ in this world. 59 00:04:22,079 –> 00:04:25,980 Now, there are seven elements to our Lord’s story, 60 00:04:25,980 –> 00:04:30,220 and I think the clearest way that I can approach this and open it up 61 00:04:30,220 –> 00:04:34,500 is simply to move through them in the order in which they come in the story. 62 00:04:34,619 –> 00:04:41,299 So, seven elements of our Lord’s story in this parable. 63 00:04:41,299 –> 00:04:44,660 The first of course is the owner, verse 24. 64 00:04:44,660 –> 00:04:49,000 The kingdom of heaven, says Jesus, may be compared to a man 65 00:04:49,000 –> 00:04:53,679 who sowed good seed in his field. 66 00:04:53,679 –> 00:04:58,380 So the one who sows the seed is the one who owns the field, 67 00:04:58,380 –> 00:05:00,260 it’s his field. 68 00:05:00,380 –> 00:05:03,000 And if you look at Jesus’ explanation of the parable 69 00:05:03,000 –> 00:05:05,500 in verse 38, he says quite specifically there 70 00:05:05,500 –> 00:05:08,940 that the field is the world. 71 00:05:08,940 –> 00:05:11,559 So this sower, who he will identify, 72 00:05:11,559 –> 00:05:16,459 the sower of good seed is the owner of the whole world, 73 00:05:16,459 –> 00:05:18,500 that’s what we’re being told. 74 00:05:18,500 –> 00:05:21,720 Now notice verse 37 that Jesus says 75 00:05:21,720 –> 00:05:23,700 that the one who sows the good seed, 76 00:05:23,700 –> 00:05:28,700 that is the owner of the whole world, is the son of man. 77 00:05:30,739 –> 00:05:33,399 Now this title, son of man, is one 78 00:05:33,399 –> 00:05:37,799 that Jesus used 84 times in the gospels 79 00:05:37,799 –> 00:05:40,959 and he always used it to refer to himself. 80 00:05:42,100 –> 00:05:46,059 The fact that Jesus is described as the son of man 81 00:05:46,059 –> 00:05:51,059 and as the son of God speaks volumes about who he is, 82 00:05:51,239 –> 00:05:55,380 he is God and he is man. 83 00:05:55,380 –> 00:05:58,339 As God he is one with the father 84 00:05:58,399 –> 00:06:03,399 and yet he has chosen to become one with us in humanity. 85 00:06:04,380 –> 00:06:07,239 The word became flesh 86 00:06:07,239 –> 00:06:12,239 and all that God is is found in him. 87 00:06:13,359 –> 00:06:16,160 But there’s more here because this title, 88 00:06:16,160 –> 00:06:19,380 very wonderful and very important title in the gospels, 89 00:06:19,380 –> 00:06:22,820 son of man, comes from the old testament 90 00:06:22,820 –> 00:06:26,179 in Daniel chapter seven in verses 13 and 14 91 00:06:26,179 –> 00:06:27,899 and when you read these verses, 92 00:06:27,959 –> 00:06:32,500 you see how significant it is that Jesus took this name 93 00:06:32,500 –> 00:06:37,239 as the one by which he most often refers to himself, 94 00:06:37,239 –> 00:06:40,279 son of man, what did it mean? 95 00:06:40,279 –> 00:06:41,640 Well here’s what Daniel says 96 00:06:41,640 –> 00:06:43,559 in Daniel chapter seven and verse 13, 97 00:06:43,559 –> 00:06:45,239 the words will be on the screen. 98 00:06:45,239 –> 00:06:48,579 I saw in the night visions 99 00:06:48,579 –> 00:06:53,279 and behold, with the clouds of heaven, 100 00:06:53,279 –> 00:06:57,059 there came one like a son of man, 101 00:06:57,079 –> 00:07:00,399 so here we have it, and what do we know about him? 102 00:07:00,399 –> 00:07:05,019 He came to the ancient of days, 103 00:07:05,019 –> 00:07:10,019 that’s the Almighty, and was presented before him, 104 00:07:11,359 –> 00:07:14,079 and to him that’s the son of man, 105 00:07:14,079 –> 00:07:18,820 was given dominion and glory 106 00:07:18,820 –> 00:07:23,820 and a kingdom that all peoples 107 00:07:24,459 –> 00:07:29,459 and nations and languages should serve him. 108 00:07:29,540 –> 00:07:33,799 His Dominion is an everlasting dominion 109 00:07:33,799 –> 00:07:36,500 which shall not pass away, 110 00:07:36,500 –> 00:07:41,500 and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed. 111 00:07:41,820 –> 00:07:43,540 And Jesus Christ comes into the world, 112 00:07:43,540 –> 00:07:44,980 and he says, you know what Daniel says 113 00:07:44,980 –> 00:07:47,019 about the son of man, that’s who I am, 114 00:07:47,019 –> 00:07:49,739 it’s an astonishing statement, 115 00:07:49,739 –> 00:07:52,160 and he uses that name to describe himself 116 00:07:52,200 –> 00:07:55,320 84 times in the Gospels. 117 00:07:55,320 –> 00:07:57,299 I am the one who is going to be presented 118 00:07:57,299 –> 00:08:00,339 before the ancient of days! 119 00:08:00,339 –> 00:08:04,059 I am the one who is going to be given the kingdom 120 00:08:04,059 –> 00:08:05,880 in which people from all nations 121 00:08:05,880 –> 00:08:09,600 and all languages will serve me. 122 00:08:09,600 –> 00:08:13,399 I am the one whose kingdom will never pass away. 123 00:08:13,399 –> 00:08:17,760 I mean only God himself could say such a thing. 124 00:08:17,760 –> 00:08:19,779 And Jesus says it because he is God. 125 00:08:19,779 –> 00:08:22,559 He is Son of God, he is Son of man. 126 00:08:24,339 –> 00:08:26,980 And here Jesus is saying quite clearly in the field 127 00:08:26,980 –> 00:08:30,640 there’s a sorer that goes out and sows in his field 128 00:08:30,640 –> 00:08:33,580 and the field is the world and the sower is the Son of man. 129 00:08:33,580 –> 00:08:34,840 What is Jesus saying? 130 00:08:34,840 –> 00:08:37,500 Jesus is saying the whole world is mine. 131 00:08:38,619 –> 00:08:41,799 And he says it very clearly in this parable. 132 00:08:41,799 –> 00:08:44,979 He lays claim to sovereign ownership 133 00:08:44,979 –> 00:08:47,440 over the entire planet 134 00:08:48,119 –> 00:08:52,099 which is why Abraham Kuyper once very famously said 135 00:08:52,099 –> 00:08:55,359 there is not a square inch in the whole domain 136 00:08:55,359 –> 00:08:57,679 of human existence over which Christ, 137 00:08:57,679 –> 00:09:01,520 who is sovereign over all, does not cry mine. 138 00:09:01,520 –> 00:09:03,479 And he does that by right. 