There were two farmers who were neighbors. One was a good man who worked his fields and was respected in the community. The second farmer was a mean spirited fellow and did not have much good to say about anyone. He resented the good reputation of his neighbor and as most disgruntled people have a habit of doing, he thought of the good farmer as a know it all. Stewing over the other man’s reputation for being wise, he decided he would teach the other farmer and the community how foolish they were in their confidence.
In the middle of the night, he went out into his neighbor’s fields and threw millions of tiny seeds of a weed that mimics the appearance of wheat in the early stages of growth. Each day he watched the farmer move the irrigation tubing, as he walked the fields in the early morning hours when the sun was white against the blue sky. He smiled to himself waiting for the day when it would become clear there was something dreadfully wrong with the crop.
Early one morning the good farmer’s field worker came to him at breakfast. “Sir, I was sure we purchased the grain from our usual supplier, but something has happened. The fields are full of weeds.”
“I have known for months,” said the farmer, smiling up at him.
“But shouldn’t we pull them out before they choke out the wheat?” The employee rubbed his temples. “How has this happened?
“An enemy has done this but do not worry,” said the farmer. “. Allow the plants to grow together. If we attempt to remove the weeds now we may accidently destroy much of the wheat. It is better to let them grow together until the harvest. Then it will be plain which is which. The weeds will be burned then.”
Jesus said the kingdom of God is like this field. At the judgment it will become clear who is wheat and who are weeds. Should we be surprised when we notice hypocrites in church? (Mathew 13:24-30).
