The parable of the wheat & the Weeds: Matthew 13:24-30 & 36-43

Matthew 13: 24-30 & 36-43

1.             What does this tell us about Jesus (the sower)?

-                He’s wise/prudent

         Isaiah 11:1-5                                                        

                  -          He’s patient

-                He is aware of the challenges/circumstances we face.

       Hebrews   2:17-18 & 4:14-16                                  

-          He has our best interests in mind

        John 10:10-11  

                                        

-                He expects us to bear fruit.

               Matthew 25:14-30

2.             What does this tell us about the devil (The enemy)?

-                He’s into destruction/harm, not good/gain.

-                He works in the dark

-                He’s patient too

-                He can be frustrated/beaten

1 John 4:4                                       

3.             What does this tell us about the fruits of the devil (the weeds)?

-                They often look a lot like good things

         2 Corinthians 11:13-15            

-                It often takes a while before their badness becomes apparent.

-          They can become intertwined into our lives once we let them get    a foothold.

-                They can be overcome, but only with divine help & patience.

4.             What does this tell us about the wheat  (us, presumably)?

-          It must co-exist, put up with evil

          John 16:33                                                 

It will ultimately be delivered from evil, but only with Jesus’ help

-                It is expected to bear fruit.

         John 15:8                                                    

-                It can only bear fruit if it surrenders to Jesus

         John 12:24                                                 

5.        How do we deal with the Tares?

                                    Psalm 37:1-11                                                    

What scripture says about who to vote for

Scripture will not explicitly tell you who to vote for (and neither will I), but it says a lot that should inform your decision. Whether it is by the example of good leaders, descriptions of perfect leadership, express directions to more fallible leaders of old, proverbs about government, or teaching about how citizens should relate to their leaders, Scripture has a LOT to say.

God’s word is infallible, it is incisive, and provides light to direct our paths. It is worth far, far, more than any 30 second ad paid for by a super PAC, so it simply cannot be ignored. We must read it, think and pray about it before we vote, whether its for president or dog catcher. 

To help in that process, I have set out scriptures that address government and how leaders should and shouldn’t act. They are arranged topically. To avoid bias, I am presenting them in the order in which they are most frequently addressed, in accord with the principle that the more God brings a topic up the more important it is.

The are hyperlinks going to multiple translations of most of the scriptures cited. Hyperlinks that are italicized are to verses illustrating the principle by negative example.

Must strive for fair justice, to maintain the rule of law for all, including the weak