139 00:09:05,119 –> 00:09:08,219 Jesus Christ lays claim to every life. 140 00:09:09,799 –> 00:09:11,719 He lays claim not only to every life 141 00:09:11,719 –> 00:09:15,320 but to every part of our lives. 142 00:09:15,320 –> 00:09:17,280 He lays claim to your mind 143 00:09:17,320 –> 00:09:20,280 that it will be devoted to thinking thoughts 144 00:09:20,280 –> 00:09:22,359 after him that honor him. 145 00:09:23,799 –> 00:09:25,159 He lays claim to your heart. 146 00:09:25,159 –> 00:09:27,419 My Son, give me Your heart! 147 00:09:29,460 –> 00:09:32,119 He lays claim to your strength, to your will, 148 00:09:32,119 –> 00:09:33,580 to your gifts, to your talent. 149 00:09:33,580 –> 00:09:37,580 He lays claim to every stage of your life. 150 00:09:37,580 –> 00:09:39,739 Your childhood, here you are, young this morning. 151 00:09:39,739 –> 00:09:43,640 Jesus Christ lays claim to your childhood. 152 00:09:43,640 –> 00:09:45,479 He lays claim to your teenage years, 153 00:09:45,580 –> 00:09:47,880 to your young adulthood, to your midlife, 154 00:09:49,200 –> 00:09:51,700 to your later years, to your so-called retirement, 155 00:09:51,700 –> 00:09:52,679 he lays claim to that. 156 00:09:52,679 –> 00:09:55,080 He lays claim to your old age. 157 00:09:56,919 –> 00:09:58,020 The owner, 158 00:09:59,200 –> 00:10:00,159 the sovereign Lord. 159 00:10:00,159 –> 00:10:01,719 Second element. 160 00:10:01,719 –> 00:10:04,159 There is an enemy in Jesus’ story. 161 00:10:04,159 –> 00:10:05,780 An owner and an enemy. 162 00:10:05,780 –> 00:10:08,140 Notice verse 25. 163 00:10:08,140 –> 00:10:10,320 While His men were sleeping, 164 00:10:11,320 –> 00:10:15,599 that is, the owner’s enemy came 165 00:10:15,599 –> 00:10:18,099 and sowed weeds 166 00:10:18,099 –> 00:10:20,719 among the wheat and went away. 167 00:10:20,719 –> 00:10:23,479 And if you look at verse 29 where Jesus gives us the meaning 168 00:10:23,479 –> 00:10:28,479 he says quite plainly the enemy is the devil, verse 39. 169 00:10:29,700 –> 00:10:33,599 So, the owner, Christ, has an enemy 170 00:10:33,599 –> 00:10:36,140 and you cannot understand this world, 171 00:10:36,140 –> 00:10:39,719 His world as it is without taking into account 172 00:10:40,539 –> 00:10:42,840 the work of the enemy. 173 00:10:42,840 –> 00:10:45,520 The enemy is the devil 174 00:10:46,520 –> 00:10:48,859 and Jesus Christ knew His enemy well 175 00:10:48,859 –> 00:10:50,840 if you do not believe in the devil 176 00:10:50,840 –> 00:10:52,640 remember that Jesus Christ did. 177 00:10:52,640 –> 00:10:55,780 He was tempted by the devil in the wilderness, 178 00:10:55,780 –> 00:10:56,820 He came into the world, 179 00:10:56,820 –> 00:11:00,520 the Bible says to destroy the works of the devil 180 00:11:00,520 –> 00:11:02,239 that’s 1 John 3, 8 181 00:11:02,239 –> 00:11:05,799 and Hebrews chapter 2, verse 14. 182 00:11:05,799 –> 00:11:08,599 Think about this, the power of the enemy 183 00:11:08,659 –> 00:11:13,659 is so great and the work of the enemy is so vast 184 00:11:15,679 –> 00:11:18,559 that it would take God Himself 185 00:11:19,640 –> 00:11:23,320 and incarnation and a cross 186 00:11:23,320 –> 00:11:26,500 to bring His work and His kingdom to defeat. 187 00:11:27,640 –> 00:11:31,679 So there’s an owner and there is a malicious enemy, 188 00:11:32,919 –> 00:11:35,780 third in this story there is seed, 189 00:11:35,780 –> 00:11:40,780 verse 38, the good seed is the sons of the kingdom 190 00:11:41,859 –> 00:11:46,840 and the weeds are the sons of the evil one. 191 00:11:47,780 –> 00:11:49,739 Now remember in the parable of the sower 192 00:11:49,739 –> 00:11:51,500 that we looked at last week 193 00:11:51,500 –> 00:11:54,020 the more familiar of the two parables of course 194 00:11:54,020 –> 00:11:58,940 the seed is the word of God that is sown in the ground. 195 00:11:58,940 –> 00:12:01,619 Here the picture changes somewhat 196 00:12:01,619 –> 00:12:04,979 and in the second parable, the seed is people 197 00:12:04,979 –> 00:12:09,919 who are growing where they are planted in the world. 198 00:12:09,919 –> 00:12:12,380 And notice that just as there are two sowers, 199 00:12:12,380 –> 00:12:13,859 the Lord who owns the field 200 00:12:13,859 –> 00:12:17,859 and then the enemy who comes and sows maliciously at night, 201 00:12:17,859 –> 00:12:20,380 there are two kinds of seed. 202 00:12:20,380 –> 00:12:22,380 And the two kinds of seed relate 203 00:12:22,380 –> 00:12:26,340 to two different kinds of people, Jesus says here. 204 00:12:26,340 –> 00:12:29,239 The good seed is sons of the kingdom, 205 00:12:29,239 –> 00:12:31,419 that is people who live under the rule of God 206 00:12:31,419 –> 00:12:33,119 over their lives, 207 00:12:33,159 –> 00:12:37,320 and the weeds are the sons of the evil one, 208 00:12:37,320 –> 00:12:40,679 that is, people who like the evil one 209 00:12:40,679 –> 00:12:44,760 place themselves on the throne of their own lives. 210 00:12:47,179 –> 00:12:51,599 Now, notice the destructiveness of the enemy’s work. 211 00:12:51,599 –> 00:12:56,059 And let’s try and take in how malicious this really is. 212 00:12:56,059 –> 00:12:57,140 He sows seed, 213 00:12:59,419 –> 00:13:00,919 destructive seed, 214 00:13:01,900 –> 00:13:03,400 in Christ’s field. 215 00:13:06,020 –> 00:13:09,979 He has no positive objective in mind. 216 00:13:09,979 –> 00:13:13,280 The motivating force of all of his work 217 00:13:13,280 –> 00:13:15,780 is simply to destroy something 218 00:13:15,780 –> 00:13:18,200 that belongs to someone else. 219 00:13:19,479 –> 00:13:23,000 There really is a foul maliciousness here. 220 00:13:23,840 –> 00:13:26,020 And it’s seen wherever there is an objective 221 00:13:26,020 –> 00:13:28,020 simply to destroy something good 222 00:13:28,020 –> 00:13:30,840 that belongs to someone else. 223 00:13:30,979 –> 00:13:33,719 The devil is the destroyer. 