Difficult Farming – July 24, 2026
Jesus told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared. “The owner’s servants came to him and said, ‘Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?’ “‘An enemy did this,’ he replied. “The servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’ “‘No,’ he answered, ‘because while you are pulling the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.’” Then he left the crowd and went into the house. His disciples came to him and said, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field.” He answered, “The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the people of the kingdom. The weeds are the people of the evil one, and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels. “As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. They will throw them into the blazing furnace, where 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, let them hear. Matthew 13:24-30,36-43
Difficult Farming
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Farming is difficult business. You need to find good seeds and good soil. The sun and rain are beyond your control. Neither planting nor harvesting are easy. And in between you’ve got to keep the weeds from choking out the wheat. But what if the weeds looked almost exactly like the wheat? How would you know which ones to pull?
Jesus says the farmer should leave them alone for now. That’s Jesus’ surprising answer. Of course, he wasn’t talking about literal farming. He was talking about harvesting souls.
When Jesus explained his parable of “The Weeds and the Wheat,” he uncovered some uncomfortable truths. We are happy that the Holy Spirit has called us to be God’s people through Jesus—that’s not uncomfortable. What is uncomfortable, however, is that the devil also has his followers in the world. Like the similar-looking weeds and wheat, believers and unbelievers often look the same on the outside. Someone may smile, be kind, and seem like a good person, but only God knows what is truly in a person’s heart. Only God, who sees hearts, can immediately tell the difference.
That leads to a second uncomfortable truth: God allows both believers and unbelievers to live together on earth. Jesus explains that it is out of concern for believers that God allows this, “while you are pulling the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them” (Matthew 13:29). God knows what he is doing, even when we do not understand all his reasons.
It is difficult to live as wheat among weeds. Sometimes it feels like there are more people who ignore God than follow him. Christians can feel outnumbered. We wonder why God does not put an end to wickedness right now. Yet Jesus calls us to live patiently, faithfully, and with hope. God knows those who belong to him. We cannot always tell who truly belongs to Jesus. A friend who doesn’t believe today might hear about Jesus tomorrow. A neighbor who never goes to church today may someday trust in Jesus because someone shared God’s Word with them. He wants more people to hear the good news and be brought into his kingdom. That’s one reason God waits. He wants more people to be saved.
A harvest is coming. On the Last Day, God’s angels will separate the wheat from the weeds without making a single mistake. Then every believer will finally “shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father” (Matthew 13:43). What a wonderful day that will be! Until then, we live confidently as God’s people, trusting the Farmer who knows exactly what he is doing.
Prayer:
Dear Jesus, help us live patiently and faithfully for you among the weeds of this world. Keep us trusting in you until the day we shine in your heavenly kingdom. Amen.
The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire.
Questions for Younger Children
- In Jesus’ story, what grew in the field besides wheat? Are weeds good or bad?
- Who is the only one who can see what is really in a person’s heart?
Questions for Elementary Age Children
- True or False: You can always tell if someone believes in Jesus just by looking at them. Why or why not?
- Can you think of a time when it was hard to follow Jesus because people around you made different choices?
Questions for Middle School and Above
- Why is it dangerous to decide whether someone is wheat or a weed just by what we can see?
- How does the promise of the final harvest help you live patiently and hopefully in a world where evil still exists?