Exodus 23:2-3, 6-7

Leviticus 19:15

Deuteronomy 1:16-17

Deuteronomy 16:18-20

1 Chronicles 18:14

2 Chronicles 19:5-7

Psalm 72:1-2

Psalm 82:2-4

Proverbs 17:15

Proverbs 18:5

Proverbs 20:26

Proverbs 22:8

Proverbs 24:11-12

Proverbs 24:24-25

Proverbs 28:21

Proverbs 29:14

Proverbs 31:8-9

Sirach 4:1, 9

Isaiah 5:22-23

Isaiah 11:3-5

Isaiah 16:5

Isaiah 42:1-4

Isaiah 56:1-2

Jeremiah 5:28

Jeremiah 23:5

Amos 2:6-7

Amos 5:7-15

Micah 3:9-12

Acts 19:35-40

Romans 13:4

Colossians 4:1

1 Peter 2:13-14

Must be sensitive to the weak/disadvantaged

Psalm 41:1

Psalm 72:2, 4, 12-13

Psalm 82:4

Proverbs 14:31

Proverbs 22:16

Proverbs 24:11-12

Proverbs 29:14

Proverbs 31:8-9

Sirach 4:1, 9

Isaiah 11:4

Ezekiel 22:7

Ezekiel 34:4, 16

Amos 2:6-7

Amos 5:11-12

Matthew 25:31-46

Luke 14:12-14

Recognizes the need to repent

2 Samuel 12:13-23

2 Samuel 24:10-25

1 Kings 8:31-40, 46-53

1 Kings 21:27-29

2 Kings 22:11-33

1 Chronicles 21:7-8

2 Chronicles 6:24-27, 36-39

2 Chronicles 12:5-7, 12

2 Chronicles 32:25-26

2 Chronicles 33:11-13

2 Chronicles 34:19-33

2 Chronicles 36:13, 15-17

Ezra 9-10

Nehemiah 1:5-11

Daniel 9:3-9

Recognizes that all success/authority comes from God

2 Samuel 7:18-29

2 Samuel 22

1 Chronicles 16:7-36

1 Chronicles 17:16-29

1 Chronicles 29:10-49

2 Chronicles 6:17-19

2 Chronicles 20:26-28

2 Chronicles 31:8

Ezra 7:27-28

Ezra 8:31

Nehemiah 2:8

Wisdom 6:1-8

John 19:11

Romans 13:1

Seeks God’s guidance

1 Samuel 23:1-5, 9-13

1 Samuel 30:7-9

2 Samuel 5:17-25

2 Kings 19:1-7

1 Chronicles 14: 10, 14

2 Chronicles 18:4-27

2 Chronicles 26:5

Proverbs 21:1

Ezra 8:21-23

Nehemiah 1:4

Nehemiah 2:4

Wisdom 9:7-12

Jeremiah 10:21

Able to delegate/ rely on subordinates and to pick honest ones

Exodus 18:13-26

Numbers 11:10-17

Deuteronomy 1:9-18

Judges 9:4

Proverbs 16:13

Proverbs 25:4-5

1 Chronicles 26:30, 22

Nehemiah 3:1-22

Nehemiah 7:1-2

Nehemiah 13:13

Proverbs 29:12

Sirach 10:2

Acts 6:1-6

Rooted in God’s Word

Joshua 1:7-8

Deuteronomy 17:18-20

1 Samuel 12:14

1 Chronicles 22:13

2 Chronicles 29

2 Chronicles 31:21

2 Chronicles 27:6

2 Chronicles 31:20-21

Ezra 7:10

Nehemiah 8:1-8, 18

Jeremiah 10:21

Daniel 1:9-16

Acts 10:1-2

Courageous

Joshua 1:6-7

1 Samuel 17

1 Chronicles 19:13

1 Chronicles 22:13

2 Chronicles 17:6

2 Chronicles 32:6-8

Nehemiah 2:19-20

Nehemiah 4:14

Nehemiah 4:1-7, 10-15

Nehemiah 6

John 10:12

Acts 4:18-20

Acts 5:27-29

Intercedes for the people with God

Exodus 32:30-34

Numbers 14:10-20

1 Samuel 7:7-11

1 Samuel 12:19

2 Kings 19:14-19

2 Kings 22:11-13

2 Chronicles 30:18-20

2 Chronicles 34:19-21

Nehemiah 1:5-11

Nehemiah 2:2-3

Daniel 9:1-16

John 17

Refuses gifts that corrupt

Exodus 23:8

Genesis 14:21-2

Deuteronomy 16:18-20

2 Chronicles 19:7

Proverbs 28:21

Ezekiel 22:12

Amos 2:6

Amos 5:12

Micah 3:11-12

Luke 14:12-14

Does public works projects

1 Kings 5

2 Kings 20:20

1 Chronicles 22:2-6

2 Chronicles 8:3-7

2 Chronicles 32:30

2 Chronicles 17:12-13

2 Chronicles 32:30

2 Chronicles 34:8-13

2 Chronicles 26:9-10

2 Chronicles 27:3-4

Affirmatively seeks to help the people

1 Samuel 23:1-5

1 Samuel 25:4-8, 14-16Psalm 72:6

Sirach 10:1-5

Ezekiel 34:11-16

Romans 13:4

Matthew 14:13-15