224 00:13:33,719 –> 00:13:35,780 Think about this, he could go and sow 225 00:13:35,780 –> 00:13:38,719 a whole field of weeds somewhere else, 226 00:13:38,719 –> 00:13:42,760 but he’s not interested in sowing a field of weeds. 227 00:13:42,760 –> 00:13:46,580 He’s simply interested in spoiling the wheat harvest 228 00:13:46,580 –> 00:13:48,919 that belongs to the Sovereign Lord. 229 00:13:48,919 –> 00:13:51,280 That’s the only thing that motivates him 230 00:13:51,280 –> 00:13:54,820 to entangle the roots of the Lord’s people. 231 00:13:54,820 –> 00:13:58,239 To thwart in some way the Lord’s harvest. 232 00:13:59,200 –> 00:14:02,880 Ronald Wallace, who writes very perceptively on this story 233 00:14:02,880 –> 00:14:05,719 says this that I found helpful to ponder 234 00:14:05,719 –> 00:14:07,419 so I give it to you. 235 00:14:07,419 –> 00:14:10,059 He says, precisely where God has been 236 00:14:10,059 –> 00:14:14,059 most energetically at work and precisely where 237 00:14:14,059 –> 00:14:17,179 the kingdom is most likely to advance, 238 00:14:18,219 –> 00:14:22,059 that is where the devil comes and concentrates his forces 239 00:14:22,059 –> 00:14:25,640 to prevent the spread of God’s realm. 240 00:14:26,099 –> 00:14:29,760 Then he says, this is one of the main reasons 241 00:14:32,159 –> 00:14:36,000 why so many evil things have marred the history 242 00:14:37,940 –> 00:14:40,440 of the Church of Jesus Christ. 243 00:14:42,059 –> 00:14:44,200 It’s very helpful. 244 00:14:44,200 –> 00:14:45,900 Do you ever find yourself scratching your head 245 00:14:45,900 –> 00:14:47,859 and say, why are so many terrible things 246 00:14:47,859 –> 00:14:52,000 happened in the history of the Church of Jesus Christ? 247 00:14:52,039 –> 00:14:54,940 And here’s at least one part of the answer. 248 00:14:55,859 –> 00:14:57,659 Ronald Wallace is saying always understand 249 00:14:57,659 –> 00:15:00,859 there is a malicious enemy, so powerful 250 00:15:00,859 –> 00:15:02,140 that it would take the son of God 251 00:15:02,140 –> 00:15:05,099 becoming incarnate and going to a cross 252 00:15:05,099 –> 00:15:09,679 to bring his great work to a place of defeat. 253 00:15:10,739 –> 00:15:12,799 And he is active within the world. 254 00:15:12,799 –> 00:15:14,400 That is what the Lord Jesus Christ 255 00:15:14,400 –> 00:15:15,859 is telling us here. 256 00:15:16,900 –> 00:15:18,700 And he’s not simply interested 257 00:15:18,700 –> 00:15:20,260 in buidling something for himself, 258 00:15:20,260 –> 00:15:24,419 he’s interested in destroying what Jesus Christ is doing. 259 00:15:24,419 –> 00:15:27,859 Therefore, where does he plant his seed? 260 00:15:27,859 –> 00:15:30,659 He plants it where the wheat is the thickest 261 00:15:30,659 –> 00:15:33,460 and the strongest, he gets it in there. 262 00:15:33,460 –> 00:15:36,059 That is why the church of the Lord Jesus Christ 263 00:15:36,059 –> 00:15:40,299 is always under the attack of darkness. 264 00:15:41,219 –> 00:15:43,739 A malicious enemy. 265 00:15:43,739 –> 00:15:46,200 This is one of the main reasons 266 00:15:47,020 –> 00:15:50,219 why so many evil things have marred 267 00:15:51,159 –> 00:15:52,599 the history of Christ’s church. 268 00:15:52,599 –> 00:15:53,960 He gives it to us in a picture. 269 00:15:53,960 –> 00:15:57,679 There’s someone planting weeds 270 00:15:58,619 –> 00:16:00,359 and planting them among the wheat. 271 00:16:00,359 –> 00:16:02,119 Here’s the fourth thing, the field. 272 00:16:03,200 –> 00:16:05,799 Notice what Jesus says about the field in verse 38 273 00:16:05,799 –> 00:16:08,919 and this is very important for understanding the parable. 274 00:16:08,919 –> 00:16:10,760 Several folks I’ve read this week 275 00:16:10,760 –> 00:16:11,719 have said this is one of the most 276 00:16:11,719 –> 00:16:13,580 difficult parables to understand 277 00:16:13,580 –> 00:16:15,380 so I know I have a challenge here 278 00:16:15,380 –> 00:16:19,179 and so do all of us as we come to it today. 279 00:16:19,179 –> 00:16:24,179 Jesus says in verse 38, the field is the world. 280 00:16:26,280 –> 00:16:28,960 Now it is surprising how many writers 281 00:16:28,960 –> 00:16:31,500 in the light of this treat the entire parable 282 00:16:31,500 –> 00:16:33,919 as if it were all about the church. 283 00:16:35,119 –> 00:16:36,239 They make the point, of course, 284 00:16:36,239 –> 00:16:38,020 that there can never be a pure church, 285 00:16:38,020 –> 00:16:40,140 that there’s always a mixture within the church 286 00:16:40,179 –> 00:16:42,299 and certainly there will never be 287 00:16:42,299 –> 00:16:46,059 a completely pure church this side of heaven 288 00:16:46,059 –> 00:16:49,099 and, quite clearly, there are applications 289 00:16:49,099 –> 00:16:51,580 of this parable to the church 290 00:16:51,580 –> 00:16:54,020 as there are applications to the church 291 00:16:54,020 –> 00:16:55,580 from every part of Scripture, 292 00:16:55,580 –> 00:16:58,320 let me just pause for a brief moment with one of them. 293 00:16:59,859 –> 00:17:02,900 One obvious application is that the church 294 00:17:02,900 –> 00:17:06,060 should exercise great caution 295 00:17:06,680 –> 00:17:10,339 in regards to matters of church discipline. 296 00:17:11,979 –> 00:17:15,160 See, there are times, and this is practiced 297 00:17:15,160 –> 00:17:17,400 in our own church as the Bible requires 298 00:17:17,400 –> 00:17:20,439 that it should be, there are times 299 00:17:20,439 –> 00:17:25,439 when the elders of a church must exercise discipline 300 00:17:25,579 –> 00:17:29,760 for the sake of the protection of the church. 301 00:17:31,339 –> 00:17:34,479 But surely this parable reminds us 302 00:17:34,520 –> 00:17:37,660 that it would be very unwise 303 00:17:37,660 –> 00:17:41,300 for elders of any church to think 304 00:17:41,300 –> 00:17:43,920 that they could root out everything 305 00:17:43,920 –> 00:17:46,219 that is unworthy of Christ. 