Then Jesus sent the crowds away,
and went into the house. His disciples came to him, saying, “Explain to us the
parable of the weeds of the field.”
He answered them, “He who sows the
good seed is the Son of Man; the field is the world; the good seed are the
children of the kingdom; the weeds are the children of the evil one. The enemy
who sowed them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers
are angels. As the weeds are gathered up and burned, so will it be at the end
of this age. The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will gather out
of his kingdom all things that cause stumbling, and those who do iniquity, and
will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be weeping and gnashing of
teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their
Father. Whoever has ears to hear, should listen.
“Again, the kingdom of God is like a treasure hidden
in the field, which a man found, and hid. In his joy, he goes and sells all
that he has, and buys that field.
“Again, the kingdom of God is
like a merchant seeking fine pearls, who having found one pearl of great price,
sells everything to buy it.
“Again, the kingdom of God is
like a dragnet cast into the sea, gathering fish of every kind. When the boat is
filled, they draw up on the beach, sit down, gather the good into containers, and
throw the bad away. So will it be at the end of the world. The angels will come
and separate the wicked from the righteous, and cast them into the furnace of
fire where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
Jesus said to them,
“Have you understood all these things?”
They answered him, “Yes, Lord.”
He said to them, “Every scribe
who has been made a disciple in the kingdom of God is like a householder, who
brings out treasures, new and old.”
Reflection
The idea of hellfire is far
more prevalent in the minds of many Christians than in the teachings of Jesus.
The parables here speak of weeds being burned up and “bad fish” being thrown
away; both speak of judgment, but neither speaks of eternal torment. What have
you been taught about hell? Do you think fear of eternal torment brings anyone
to God? Do you think lack of belief in judgment leads to lack of
accountability?
Prayer: Keep me from the
extremes, Lord, of needlessly fearing you or of presumptuously ignoring you.
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