Then he left the crowds and went into the house. And his disciples came to him, saying, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds of the field.” He answered, “The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world, and the good seed is the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one, and the enemy who sowed them is the devil. - Matthew 13:36-39
In this passage from Matthew 13, Jesus explains the meaning of His parable of the Wheat and Weeds to His disciples. He tells them (and us) what each element and event int the story symbolize. One of the striking things about His explanation is the fact that He attributes the weeds to the work of an enemy, and He identifies that enemy as the Devil.
When the servants in the parable discover the weeds, they go straight to their master to ask him how they got there, and the master immediately recognizes that this is the work of an enemy.
And the servants of the master of the house came and said to him, ‘Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have weeds?’ He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ - Matthew 13:27-28
The Bible is crystal clear that Jesus Christ is the true King and His Kingdom is present and advancing in the world. However, this parable also makes it clear that Christ and His Kingdom will not go unopposed in the world. There is another kingdom, a rival kingdom, and a rival ruler to Christ - Satan.
There are some folks who view any talk of the Devil or evil forces in the world as just a bunch of superstitious nonsense. There are other people who become overly fascinated or paranoid about the work of the Devil and demons. C.S. Lewis offers us a healthy perspective on this issue...
“There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils. One is to disbelieve in their existence. The other is to believe, and to feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them. They themselves are equally pleased by both errors, and hail a materialist or a magician with the same delight.” (The Screwtape Letters)
But if we take God’s Word seriously, then we cannot avoid the fact that we have an enemy. Satan is real and he is absolutely committed to destroying what God is trying to build in the world.
Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. - 1 Peter 5:8
Put on the full armor of God, that you may be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. - Ephesians 6:11-12
Jesus told this parable so that we would have a clear understanding that His kingdom will face opposition in this world. As citizens of God’s Kingdom, we are not to be ignorant of our enemy in the world. We are also not live in paralyzing fear of Satan or his power because we know that his power is nothing compared to the power of our King!
Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. - 1 John 4:4
Jeff Frazier
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