**Read Matthew 13:36-43 and Romans 11:13-21
I. The Parable of the Weeds Explained
- In Matthew 13:36-43, Jesus explained the parable of the weeds in Matthew 13:24-30. The sower is Jesus Christ, the field is the world, and the good seeds are the believers. The weeds are the non-believers and the devil is its sower. The harvest is judgment day and the harvesters are the angels. When the end comes, the angels would be separating the harvest (believers) from the weeds (non-believers), the good from the evil. All non-believers and unrighteous will be thrown to the fiery furnace of hell and all of God's children will inherit His kingdom. There are true and false believers in our churches today. At the same time there are true and false churches out there. According to Jesus, we cannot judge the false believers because we might damage the true believers while doing so. We need to constrain ourselves and instead share with them verses from the Bible, pray for them and hope that they, also, would see the light and the true gospel. As a follower, we have the duty and obligation to share the Word to everyone who hears. Let us give them the chance to receive God's message and choose if they want to be a good seed or a weed. Let us give them a choice of life in heaven or life wailing and gnashing of their teeth.
II. The Ingrafted Branches
- In Romans 11:13-21, Paul explained to the Gentile Christians not to feel superior to the Jews because God rejected some of them. He explained that the Jewish religion is the root and the Jewish people are the branches. Some of the Jewish non-believers were cut off the tree and were replaced by Christian gentiles, who are now also considered holy. He reminded them not to boast against them for the Jewish religion was the root of Christianity. Christianity is the continuation of Judaism with the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. We cannot be prideful for the blessings and grace we received from God but instead we need to glorify His name and praise Him for the salvation and blessings He has given us. Let us pray for all humanity that they may soften and open their hearts to the message of the Lord, accept Him as their savior, repent of their sins, and follow His ways. Let us lead them as Jesus led us closer to God and His family.
III. Proverbs for Today/6:20-26
20My son, keep thy father's commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother:
21Bind them continually upon thine heart, and tie them about thy neck.
22When thou goest, it shall lead thee; when thou sleepest, it shall keep thee; and when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee.
23For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life:
24To keep thee from the evil woman, from the flattery of the tongue of a strange woman.
25Lust not after her beauty in thine heart; neither let her take thee with her eyelids.
26For by means of a whorish woman a man is brought to a piece of bread: and the adultress will hunt for the precious life.
Additional Old Testament Reading:
