19 July 2020
Matthew 13:24-30; [36-43]
The Good planting of the
Kingdom
Jesus
explains the parable of the wheat and the weeds at the request of His
disciples. That’s a good thing! Now we know the meaning of the parable too! The
Son of Man (Jesus) sows good seed into the field of the world, producing
children of the kingdom. The devil, on the other hand, sows bad seed, producing
evildoers. At the end of the age, that is, at the end of all time – angels will
remove from the kingdom all evildoers. When that happens, then the righteous
will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father.
There is
a lesson for each of us to heed. While Jesus will be sowing His Word producing
His followers around the world until His return (Acts 1:8), Satan refuses to
give up! He too will also be distributing his followers to counter our message
and ministry. There are in fact two forces at work. The word of God will not
stop. But there is another who works just as well. The work of the devil will also
continue until the end of time. Thus we
must consider the planting of the Kingdom.
I.
God plants His kingdom in our world.
A. Jesus is the one
who plants and sows.
1. He does this through the preached word and
sacraments.
2. It will always accomplish what He desires. “My Word will not return unto me void…”
He has promised.
B. The good seeds are
the sons, the children of the kingdom.
1. We have been incorporated into Christ’s
family the church. “Build upon the
foundation of the apostles and prophets Christ Jesus being the chief
cornerstone.”
2. We now have a bond, a connection with each
other. Last names stop when we enter the church door.
C. The field is the
world; the goal of missions is the world.
1. Christ uses you to be His witness. You share
Christ where you live.
2. The church grows not by programs or plans or
agendas but only through people using God’s means of grace. As they share the
word the Holy Spirit is there drawing men to Himself.
3. An encouragement – to be people in mission.
Lutheran Hour ministries’ theme says it all, “Bringing Christ to the nations and the nations to the church.”
Invite someone! That’s all you’re asked to do.
Transition: “Have no fear little flock...” Jesus has
told us. “For the Father has chosen to
give you the kingdom” in spite of what the devil might attempt to do.
Christ’s kingdom will continue to flourish and grow although it is met with
resistance. Where Christ builds a church the devil will erect a chapel. Why is there
such evil in this world? The Savior answers, “An enemy has done this!”
II.
Satan attempts to destroy the Kingdom.
A. Satan
sows the “tares” or weeds in the field.
1. We
are living in the world – with its own agenda and world view, one, which is
foreign to Christ’s will and way.
2. The
ways of the world are so designed as to choke out the things of Christ.
3. Jesus
knowing all this prayed that we would be kept from the evil one as He prayed in
His high priestly prayer. “I pray for
them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they
are yours.” V.9 (John 17:6-12)
B. God’s
children are tempted to destroy the terrors.
1. The
desire is moral control. Will it work?
2. It
can’t work for two reasons.
a. We
can’t look into the soul of every man. Weeds and wheat look exactly the same. Only
Christ can see the heart.
b. We
can’t control every man’s actions.
c. Hence
the Savior’s word of caution. The more zealous we become we may do more harm than
good. So says the Master; “Lest in
gathering the weeds you root up the wheat along with them. Let both grow
together until the harvest.” Vv. 29-30
3. You
can’t legislate morality; the devil’s tentacles are too deep. We simply cannot
change man’s base nature.
C. Christ
warns us to be patient.
1. He
alone is the judge. He will rule and judge perfectly at the right time – on the
last great day.
2. He
will judge with equity and justly.
3. And
the reward has already been spoken. Daniel the prophet predicted this. “At that time shall arise Michael, the great
prince who has charge of your people. And there shall be a time of trouble;
such as never has been since there was a nation till that time. But at that
time your people shall be delivered, everyone whose name shall be found written
in the book. And many of those who sleep
in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to
shame and everlasting contempt. And
those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky above; and those
who turn many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.” -Daniel 12:1-3
We need
not fear that the world will overcome us. Jesus has already overcome the world.
John encourages us with these words; “Little children, you are from God and
have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the
world.” 1 John 4:4
Fare thee
well son and daughter of the king, for the Father has chosen to give you the
kingdom, have no fear little flock!
Words-925
Passive Sentences-8%
Readability – 84.2%
Reading Level-4.1 "An Enemy has done this" Copyright (c) Google images
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