Daily Word - An Enemy Has Done This - Matthew 13:24-30

Scripture:
Matthew 13:24-30 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)
The Parable of the Wheat and the Weeds
24 He presented another parable to them: "The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field. (A) 25 But while people were sleeping, his enemy came, sowed weeds [a] among the wheat, and left. 26 When the plants sprouted and produced grain, then the weeds also appeared. 27 The landowner's slaves (B) came to him and said, 'Master, didn't you sow good seed in your field? Then where did the weeds come from?' 28 " 'An enemy did this!' he told them. " 'So, do you want us to go and gather them up?' the slaves asked him. 29 " 'No,' he said. 'When you gather up the weeds, you might also uproot the wheat with them. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest. At harvest time I'll tell the reapers: Gather the weeds first and tie them in bundles to burn them, but store the wheat in my barn. ' "
Footnotes:
Matthew 13:25 Or darnel, a weed similar in appearance to wheat in the early stages
Cross references: Matthew 13:24 : Mt 18:23; 20:1; 25:1; Mk 4:26;, 30; Matthew 13:27 : Mt 10:24; Col 3:11; 4:1; Rv 1:1;

Reflection:
What can malicious weed-sowing tell us about the kingdom of God? The image Jesus uses here is a common everyday example of planting, harvesting, and sorting the good fruit from the bad. Weeds can spoil and even kill a good harvest if they are not separated and destroyed at the proper time. Uprooting them too early, though, can destroy the good plants in the process. Just as nature teaches us patience, so God's patience also teaches us to guard the word he has planted in our hearts and to beware of the destructive force of sin and evil which can destroy it. God's word brings life, but Satan seeks to destroy the good seed which has been planted in the hearts of those who have heard God's word. God's judgment is not hasty, but it does come. And in the end, God will reward each according to what they have sown and reaped in this life. In that day God will separate the evil from the good. Do you allow God's word to take deep root in your heart?

Prayer For The Day:
Lord, may your word take deep root in my heart and that I may bear good fruit for your glory. May I hunger for your righteousness now that I may look forward to the day of judgment with joy rather than with dismay.