The Enemy who Sowed some Weedies

Matthew 13:24-30:36-43 :The Enemy who Sowed Weedies

There are a couple of different angles to view the parable of the weeds, just as there are in the parable of the soils. This morning I would like to share some initial thoughts regarding the enemy in this parable. First, the enemy trespasses on property that is not his. The property did not belong to the enemy, but to the man who sowed good seed. There is obviously some animosity the enemy has with this man to even want to trespass. Who knows, maybe the enemy was tired of seeing this man's field reap so much good harvest that he became jealous. Maybe he was jealous that this man's field was much bigger than his. Or maybe he was jealous that this man had a field and he did not. Nonetheless, the enemy trespasses onto a field that did not belong to him.

Second, the enemy trespassed at a time he would not be seen nor heard. He came at night while the hired hands were fast asleep from a hard days work. This speaks to the enemies desire to be sneaky, conniving, and even cowardly. He clearly wants to avoid confrontation. He may want to avoid confrontation because he knows he cannot overcome the hired hands or more importantly the owner of the field.

Third, the enemy sought to disrupt, corrupt, and damaged the owner's field, his crop, and those who benefited from his crop. In any field there would be weeds that grew. However, there is undoubtedly a vast number of weeds that begin to sprout up, which grabbed the attention of the hired hands. There was so many weeds, the hired hands went to the owner and said, "We thought you sowed seeds, not weeds." The enemy did not just sow a few weeds, he sowed a myriad of weeds. He sowed so many weeds if the hired hands tried to pluck them out, they would have ruined the good crops. This is why the owner tells them to wait until harvest to pick everything, given the wheat would be harvestable then.

Also, one scholar noted regarding the weeds, that they were fungus, if eaten by man or animal could be poisonous. It is indubitably apparent the enemy desired to harm those associated or who benefits from the crop of the owner. Undeniably the enemy sought to sabotage the owner, his field, and his crop.

Who is this enemy? He is the evil one, the devil, the serpent of old. The enemy hates God, hates what he represents, and hates the glory God receives. Therefore, he is the one who trespasses onto God's property, the world (his creation). His trespassing is very sneaky and conniving. The bible enlightens us about the devil in that he prowls around like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour (1 Pet 5:8). Also, he wants to steal nutrients from the wheat (God's children) by sowing weeds alongside of them. Therefore, God's children must be on guard, must be vigilant and aware of the schemes of the devil. We must be careful that we do not become contaminated by the guiles of the devil. What Jesus' parable does is expose us to the essence of the evil one. And his nature is to come as a thief in the night to steal, kill, and destroy God's work! Let us be diligent today not to allow him to ruin or contaminate God's good work in us.