306 00:17:47,099 –> 00:17:48,500 This parable makes very clear. 307 00:17:48,500 –> 00:17:49,780 They tried to do that, 308 00:17:49,780 –> 00:17:51,479 they would end up pulling up everything. 309 00:17:51,479 –> 00:17:53,459 They would end up pulling up the wight 310 00:17:53,459 –> 00:17:55,520 as well as the weeds. 311 00:17:56,819 –> 00:17:59,300 And wise commentators point this out, 312 00:17:59,300 –> 00:18:01,400 and it’s well worth taking to heart 313 00:18:01,400 –> 00:18:04,359 so that we learn from the Scriptures as we go. 314 00:18:04,359 –> 00:18:05,239 Matthew Henry says, 315 00:18:05,239 –> 00:18:08,719 “‘Great conscience and moderation 316 00:18:08,719 –> 00:18:13,719 must be used in inflicting continuing church censures 317 00:18:14,640 –> 00:18:19,640 lest the wheat be trodden down and not be plucked up.’” 318 00:18:19,859 –> 00:18:22,359 And similarly Alexander McLaren, he says, 319 00:18:22,359 –> 00:18:24,160 “‘While we believe the scope of the parable 320 00:18:24,160 –> 00:18:27,020 is wider than instruction of church discipline, 321 00:18:27,020 –> 00:18:30,439 we do not forget that a fair inference from it 322 00:18:30,439 –> 00:18:33,060 is that in actual churches there will always be 323 00:18:33,079 –> 00:18:35,140 some mingling of good and evil, 324 00:18:35,140 –> 00:18:37,000 and this is a reason for copying 325 00:18:37,000 –> 00:18:39,719 the divine patience of the sower 326 00:18:41,400 –> 00:18:45,660 in church dealings with errors of opinion 327 00:18:45,660 –> 00:18:49,219 and faults of conduct.’” 328 00:18:49,219 –> 00:18:54,219 So there are some very important lessons 329 00:18:54,400 –> 00:18:56,380 that are to be drawn in terms 330 00:18:56,380 –> 00:18:58,699 of these matters in church life 331 00:18:59,739 –> 00:19:02,900 where Jesus is teaching us that a vigorous attempt 332 00:19:02,900 –> 00:19:04,380 to be pulling up all the weeds 333 00:19:04,380 –> 00:19:06,859 is simply going to end up with pulling up 334 00:19:06,859 –> 00:19:09,560 all of the wheat and destroying everything altogether. 335 00:19:11,020 –> 00:19:13,280 And he’s teaching us that very clearly. 336 00:19:14,099 –> 00:19:15,680 There are lessons for the church here, 337 00:19:15,680 –> 00:19:16,780 but please notice this, 338 00:19:16,780 –> 00:19:20,180 that the parable itself is not about the church. 339 00:19:21,180 –> 00:19:22,380 This is in the gospels. 340 00:19:22,380 –> 00:19:25,180 This is before the cross and before Pentecost. 341 00:19:26,099 –> 00:19:27,800 It is about the kingdom. 342 00:19:28,760 –> 00:19:32,579 The kingdom of Heaven, Jesus says, is like this. 343 00:19:32,619 –> 00:19:33,619 What does that mean? 344 00:19:33,619 –> 00:19:35,699 It means this parable is about 345 00:19:35,699 –> 00:19:39,599 what the reign of God looks like in the world. 346 00:19:39,599 –> 00:19:41,239 The field is the world. 347 00:19:43,339 –> 00:19:45,079 So, John MacArthur says it very well. 348 00:19:45,079 –> 00:19:47,579 This is not about the world in the church. 349 00:19:47,579 –> 00:19:49,439 This is about the church in the world. 350 00:19:49,439 –> 00:19:50,859 It’s about our experience, 351 00:19:50,859 –> 00:19:53,579 looking out on the world as true believers. 352 00:19:55,079 –> 00:19:58,140 And that takes us to the fifth element, 353 00:19:58,140 –> 00:19:59,619 which is that there is a question 354 00:19:59,619 –> 00:20:02,280 at the heart of this story. 355 00:20:02,619 –> 00:20:04,500 And it’s in verse 27. 356 00:20:04,500 –> 00:20:06,839 And here’s the question, and we’ve all asked it. 357 00:20:07,959 –> 00:20:12,959 Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? 358 00:20:16,339 –> 00:20:18,979 Didn’t you sow good seed in the world, God? 359 00:20:21,119 –> 00:20:26,119 How, then, does it have weeds? 360 00:20:27,780 –> 00:20:30,760 Why is there so much evil in the world? 361 00:20:30,800 –> 00:20:33,099 Jesus, if you came to destroy the works of the devil? 362 00:20:33,099 –> 00:20:34,359 That’s the question here! 363 00:20:36,319 –> 00:20:39,520 And there isn’t one of us here who hasn’t asked it. 364 00:20:39,520 –> 00:20:41,560 And it’s exactly the question that Jesus 365 00:20:41,560 –> 00:20:44,699 is addressing in this parable. 366 00:20:45,680 –> 00:20:47,260 You sowed good seed, Master. 367 00:20:47,260 –> 00:20:49,319 So why does the field have weeds? 368 00:20:49,319 –> 00:20:53,739 If God is so good, if Christ is so might, 369 00:20:55,859 –> 00:20:57,459 why is there so much evil in the world? 370 00:20:57,459 –> 00:21:00,839 Why is the world as it is as we look out on it today? 371 00:21:02,459 –> 00:21:06,119 This is a profound, perhaps the most profound question 372 00:21:06,119 –> 00:21:08,500 and it arises in every generation. 373 00:21:09,959 –> 00:21:11,339 Where does evil come from? 374 00:21:12,800 –> 00:21:14,780 Why does it persist? 375 00:21:16,540 –> 00:21:19,040 And if Jesus triumphed over evil on the cross, 376 00:21:19,040 –> 00:21:23,420 why is it still flourishing today? 377 00:21:24,920 –> 00:21:27,119 You look at the weeds in the world 378 00:21:27,900 –> 00:21:30,079 and you say how can there be a God who is good? 379 00:21:30,079 –> 00:21:32,060 Is this God really in control? 380 00:21:32,060 –> 00:21:34,540 Can I actually believe in a sovereign God 381 00:21:34,540 –> 00:21:37,359 in a world like this? 382 00:21:37,359 –> 00:21:42,359 If the kingdom has come, why does evil continue? 383 00:21:47,819 –> 00:21:50,020 It’s interesting this is in Matthew chapter 13 384 00:21:50,020 –> 00:21:52,939 because back in Matthew chapter 11 385 00:21:52,939 –> 00:21:55,640 this was exactly the question of no one 386 00:21:55,660 –> 00:21:58,300 less than John the Baptist himself. 387 00:22:00,439 –> 00:22:02,640 You remember John the Baptist was the forerunner of Jesus. 