Here’s yet another interesting parable about Jesus’ teaching on the kingdom: Matthew 13:36 Then he left the crowd and went into the house. His disciples came to him and said, ?Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field.? 37 He answered, ?The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man. 38 The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one, 39 and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels. 40 ?As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. 41 The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. 42 They will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 43 Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear..
1. Jesus sows the seed of the kingdom of God by preaching and creating followers.
2. In the world — the field represents the world — there are two kinds of people: kingdom people and non-kingdom people (“sons of the evil one”). This is apocalyptic language designed to draw boundaries.
3. Cosmic conflict theme: Satan sows weeds among the kingdom people (in the world).
4. The final judgment will separate the two — kingdom from non-kingdom people.
5. The kingdom comprises both kingdom people and non-kingdom people. The non-kingdom people, though, have been surreptitiously sneaked into the kingdom.
6. The only kingdom happening, though, pertains to the kingdom people.
7. I’d be careful here but this needs to be considered: there is world here (=field) and world is not the same as “kingdom.” Kingdom is in the world.
8. The sons of the evil one are cast away, those surreptitiously sneaked in, and the “righteous” (followers of Jesus? those who respond to the seed/kingdom message?) will shine in the Father’s kingdom. Future, clearly. After judgment (of some kind).