Parables of Jesus
Lesson 6 – There are Weeds Among Us
by Michael Bailey
● Why are there weeds? How should we live among the weeds?
Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43 (NIV)
The Parable of the Weeds
24 Jesus told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good
seed in his field. 25 But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds
among the wheat, and went away. 26 When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the
weeds also appeared.
27 “The owner’s servants came to him and said, ‘Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field?
Where then did the weeds come from?’
28 “‘An enemy did this,’ he replied.
“The servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’
29 “‘No,’ he answered, ‘because while you are pulling the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with
them. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First
collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into
my barn.’”
The Parable of the Weeds Explained
36 Then he left the crowd and went into the house. His disciples came to him and said,
“Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field.”
37 He answered, “The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man. 38 The field is the
world, and the good seed stands for the people of the kingdom. The weeds are the people of
the evil one, 39 and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age,
and the harvesters are angels.
40 “As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. 41 The
Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that
causes sin and all who do evil. 42 They will throw them into the blazing furnace, where there
will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 43 Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the
kingdom of their Father. Whoever has ears, let them hear.
The Aspects of the Parable Explained by Jesus
Sower: Enemy:
Field: The Harvest:
Good Seed: Harvesters:
Weeds:
Questions to Ponder:
● Why are there weeds? Who purposely plants the weeds? What does this tell us
about the enemy? Who are the weeds? Are the weeds easy to discern? Why?
● Whose responsibility is it to weed out the weeds? When will the weeding take
place? What will happen to the weeds? What will happen to the wheat?
● Why does the owner not want the servants to pull the weeds? What is our role as
Christians concerning the weeds?
Related Verses to Ponder:
● John 8:19-47 – The Pharisees have a different father.
● Ephesians 2:1-10 – We were once among them.
● 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12 – Don’t be deceived!
● 1 John 4:1-6 – Test the spirits.
● Revelation 14:14-20 – The angels will judge.
● Matthew 28:18-20 – Go and make disciples.
● John 16:7-15 – The Spirit will guide.