Sermon Notes from Sunday, July 20th

Proper 11A – Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43

[37-38] Jesus is sowing good seed in the field

• Here the “good seed” is what the word has produced rather than the word itself.
• He has placed his children in the world but not of the world
• John 17:16-19 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. [17] Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. [18] As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. [19] And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth.
• Field = the world not the church
  

[38] The “weeds” are probably darnel, a poisonous plant related to wheat & virtually indistinguishable from it until it matures.

[38] Children of the Kingdom vs. Sons of the evil one

• Both are sown in the field together
• They cannot be distinguished from one another until they begin to bear fruit [29]
• Satan’s powers of deception are so great that only the angels of God are entrusted to separate the good from the evil [30/41]
  

Jude 1:4 For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.

[25/39] What is Satan’s goal in planting the “weeds”? [See: 2 Timothy 4:3-4; 2 Peter 2:1-3]

1 Peter 5:8-9 [8] Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. [9] Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.

[42] The fiery furnace – compare: Shadrach, Meshach and Abednago [Daniel 3:23-27] Who else was with them?

1 Cor. 15:24-26 [24] Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. [25] For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. [26] The last enemy to be destroyed is death.

Rev. 20:12-15 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. [13] And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. [14] Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. [15] And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

Rev. 21:4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away."

Note: Bible quotations are from the ESV. Commentaries referenced for the Gospel of Matthew by R.T. France and Craig Keener