Parables #5 – Study Questions
The Wheat and Weeds
Matthew 13:24-30, 36-40
INTRODUCTION: Parables can be tough to understand. One of the main distinctives or stylistic components of parables is their cryptic nature. Even the disciples struggled to understand Jesus’ parables from time to time. And, like us, even when they understood the parable, they struggled to apply the truths to their lives. The parable of the wheat and weeds is a difficult parable, and it is only one of three that Jesus gives an explanation. Over the centuries, the greatest challenge with this parable has not been what Jesus says but the risk of reading too much into it. So, what does Jesus teach in this parable? Simply, that eternity is real, and it matters a great deal. C.S. Lewis reminds us of the same truth when he says, “Christianity asserts that every individual human being is going to live forever, and this must be either true or false. Now there are a good many things which would not be worth bothering about if I were going to live only 70 years, but which I had better bother about very seriously if I am going to live forever. Perhaps my bad temper or my jealousy are gradually getting worse – so gradually that the increase in 70 years will not be very noticeable, but it might be absolute hell in a million years: in fact, if Christianity is true, hell is the precisely correct technical term for what it would be.”[1] We know the present is real because we are living in it. Jesus reminds us that eternity is real, very real indeed, and physical death is not the worst thing we could experience.
GETTING STARTED – As you begin your group time, talk about a time in your life when living in or for the now distracted you from what was more important down the line? Procrastinating on homework? Not practicing an instrument or sports? Perhaps it impacted a relationship? Or a financial decision that made the now easier and the future harder? What did you learn in the process of that experience?
IN THE WORD – Let’s dig back into the passage. It is important to strengthen our muscles in reading God’s Word. On Sunday, we walked through the passage in the sermon. Hopefully, that helped you to see the landmarks of the passage with fresh eyes. Now, with your group, go back through it and see what God is saying to you specifically.
First, before you read the passage, take a moment to ask God’s Spirit to quiet your mind and heart and to illuminate the text to you. Second, read the passage aloud to the group. Then, follow the simple method below. (O.P.A)
Observe: Make 8-10 observations from the passage. Pay close attention to observe and note repeated words and phrases, names, places, and themes.
Principles: From your list of observations, what patterns or big ideas do you see emerging? Can you distill it down into 2-4 big idea truths?
Apply: Moving from your list of principles, it is time to apply God’s Word. Remember, we believe that God’s Word is living and active and that it can change the way we live Monday- Friday. What is one tangible way to apply a truth from your list above?
[1] C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity, chap. 1: p.73.