Read Matt 13:24–43
Mat 13:36-43 Then he left the crowds and went into the house. And his disciples came to him, saying, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds of the field.” (37) He answered, “The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. (38) The field is the world, and the good seed is the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one, (39) and the enemy who sowed them is the devil. The harvest is the close of the age, and the reapers are angels. (40) Just as the weeds are gathered and burned with fire, so will it be at the close of the age. (41) The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all law-breakers, (42) and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. (43) Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear.
All three parables have one thing in common and that is the hiddeness or the mystery of the kingdom of God. In the first, the people of God are hidden by the sons of the evil one. You cannot outwardly tell the difference until judgment day. In the second, it is the size of its beginning which is Jesus being buried in a tomb, unknown to the world, and risen from the dead with just his disciples as witnesses. In the third, it is much like the first where you can see the effects of God’s people in the world and they spread throughout the world, yet they cannot be discerned from the world.
Which gives us probably the main point of hope from the parable-God’s kingdom and the gospel will not fail. It will spread throughout the world and many will believe it being made sons of God through it. It’s hard to see sometimes because in some places it is growing and in other places shrinking. But the gates of hell will not prevail against it. Sometimes Satan has planted his chapel not only next to the Church but smack dab in the middle of it.
So we go by people’s confession of their mouth. Because we cannot tell who is a believer and who isn’t just by looking at them or watching their good or bad behavior. There is a judgment day and on that day the angels will separate all that out. On a side note, we see the unbelievers are gathered first and then the believers. This goes very well together later in chapter 24 where one is taken and one is left. Where are the one who are taken to? To where the vultures gathers. Read Revelation 19 about the birds. Those who taken are taken to judgment while those who are left behind are God’s children.
Lord God, Heavenly Father, let me see by faith your kingdom working in this world. May I be part of that leaven, the good seed and a sprig of that mustard plant during my time on earth that on the harvest day I may be left behind to be gathered into your divine barns. In Jesus’ name. Amen.