388 00:22:02,640 –> 00:22:04,839 He comes and he says prepare the way of the Lord 389 00:22:04,839 –> 00:22:06,680 and what did he say Jesus was going to do? 390 00:22:06,680 –> 00:22:11,680 He says this, his winnowing fork is in his hand. 391 00:22:11,680 –> 00:22:14,339 He will clear his threshing floor 392 00:22:14,339 –> 00:22:16,719 and gather his wheat, notice that, 393 00:22:16,719 –> 00:22:19,920 into the barn, but the chaff he will burn 394 00:22:19,920 –> 00:22:21,880 with unquenchable fire. 395 00:22:21,880 –> 00:22:24,199 You listen to John the Baptist, you think right, 396 00:22:24,199 –> 00:22:25,640 the Messiah is coming, he’s gonna deal 397 00:22:25,640 –> 00:22:30,640 with evil right now and John preaches this 398 00:22:32,920 –> 00:22:34,560 and then Jesus begins his ministry. 399 00:22:34,560 –> 00:22:36,280 What happens to John the Baptist? 400 00:22:36,280 –> 00:22:37,319 He ends up in prison. 401 00:22:39,099 –> 00:22:41,219 Wait a minute, did I get it wrong? 402 00:22:43,199 –> 00:22:46,119 If Christ has come to destroy the works of the devil 403 00:22:46,119 –> 00:22:51,119 how is it that I can have Herod cast me into prison? 404 00:22:51,359 –> 00:22:52,819 Indeed, we know the end of that story, 405 00:22:52,819 –> 00:22:55,180 we can ask it even further, how come that Herod 406 00:22:55,180 –> 00:23:00,180 can take the head off a godly Christian leader? 407 00:23:02,839 –> 00:23:06,260 So, John in Matthew chapter 11 and verse three 408 00:23:06,260 –> 00:23:09,959 sends messengers to Jesus with this question, 409 00:23:09,959 –> 00:23:13,000 Are you the one who is to come? 410 00:23:13,000 –> 00:23:17,260 or, shall we look for another? 411 00:23:18,579 –> 00:23:20,380 Are you really the Messiah? 412 00:23:21,319 –> 00:23:24,520 I’ve been preaching that the Messiah will bring judgment, 413 00:23:24,520 –> 00:23:26,380 doesn’t look like there’s a lot of judgment going on 414 00:23:26,380 –> 00:23:29,839 for me, evil seems to be flourishing, as far as I can see. 415 00:23:31,540 –> 00:23:35,859 When the kingdom came in Jesus, 416 00:23:35,859 –> 00:23:40,859 it came without judgment, 417 00:23:40,859 –> 00:23:44,020 this is the astonishing thing in the Gospels 418 00:23:44,020 –> 00:23:48,020 and in the New Testament. 419 00:23:48,219 –> 00:23:50,780 Remember when Jesus announces His ministry 420 00:23:50,780 –> 00:23:52,859 in Luke’s Gospel and chapter 4, 421 00:23:52,859 –> 00:23:57,479 He quotes His ministry directly from the Old Testament, 422 00:23:57,479 –> 00:24:01,780 Isaiah in chapter 61, here’s what the Messiah will do. 423 00:24:01,780 –> 00:24:05,119 He will proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor 424 00:24:05,119 –> 00:24:08,680 and the day of God’s vengeance, that’s what Isaiah said. 425 00:24:10,300 –> 00:24:13,780 The year of the Lord’s favor, the day of God’s vengeance. 426 00:24:13,780 –> 00:24:15,939 Grace, judgment, Messiah. 427 00:24:16,300 –> 00:24:20,380 And Jesus gets up, Luke chapter 4, 428 00:24:20,380 –> 00:24:22,859 and He reads from that place in Isaiah 429 00:24:22,859 –> 00:24:25,739 and He stops halfway through the verse. 430 00:24:28,339 –> 00:24:30,660 As for the Lord is anointed me, 431 00:24:30,660 –> 00:24:32,180 proclaim good news to the poor, 432 00:24:32,180 –> 00:24:34,579 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor! 433 00:24:34,579 –> 00:24:35,400 Stop. 434 00:24:37,579 –> 00:24:39,780 What about the day of vengeance of our God? 435 00:24:39,780 –> 00:24:42,060 What about the dealing with evil? 436 00:24:42,060 –> 00:24:43,900 What about the judgment that is to come 437 00:24:43,939 –> 00:24:45,560 at the hands of the Messiah? 438 00:24:47,260 –> 00:24:48,979 And here’s what’s at the very heart 439 00:24:48,979 –> 00:24:50,800 of the ministry of Jesus. 440 00:24:52,260 –> 00:24:56,000 Grace comes in Jesus now. 441 00:24:57,920 –> 00:25:02,920 Judgment comes with Jesus later. 442 00:25:02,939 –> 00:25:04,439 You have to understand that. 443 00:25:05,819 –> 00:25:07,760 This is what the kingdom looks like in the world. 444 00:25:07,760 –> 00:25:09,699 This is what He’s saying. 445 00:25:09,739 –> 00:25:12,880 Grace comes with Jesus now. 446 00:25:14,599 –> 00:25:17,099 Judgment comes with Jesus later 447 00:25:17,099 –> 00:25:21,180 so that we are living in the day of God’s grace. 448 00:25:23,260 –> 00:25:25,719 And the day of judgment is yet to come 449 00:25:25,719 –> 00:25:27,699 and it will be by the same Messiah, 450 00:25:27,699 –> 00:25:32,140 Jesus Christ, the Savior and the Lord. 451 00:25:34,099 –> 00:25:36,579 Now what’s going to happen between now and then? 452 00:25:36,579 –> 00:25:39,880 That takes me to the sixth element, the growth. 453 00:25:39,880 –> 00:25:42,579 Verse 30, Jesus says, 454 00:25:42,579 –> 00:25:47,579 “‘Let both grow together until harvest.’” 455 00:25:49,660 –> 00:25:51,540 So here’s what’s going to happen in the world 456 00:25:51,540 –> 00:25:52,699 in which grace has come now, 457 00:25:52,699 –> 00:25:55,140 but judgment will come later. 458 00:25:55,140 –> 00:25:57,500 Evil is going to grow alongside the good, 459 00:25:57,500 –> 00:26:00,420 the weeds are going to grow alongside the wheat 460 00:26:00,420 –> 00:26:03,359 until the return of Jesus Christ. 461 00:26:03,359 –> 00:26:04,680 This is what it’s going to be like 462 00:26:04,680 –> 00:26:06,099 from the resurrection of Jesus 463 00:26:06,099 –> 00:26:08,500 to the return of the Lord Jesus Christ. 464 00:26:08,500 –> 00:26:11,459 This is His teaching, this is the wisdom 465 00:26:11,459 –> 00:26:12,800 that He gives to us, 466 00:26:12,800 –> 00:26:15,739 the insight into the Kingdom that He gives to us 467 00:26:15,739 –> 00:26:17,680 so that we will be able to sustain 468 00:26:17,680 –> 00:26:19,020 a lifetime of ministry 469 00:26:19,020 –> 00:26:21,900 because we understand the nature of the world 470 00:26:21,900 –> 00:26:23,040 in which we are living. 471 00:26:25,339 –> 00:26:26,739 That the weeds keep growing. 