Third Discourse in Matthew: Saint and Sinner

(Jesus) put before them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to someone who sowed good seed in his field; but while everybody was asleep, an enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and then went away. So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared as well. 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?’ He answered, ‘An enemy has done this.’ The slaves said to him, ‘Then do you want us to go and gather them?’ But he replied, ‘No; for in gathering the weeds you would uproot the wheat along with them. 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.’” ~ Matthew 13:24-30

Saints are sinners too, but they are forgiven and absolved. ~ Martin Luther


This has always been a tough parable for me.

 I do see in it the reality of life: good and bad happen together in this world. And here it seems that at judgment day, the bad had better watch out! (Jesus even seems to imply that later).

 But this time as I read it, something else struck me.

 The wheat and the weeds grow in me too.

 Because, as Luther said, I am both simultaneously saint and sinner.

 Jesus words here then become such hope-filled grace.

 The weeds in me don't have the last word.

 The sin in me doesn't have the last word.

 The wheat in me is meant to produce a bountiful yield. And that bounty is the last word, brought about by a generous, wise master.

 Lord.

 Savior.

Meditation: What does this parable call out to you today?

Popular posts from this blog

The Gospel of Mark: Women at a Distance

There were also women looking on from a distance; among them were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome.  These used to follow him and provided for him when he was in Galilee; and there were many other women who had come up with him to Jerusalem. ~ Mark 15:40-41 Where have all the disciples gone?  What about the crowds? Whose left? Some women. Standing at a distance. These two verses have always been poignant to me. We get so little in any of the gospels about the women following Jesus. But here's what we know about them. First, they paid the bills. And second: they stuck around. They would be the ones to watch Jesus die and the ones to visit his tomb. One of the things I've noticed about Mark is how he is able to say so much about people even by using so few words.  About Judas we know his character despite getting so little about him. About the woman who anoints Jesus, we know her generosity despite not even knowing her n...
Read more

Transformed through Courage: Esther

Then Esther spoke to Hathach and gave him a message for Mordecai, saying,  “All the king’s servants and the people of the king’s provinces know that if any man or woman goes to the king inside the inner court without being called, there is but one law—all alike are to be put to death. Only if the king holds out the golden scepter to someone, may that person live. I myself have not been called to come in to the king for thirty days.”  When they told Mordecai what Esther had said,  Mordecai told them to reply to Esther, “Do not think that in the king’s palace you will escape any more than all the other Jews.  For if you keep silence at such a time as this, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another quarter, but you and your father’s family will perish. Who knows? Perhaps you have come to royal dignity for just such a time as this.”  Then Esther said in reply to Mordecai,  “Go, gather all the Jews to be found in Susa, and hold a fast on my beha...
Read more

Teachings of Jesus in Luke: Living Forgiveness

Then turning toward the woman, he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has bathed my feet with her tears and dried them with her hair.  You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not stopped kissing my feet.  You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment.  Therefore, I tell you, her sins, which were many, have been forgiven; hence she has shown great love. But the one to whom little is forgiven, loves little.” ~ Luke 7:44-47 He who risks and fails can be forgiven. He who never risks and never fails is a failure in his whole being. ~ Paul Tillich  It is often easier to ask for forgiveness than to ask for permission. ~ Rear Admiral Grace Hopper It was certainly easier for the woman who bathed Jesus feet with tears to seek forgiveness than ask permission to do it. And Simon, and his friends, were indignant that she didn't ask permission first...
Read more