July 2017 Messenger Newsletter

"Let both of them grow together until the harvest."
(Matthew 13:30)

Seventh Sunday after Pentecost

The Parable of the Wheat and the Tares

Mat 13:24 He put before them another parable: "The kingdom of heaven may be compared to someone who sowed good seed in his field;
Mat 13:25 but while everybody was asleep, an enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and then went away.
Mat 13:26 So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared as well.
Mat 13:27 And the slaves of the householder came and said to him, 'Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? Where, then, did these weeds come from?'
Mat 13:28 He answered, 'An enemy has done this.' The slaves said to him, 'Then do you want us to go and gather them?'
Mat 13:29 But he replied, 'No; for in gathering the weeds you would uproot the wheat along with them.
Mat 13:30 Let both of them grow together until the harvest; and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, Collect the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.'"

The Parable of the Tares Explained

Mat 13:36 Then he left the crowds and went into the house. And his disciples approached him, saying, "Explain to us the parable of the weeds of the field."
Mat 13:37 He answered, "The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man;
Mat 13:38 the field is the world, and the good seed are the children of the kingdom; the weeds are the children of the evil one,
Mat 13:39 and the enemy who sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels.
Mat 13:40 Just as the weeds are collected and burned up with fire, so will it be at the end of the age.
Mat 13:41 The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will collect out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all evildoers,
Mat 13:42 and they will throw them into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Mat 13:43 Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Let anyone with ears listen!

NSRV & Believer's Study Bible (BSB) Notes

[Mat 3:24] The Parables of Jesus Christ (see chart).

(vv. 24-30) This parable illustrates another aspect of the truth of vv. 3-9 (cf. vv. 36-43). The "field" (v. 24) is the world, not the church (v. 38), and the "harvest" (v. 30) is the end of the world (vv. 38, 39). Those who have responded to the good news of God's present reign in Jesus' Person and those who have not, "the tares," the sons of the Evil One, live together in the world until the end of the age. To contemporary Judaism, this came as a stunning proclamation, since they assumed the coming of the kingdom of God would mean the destruction of the wicked.

Readings for the week of July 30th
Eight Sunday after Pentecost
First: 1 Kings 3: 5-12
Psalm 119: 129-136
Second: Romans 8: 26-39
Gospel: Matthew 13: 31-33, 44-52

Sunday Worship Services at 10:00am
Sunday School at 9:00am

Wednesday Bible Study (Library) 10:30 am
Holy Communion Service (Sanctuary) Noon