
A Few Bad Apples?
Where do your friends think the problems in our world come from?
What are some challenges to the idea that they comes from just “a few bad apples”?
The Parable: Matthew 13:24-30
Jesus’ Explanation: Matthew 13:36-43
“Didn’t you plant good seed?”
So what went wrong? “While everyone was sleeping,
God created everything (including people) “very good” - Genesis 1:31
So what is Jesus implying has gone wrong with our world?
“An enemy did this”
We would like to know much more about this enemy: where he came from, why he is an enemy at all, and so much else. But Jesus is content with defending God’s honor and indicting the true agent of evil. Believers should usually not venture much further into the metaphysics of evil than Jesus does here. —Frederick Bruner
In what ways have you seen the effects of this “enemy” yourself?
“Let both grow together”
How do you feel about the parable suggesting we should just ignore “the weeds” (for now…)?
Why do you think God could allow that - even though it’s obviously bad?
On Parables…
- Parables are not precise
What features of this parable are definitely intended to teach us something?
- Parables are not intended to give us the
List out some things about God’s Kingdom that this parable says nothing about:
“You may uproot the wheat”
What does Jesus mean here?
No weeding - for the good of
How could letting evil continue rather than destroying it ever possibly be good?
“Until the harvest”
What will happen at “the harvest” to the weeds? They will be
What does that mean in our world?
Do you understand what Jesus means when he says “repent and believe”? Have you done that yourself?
God, I was going the wrong way. I’m sorry.
I want to go the right way.
Thank you that Jesus did everything right, yet took the punishment for all my wrong when he died on the cross
Thank you that Jesus rose into new life, and that I can share that new life because of him
I want to follow you now - so as best as I know how, I give you my life. —A Short Prayer of Faith
How can you cultivate patience and trust in God’s timing as you face evils in this world?
Big idea: judgement on evil planted in God’s good world must wait - but will come.