The parable of the weeds
Did God and Christ originally intend good for the world?
Matthew 13:24 – Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field …
Matthew 13:37-38a – He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man; The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom …
What problem arose, and who is responsible?
Matthew 13:25 – But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.
Matthew 13:38b-39a – … but the tares are the children of the wicked one; the enemy that sowed them is the devil …
What was the response to the appearance of evil among the good?
Matthew 13:28-30a – He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up? But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest …
What will happen to the wicked at the time of harvest?
Matthew 13:30b – … and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.
Matthew 13:39b-40 – … the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels. As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world.
Questions of fairness
What is one of the reasons for God’s temporary tolerance?
Matthew 13:26 – But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also.
Matthew 13:41 – The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity …
Remark: God permits evil to exist so that its true nature and consequences may be fully revealed, like weeds among wheat. If He were to immediately destroy evil without allowing it to manifest, He could be accused of being a tyrant who suppresses dissent. By allowing both the wicked—Satan himself— and his “children” to demonstrate their fruits, God ultimately exposes the true outcome of evil.
Is this the only reason why evil is temporarily tolerated?
2 Peter 3:9 – The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
Romans 2:4 – Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?
Isaiah 42:3 – A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth judgment unto truth.
Remark: Among those currently counted as weeds are some who, by God’s mercy, may later be transformed and counted as wheat.
Is it fair and righteous for God to allow evil to run its course even though it leads to suffering?
Genesis 18:24b – Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?
Remark: God faces a choice: to respect free will and allow evil to unfold, or to enforce His rule without permitting dissent. He chooses the former, seeking in the process to present His case, reveal His goodness, and guide us toward making the right choice.
Why could removing the wicked also harm the righteous?
Matthew 13:29 – But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them.
Matthew 24:40-41 – Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
Revelation 7:3 – Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.
Malachi 3:17-18 – And they shall be mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him. Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not.
Remark: The destruction of the wicked will be a dreadful sight. For unprepared Christians, witnessing the punishment of those around them—even their own relatives—will be difficult to accept. For this reason, the course of evil must be allowed to play out to the end, so that all can see where it leads and how terrible sin truly is. True Christians will be sealed in their (fore)heads, empowering them to witness the final destruction of all evil at the end of Earth’s history.
By temporarily tolerating evil in the world, does God leave us to fend for ourselves?
Romans 8:38-39 – For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.