472 00:26:28,939 –> 00:26:30,339 See, I mean, just look at the history 473 00:26:30,339 –> 00:26:33,760 of these last more than 100 years. 474 00:26:34,739 –> 00:26:36,640 The end of the 19th century 475 00:26:36,640 –> 00:26:39,239 Charles Darwin’s capturing the minds 476 00:26:39,239 –> 00:26:42,540 of millions of people with this idea 477 00:26:42,540 –> 00:26:44,839 that human race is getting better and better, 478 00:26:44,839 –> 00:26:46,000 evolving involving, 479 00:26:46,000 –> 00:26:47,040 and what comes out of that 480 00:26:47,040 –> 00:26:50,680 is this late Victorian kind of idea, 481 00:26:50,680 –> 00:26:53,439 golden age that is now about to emerge. 482 00:26:53,439 –> 00:26:55,979 The 20th century is going to be the greatest century 483 00:26:55,979 –> 00:26:58,000 that ever has been for mankind. 484 00:26:58,000 –> 00:26:59,079 Gonna come of age, 485 00:26:59,079 –> 00:27:00,199 this is gonna be a world 486 00:27:00,199 –> 00:27:02,680 that’s really fit for people to live in. 487 00:27:03,359 –> 00:27:06,079 And then, you get into the 20th century, 488 00:27:06,079 –> 00:27:07,239 what happens? 489 00:27:08,180 –> 00:27:09,300 The first world war. 490 00:27:11,319 –> 00:27:12,920 Hey, not to be too discouraged, 491 00:27:12,920 –> 00:27:14,459 this is going to be the end, 492 00:27:14,459 –> 00:27:15,660 the war to end all wars. 493 00:27:15,660 –> 00:27:17,239 That was a great phrase, wasn’t it? 494 00:27:17,239 –> 00:27:19,000 The war to end all wars. 495 00:27:19,000 –> 00:27:21,640 This will be the last ever war, 496 00:27:21,640 –> 00:27:22,920 the first world war. 497 00:27:25,400 –> 00:27:26,400 20 years later, 498 00:27:28,079 –> 00:27:29,099 second world war. 499 00:27:30,400 –> 00:27:32,359 We’re halfway into the greatest century 500 00:27:33,280 –> 00:27:35,000 of the flourishing of the golden age 501 00:27:35,000 –> 00:27:36,640 of mankind, end of evil, 502 00:27:36,640 –> 00:27:37,560 and all that kind of thing. 503 00:27:37,560 –> 00:27:39,760 We’ve had two world wars that have been worse 504 00:27:39,760 –> 00:27:41,959 than anything that has ever happened before. 505 00:27:43,699 –> 00:27:46,000 And then, the end of the second world war. 506 00:27:46,000 –> 00:27:46,839 Then, we get the United Nations. 507 00:27:46,839 –> 00:27:48,560 Everything’s going to be fine now 508 00:27:48,560 –> 00:27:50,599 we got the United Nations, right? 509 00:27:50,599 –> 00:27:52,180 Then, we got the Cold War, 510 00:27:53,160 –> 00:27:54,839 and the second half of the 20th. 511 00:27:54,839 –> 00:27:56,479 Then, at the end of the 2nd century, 512 00:27:56,479 –> 00:27:57,319 what do we get? 513 00:27:57,319 –> 00:27:58,660 A little glimmer of hope. 514 00:27:58,660 –> 00:28:00,140 The Berlin Wall comes down, 515 00:28:00,319 –> 00:28:02,380 what if communism is being rolled back? 516 00:28:02,380 –> 00:28:05,400 Ah, it’s a New World Order. 517 00:28:05,400 –> 00:28:06,359 How many of you remember 518 00:28:06,359 –> 00:28:08,660 the New World Order? 519 00:28:08,660 –> 00:28:09,540 1990s. 520 00:28:11,040 –> 00:28:12,400 Flip into a new century. 521 00:28:13,839 –> 00:28:14,680 What do we have? 522 00:28:14,680 –> 00:28:16,619 Oh, there’s a whole new kind of war. 523 00:28:16,619 –> 00:28:18,219 A war that’s never existed before, 524 00:28:18,219 –> 00:28:19,640 something we’ve never experienced. 525 00:28:19,640 –> 00:28:21,380 We need an entirely different approach to it. 526 00:28:21,380 –> 00:28:22,880 It’s called the war on terror. 527 00:28:25,599 –> 00:28:29,880 See, whenever the weeds seem to be pressed down, 528 00:28:29,900 –> 00:28:32,780 what happens is that the weeds of evil in this world, 529 00:28:32,780 –> 00:28:35,199 they just shoot up in another way, 530 00:28:37,500 –> 00:28:38,859 and the one group of people 531 00:28:38,859 –> 00:28:43,540 who should not be surprised at this, are Christians, 532 00:28:44,380 –> 00:28:45,219 because Jesus said to us, 533 00:28:45,219 –> 00:28:47,400 this is exactly what this is gonna be like. 534 00:28:48,300 –> 00:28:49,640 From my resurrection, 535 00:28:50,819 –> 00:28:51,780 to my return. 536 00:28:54,020 –> 00:28:55,619 Bishop Ryle, 537 00:28:56,459 –> 00:28:59,219 this is the end of the 19th Century, 538 00:28:59,239 –> 00:29:02,099 where there’s all this super-optimism 539 00:29:02,099 –> 00:29:04,140 about what the human race can be. 540 00:29:04,979 –> 00:29:09,239 He said that this parable was of very special importance, 541 00:29:09,239 –> 00:29:11,560 he said, to Christians, in our own day, 542 00:29:11,560 –> 00:29:13,040 that’s the end of the 19th Century, 543 00:29:13,040 –> 00:29:14,319 with all this optimism. 544 00:29:15,219 –> 00:29:16,060 He says, 545 00:29:16,060 –> 00:29:18,760 it is calculated this parable to correct 546 00:29:18,760 –> 00:29:21,800 the extravagant expectations 547 00:29:21,800 –> 00:29:24,079 in which many Christians indulge 548 00:29:24,959 –> 00:29:28,979 as to the effect of missions abroad 549 00:29:28,979 –> 00:29:32,099 and the preaching of the gospel at home. 550 00:29:33,119 –> 00:29:35,280 See, what was happening at the end of the 19th Century, 551 00:29:35,280 –> 00:29:37,880 and you still hear it around today, 552 00:29:37,880 –> 00:29:40,839 is that you were getting people so full of optimism 553 00:29:40,839 –> 00:29:41,660 that it was, 554 00:29:41,660 –> 00:29:43,180 we’re gonna change the world, 555 00:29:44,800 –> 00:29:46,800 very strange phrase, 556 00:29:49,380 –> 00:29:51,920 the extravagant expectations 557 00:29:51,939 –> 00:29:54,640 in which many Christians indulge 558 00:29:54,640 –> 00:29:57,140 as to the effect of missions abroad 559 00:29:57,140 –> 00:29:59,599 and the preaching of the gospel at home. 560 00:29:59,599 –> 00:30:02,959 Look, if a person starts out with, 561 00:30:02,959 –> 00:30:04,719 let’s go change the world, 562 00:30:04,719 –> 00:30:07,079 you will be frustrated, 563 00:30:07,079 –> 00:30:09,000 you will be disappointed, 564 00:30:09,000 –> 00:30:11,939 you will not sustain ministry for a lifetime. 