Matthew 15:32-33

Matthew 24:45-54

Mark 8:1-3

Luke 12:41-46

Does not place emphasis on personal gain

Nehemiah 5:14-19

Proverbs 28:16

Proverbs 29:4

Sirach 7:4-6

Isaiah 56:11

Isaiah 56:11-12

1 Timothy 3:3, 8

Titus 1:7

1 Peter 5:2

Seeks/heeds Good Counsel

1 Kings 12:6-11

1 Chronicles 13:1

1 Chronicles 27:32-33

2 Chronicles 10:6-4

Proverbs 11:14

 Proverbs 15:22

Proverbs 20:18

Proverbs 24:6

Sirach 21:16-17

Provides for a strong defense

2 Chronicles 32:1-7

2 Chronicles 11:10-12

2 Chronicles 14:6-8

2 Chronicles 17:1-2, 12

2 Chronicles 26:11-15

2 Chronicles 27:4

2 Chronicles 32:1-8

Nehemiah 2:17-4:23, 6:15

Is gracious to those who opposed him/did him wrong

2 Samuel 3

2 Samuel 9

2 Samuel 16:5-11

2 Samuel 19:18-23

2 Chronicles 28:9-15

Proverbs 24:17

Luke 22:47-51

John 21:9-19

Brings the people back to God

2 Chronicles 29

2 Chronicles 17:7-9

2 Chronicles 19:4

2 Chronicles 29

2 Chronicles 34:3-35:18

Nehemiah 5:6-13

Nehemiah 8:1-2

Does not drink to excess

1 Kings 20:12, 16

Proverbs 31:4-5

Ecclesiastes 10:16-17

Isaiah 5:22-23

Isaiah 56:11-12

1 Timothy 3:3, 8

Titus 1:7

Humility

2 Kings 20:12-18

2 Chronicles 32:25-26

Wisdom 6:1-4

Sirach 3:18

Sirach 7:4-6

John 13:1-16

Respected by other nations

Psalm 72: 9-11

1 Kings 4:29-34

1 Kings 10:1-10

1 Chronicles 14:1-2

1 Chronicles 18:6-10

Engages in foreign trade

1 Kings 9:26-28

1 Kings 10:11-12

2 Chronicles 1:16-17

2 Chronicles 2:3-162 Chronicles 9:21

Allows immigration/fair to immigrants

Exodus 23:9

Deuteronomy 10:18-19

2 Chronicles 2:17-18

2 Chronicles 6:32-33

2 Chronicles 15:9

Goes to the people

Genesis 41:46

1 Samuel 7:15-17

2 Chronicles 19:4

Mark 2:15-17

Luke 15:1-2

Goes to God in times of adversity

2 Chronicles 13:14

2 Chronicles 14:11-12

2 Chronicles 18:31

2 Chronicles 20:1-22

Nehemiah 1:4

Truthful/honest

1 Samuel 12:1-5

1 Kings 21:1-26

Proverbs 16:13

Proverbs 29:12

Is not ashamed of worshipping God

1 Chronicles 15:29

1 Chronicles 13:8

1 Chronicles 16:7-36

1 Chronicles 17:16-29

Generosity

1 Kings 8:62-69

1 Chronicles 29:1-5

2 Chronicles 35:7-9

Nehemiah 5:17-19

Equitably distributes resources/burdens

1 Samuel 30:21-25

Nehemiah 3:1-22

Nehemiah 4:15-23

Taxation

Genesis 47:13-26

2 Kings 23:33-35

Nehemiah 5:14-16

Is responsive to the people

1 Kings 12:1-19

2 Chronicles 10

Proverbs 28:16

Is diligent

Genesis 41:46

1 Samuel 7:15-17

Nehemiah 5:16

Not deterred by opposition

Nehemiah 2:19-20

Nehemiah 4:1-7, 10-15

Nehemiah 6

Does not womanize

1 Kings 11:1-3

Proverbs 31:3

1 Timothy 3:2

Provides Stability

Proverbs 28:2

Proverbs 29:4

Understands human nature

1 Kings 3:16-28

Nehemiah 13:19-21

Investigates/understands/

researches the matters to be dealt with

Nehemiah 2:11-15

Luke 14:28-32

Calm, not easily angered

1 Timothy 3:3

Titus 1:7

 Has foresight

1 Chronicles 22:2-6

2 Chronicles 32:1-7

Seeks wisdom

2 Chronicles 1:7-12

Wisdom 9:7-12

 Inspires devotion/enthusiasm

2 Samuel 23:13-17

Encourages his subordinates

2 Chronicles 30:22

Attends to preparing his successor

Numbers 27:15-23

Does not tolerate euthanasia

 2 Samuel 1:7-16

Avoids rash promises

 Samuel 14:24-46

Leads by example

1 Chronicles 29:1-5

Alert to danger

Nehemiah 6:1-4