‘The parable of the weeds’ gives us a key insight into how things will unfold in this age. Jesus likens the world to a field in which the Kingdom is growing (the wheat). Eventually, by the end of this age, the Kingdom will come to full fruition. But as the Kingdom grows so too does the opposition, so that, up to the end times, there will be a growing polarisation. It is important not to be pessimistic about the growth of the Kingdom of God in this age. The Kingdom is coming and will fill the earth in this age. Jesus is clear on that. If things get worse in the world it is only because the Kingdom of God is increasing in the world, not decreasing. The brighter the light the darker the shadows, that is how it will be up to the end of this age. In his explanation of the parable of the weeds, Jesus says that his angels will come and “weed out of his Kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil”. In other words, by the end of this age, the world will, in some sense, be permeated with the Kingdom of God. Jesus will return, not to bring his Kingdom, for that is what Jesus came to do at his first coming and is doing by the Holy Spirit right now. Jesus will return to finally weed all evil out of his Kingdom. Jesus was far more optimistic about the ministry of the Spirit through his church in this age than we are inclined to be. Perhaps we should be more so.
Pray for God’s Kingdom to come in and through your life.
Read Matthew 13:24-30 as well as verses 36-43