565 00:30:11,939 –> 00:30:14,199 The world never changes. 566 00:30:15,359 –> 00:30:18,079 It is always a field 567 00:30:18,160 –> 00:30:23,079 in which the wheat grows alongside the weeds 568 00:30:23,079 –> 00:30:26,459 but there will be a harvest 569 00:30:27,560 –> 00:30:29,699 and it is worth planting the good seed 570 00:30:29,699 –> 00:30:32,199 because the good seed, God makes it grow 571 00:30:32,199 –> 00:30:36,699 and it produces 30 and 60 and a 100 fold. 572 00:30:38,599 –> 00:30:41,380 So there’s all kinds of conversations, isn’t there? 573 00:30:41,380 –> 00:30:44,520 Is the world getting better or is the world getting worse? 574 00:30:45,459 –> 00:30:49,140 And the answer of Jesus is both. 575 00:30:49,140 –> 00:30:50,579 Both. 576 00:30:50,579 –> 00:30:51,699 Both are true. 577 00:30:51,699 –> 00:30:53,000 The good seed is growing 578 00:30:53,000 –> 00:30:54,959 and it is producing an abundant harvest. 579 00:30:54,959 –> 00:30:57,160 We’ll focus in on that more closely next week 580 00:30:57,160 –> 00:31:00,920 in the parable of the mustard seed and also of the yeast. 581 00:31:02,079 –> 00:31:04,160 But it’s also true that the weeds are growing 582 00:31:04,160 –> 00:31:06,020 with every week that passes as you think 583 00:31:06,020 –> 00:31:08,520 of this analogy of the season through to the harvest 584 00:31:08,520 –> 00:31:09,800 from planting to harvest, 585 00:31:09,800 –> 00:31:11,459 that’s his picture of the whole period 586 00:31:11,540 –> 00:31:14,660 between the resurrection and his glorious return, 587 00:31:14,660 –> 00:31:17,300 during that period the weeds are growing 588 00:31:17,300 –> 00:31:18,819 with every week that passes. 589 00:31:18,819 –> 00:31:20,319 The stalks are larger, 590 00:31:20,319 –> 00:31:22,699 the roots are more firmly established. 591 00:31:22,699 –> 00:31:24,520 Evil has never been as it is 592 00:31:24,520 –> 00:31:28,520 and yet at the same time God’s work has never been as it is. 593 00:31:28,520 –> 00:31:29,420 It’s advancing. 594 00:31:30,939 –> 00:31:33,099 And that takes us to the seventh thing 595 00:31:33,099 –> 00:31:34,439 which is the harvest. 596 00:31:35,520 –> 00:31:39,160 Verse 30, at harvest time I will tell the reapers 597 00:31:39,160 –> 00:31:43,800 gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles 598 00:31:44,739 –> 00:31:49,739 to be burned but gather the wheat into my barn. 599 00:31:52,180 –> 00:31:55,680 Grace in Jesus now, 600 00:31:56,819 –> 00:32:01,479 judgment from Jesus later. 601 00:32:02,619 –> 00:32:05,520 We are living in the day of grace 602 00:32:05,520 –> 00:32:07,839 in which the arms of Christ are extended 603 00:32:07,900 –> 00:32:11,020 towards any person who will turn to him 604 00:32:12,239 –> 00:32:13,920 but the day of judgment will come, 605 00:32:13,920 –> 00:32:15,359 that’s what he’s saying here. 606 00:32:17,839 –> 00:32:19,719 And when that day comes, 607 00:32:20,739 –> 00:32:25,420 the weeds will be gathered together in bundles. 608 00:32:26,520 –> 00:32:28,160 Isn’t that a fascinating picture? 609 00:32:30,000 –> 00:32:32,979 Matthew Henry says that sinners of the same sort 610 00:32:32,979 –> 00:32:35,420 will be bundled together on the great day. 611 00:32:36,199 –> 00:32:37,900 Can you imagine this? 612 00:32:37,900 –> 00:32:39,959 A bundle of cynics, 613 00:32:41,459 –> 00:32:43,300 a bundle of blasphemers, 614 00:32:45,219 –> 00:32:46,819 a bundle of cowards, 615 00:32:48,500 –> 00:32:50,079 a bundle of liars, 616 00:32:51,439 –> 00:32:52,780 a bundle of hypocrites 617 00:32:55,619 –> 00:32:58,540 but then he will gather the wheat into his barn. 618 00:33:00,959 –> 00:33:02,880 You read that word, bundle, 619 00:33:03,880 –> 00:33:06,640 think of the words of Abigail to David 620 00:33:06,640 –> 00:33:09,160 where she was pronouncing blessing over him 621 00:33:09,160 –> 00:33:11,739 and she said of David that he would be bound 622 00:33:11,739 –> 00:33:16,739 in the bundle of the living in the care of the Lord. 623 00:33:17,380 –> 00:33:18,880 Well, isn’t it marvelous to think about 624 00:33:18,880 –> 00:33:20,880 that being your future in Jesus Christ 625 00:33:20,880 –> 00:33:23,079 that on that great day you will be bound 626 00:33:23,079 –> 00:33:28,079 in the bundle of the living in the care of the Lord? 627 00:33:28,819 –> 00:33:32,660 That’s one Samuel 25 and verse 29. 628 00:33:34,060 –> 00:33:36,619 Now, very briefly just three applications 629 00:33:36,619 –> 00:33:41,619 from this extraordinary, very powerful and much needed story. 630 00:33:41,719 –> 00:33:45,479 The first is very obviously stay engaged. 631 00:33:45,479 –> 00:33:47,880 The wheat and the weeds grow together 632 00:33:47,880 –> 00:33:50,859 in this story of Jesus, and Jesus anticipates 633 00:33:50,859 –> 00:33:53,959 that the roots of the weeds that are planted 634 00:33:53,959 –> 00:33:55,880 among the wheat, they’re gonna get bound up 635 00:33:56,319 –> 00:34:00,800 with the roots of the wheat, your roots as a believer, 636 00:34:00,800 –> 00:34:02,979 in other words, Jesus anticipates will end up 637 00:34:02,979 –> 00:34:05,280 being intertwined with the roots of people 638 00:34:05,280 –> 00:34:07,180 whose nature is very different from yours. 639 00:34:07,180 –> 00:34:10,239 Jesus says that’s how it’s going to be until I come. 640 00:34:11,219 –> 00:34:13,379 That will be true at school. 641 00:34:13,379 –> 00:34:15,120 That will be true in business. 642 00:34:15,120 –> 00:34:17,080 You may even find this in your own family. 643 00:34:17,080 –> 00:34:20,080 There are relationships that are very, very difficult. 644 00:34:20,080 –> 00:34:22,899 Roots are intertwined, and Jesus says, 645 00:34:22,919 –> 00:34:25,379 don’t pull up the roots. 646 00:34:25,379 –> 00:34:28,739 Let both grow together until harvest. 647 00:34:28,739 –> 00:34:30,479 Where has God rooted you down? 648 00:34:30,479 –> 00:34:31,800 Where have you been sown? 649 00:34:31,800 –> 00:34:35,580 Stay engaged, let not the people of God 650 00:34:35,580 –> 00:34:39,479 be those who are on an agenda of withdrawal from the world 651 00:34:39,479 –> 00:34:43,199 that are no ideal spots in the field of this world, 652 00:34:43,199 –> 00:34:45,959 and wherever Christ plants his seed, 653 00:34:45,959 –> 00:34:48,979 Satan will sow his weeds, so just bloom 654 00:34:49,020 –> 00:34:53,060 where you are planted and do it for the glory of God. 655 00:34:53,060 –> 00:34:56,139 And Augustine has a very famous phrase on this. 656 00:34:56,139 –> 00:34:59,620 He says always remember that by God’s grace 657 00:34:59,620 –> 00:35:02,800 those who are weeds today may be wheat tomorrow. 658 00:35:02,800 –> 00:35:04,320 Isn’t that good? 659 00:35:04,320 –> 00:35:07,020 Because God can change the very nature of a person. 660 00:35:07,020 –> 00:35:11,020 Those who are weeds today may be wheat tomorrow. 661 00:35:11,020 –> 00:35:14,639 Second, practice tolerance. 662 00:35:14,639 –> 00:35:16,300 And I use that word very deliberately 663 00:35:16,340 –> 00:35:19,080 because I think it’s been so hijacked in our culture. 664 00:35:20,699 –> 00:35:23,939 The meaning of tolerance is that you show patience 665 00:35:23,939 –> 00:35:26,379 and forbearance towards people 666 00:35:26,379 –> 00:35:28,620 with whom you radically disagree. 667 00:35:30,820 –> 00:35:32,540 Now, of course it’s been hijacked 668 00:35:32,540 –> 00:35:34,219 to have this alternative meaning 669 00:35:34,219 –> 00:35:37,219 of affirming what others affirm. 670 00:35:37,219 –> 00:35:39,560 But of course there is no need for tolerance 671 00:35:39,560 –> 00:35:42,340 with people who affirm the same convictions. 672 00:35:42,340 –> 00:35:44,979 If you agree, what in the world is there to tolerate. 673 00:35:46,820 –> 00:35:51,120 Now tolerance is a wonderful Christian virtue 674 00:35:51,120 –> 00:35:56,120 and it is needed where there are deep seated disagreements. 675 00:35:56,360 –> 00:35:58,739 Deep seated convictions that are different 676 00:35:58,739 –> 00:36:00,659 between different religions. 677 00:36:01,699 –> 00:36:04,300 Between entirely different views of morality, 678 00:36:04,300 –> 00:36:06,820 entirely different worldviews. 679 00:36:08,080 –> 00:36:10,899 What it means and what Jesus is pointing us to here 680 00:36:10,899 –> 00:36:13,979 is it means showing patience. 681 00:36:13,979 –> 00:36:16,360 It means showing forbearance towards people 682 00:36:16,360 –> 00:36:18,419 you find really difficult. 683 00:36:18,419 –> 00:36:21,879 Patience towards those with whom you radically disagree. 684 00:36:23,739 –> 00:36:25,159 It does not mean passivity. 685 00:36:25,159 –> 00:36:26,780 It does not mean that you give up concern 686 00:36:26,780 –> 00:36:29,040 for another person’s spiritual condition. 687 00:36:29,040 –> 00:36:31,540 But Jesus makes it clear that in this world, 688 00:36:31,540 –> 00:36:36,340 the wheat needs to grow alongside the weeds 689 00:36:37,340 –> 00:36:39,179 until the son of man comes. 690 00:36:40,620 –> 00:36:43,020 So always remember that the mission of the church 691 00:36:43,020 –> 00:36:45,939 is sowing seeds, not pooling weeds. 692 00:36:47,620 –> 00:36:49,620 The mission of the church is sowing seeds, 693 00:36:49,620 –> 00:36:51,459 it is not pooling weeds. 694 00:36:52,340 –> 00:36:54,379 We have big enough challenges on our hands 695 00:36:54,379 –> 00:36:57,580 to try and deal with the remaining sin in our own hearts, 696 00:36:57,580 –> 00:36:59,879 in our own families, in our own churches. 697 00:36:59,879 –> 00:37:02,560 It is not in our power or in our calling 698 00:37:02,560 –> 00:37:05,020 to root it out in the world. 699 00:37:05,020 –> 00:37:08,879 That is the work of Christ, and he will do it when he comes. 700 00:37:10,739 –> 00:37:12,459 And that leads to the third thing. 701 00:37:13,139 –> 00:37:15,280 Anticipate the harvest. 702 00:37:15,280 –> 00:37:17,500 Anticipate the harvest. 703 00:37:17,500 –> 00:37:20,179 Then, in verse 43, the righteous will shine 704 00:37:20,179 –> 00:37:25,080 like the sun in the kingdom of their father. 705 00:37:26,580 –> 00:37:28,379 Christ will harvest the wheat 706 00:37:28,379 –> 00:37:33,379 and he will bring home his harvest 707 00:37:33,659 –> 00:37:38,659 and the righteous will shine like the sun. 708 00:37:38,820 –> 00:37:41,000 With whom will you be bundled on that day? 709 00:37:41,120 –> 00:37:44,219 With whom will you be bundled? 710 00:37:46,000 –> 00:37:50,719 May you, by God’s grace, be found in the bundle of life 711 00:37:51,959 –> 00:37:53,639 with the people of God, 712 00:37:54,699 –> 00:37:57,959 who submit their lives to King Jesus, 713 00:37:58,840 –> 00:38:00,760 and therefore stand on that great day 714 00:38:00,760 –> 00:38:03,199 before the Father in the grace 715 00:38:04,260 –> 00:38:07,760 that they have found in him. 716 00:38:07,760 –> 00:38:08,760 Father, 717 00:38:09,379 –> 00:38:11,820 we want to come around to your table now 718 00:38:13,820 –> 00:38:17,320 as those who perceive something of the mystery 719 00:38:17,320 –> 00:38:19,820 of our life and our calling in this world, 720 00:38:21,459 –> 00:38:24,780 and recognize our great dependence upon the grace 721 00:38:24,780 –> 00:38:27,679 that is in the Lord Jesus Christ, 722 00:38:27,679 –> 00:38:29,459 our Savior and our Master. 723 00:38:30,679 –> 00:38:32,780 Hear us as we seek to respond to your word 724 00:38:32,780 –> 00:38:34,679 and dearth it in our lives 725 00:38:34,679 –> 00:38:37,520 that we may be sustained in ministry 726 00:38:38,419 –> 00:38:42,340 in this world until Christ shall come 727 00:38:42,340 –> 00:38:44,439 or until he shall call. 728 00:38:44,439 –> 00:38:46,919 For Jesus’ sake, amen.