A World Full of Wheat and Weeds

In this message centering on the parable found in Matthew 13:24–30 and 36–43, Chuck Swindoll explores the complex reality of good and evil coexisting in the world. He begins by identifying Jesus as the consummate storyteller who used parables to reveal truth to open hearts while concealing it from those who were closed. The specific story involves a farmer who plants good wheat, only to have an enemy secretly plant weeds among the crop while the workers sleep [2, 6–8].

Swindoll explains the dilemma faced by the workers: they want to immediately tear out the weeds. However, the farmer commands them to “let both grow together until the harvest,” warning that uprooting the weeds prematurely would damage the wheat. Swindoll uses this to illustrate that in the “field”—which Jesus identifies as the world or Cosmos—righteousness and lawlessness must coexist until the end of the age. He defines the Cosmos not merely as the globe, but as the organized system of human life that is alienated from God, noting that it can often appear cultured, refined, and religious while remaining hostile to Christ [10, 14–16].

The message concludes with four practical lessons: hostile powers are always at work, distinguishing good from evil is difficult, humans have a tendency to rush to judgment, and God is just. Swindoll emphasizes that while our instinct is a “knee-jerk reaction” to destroy evil immediately, God’s patience allows time for the “mystery of iniquity” to play out until His angels execute the final separation. He closes with a sobering story about evangelist D.L. Moody and the Great Chicago Fire, urging listeners not to delay their decision to trust Christ, as no one is promised another week [23–27, 29–31].

Message Key Facts:

• The Deceptive “Darnel”: Swindoll identifies the “weeds” in the parable as darnel, a poisonous rye grass. In its early stages, it looks identical to wheat. It is only when the crop matures that the difference becomes obvious (the weed has black seeds), making early separation impossible without destroying the crop.
• The Definition of Cosmos: Swindoll defines the “field” (the world) using the Greek concept of Cosmos. It is the sum total of human life alienated from God. He notes that the “world system” is not just the obviously evil aspects of society but includes “refined,” “cultured,” and “intellectual” elements that seduce people away from God [15–16].
• The Reality of the Enemy: Despite modern skepticism, Swindoll affirms Jesus’ teaching that the devil is real and active. He notes that the enemy often works through “deceitful workers” who disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, just as Satan disguises himself as an angel of light [20–22].
• Patience vs. Knee-Jerk Reactions: The farmer’s command to “No” (do not pull the weeds yet) teaches patience. Swindoll observes that humans naturally want to rush to judgment to remove what is wrong, but wisdom knows that acting rashly can cause more damage. He suggests that during this waiting period, some “weeds” might even be won over to the truth.
• God’s Grinding Wheels: Swindoll quotes the adage, “God’s wheels grind slowly but exceedingly fine.” While God does not settle His accounts at the end of every month, His judgment is certain. The delay in judgment often emboldens evil, but the final harvest belongs to the Lord [27–28].
• D.L. Moody’s Regret: Swindoll recounts the story of D.L. Moody preaching on October 8, 1871. He told the crowd to take a week to decide what to do with Jesus. That night, the Great Chicago Fire destroyed the city, and Moody never saw that congregation again. Swindoll uses this to press for an immediate decision for Christ [29–30].

Message References:

• Matthew 13:24–30: The Parable of the Wheat and the Weeds (Tares).
• Matthew 13:36–43: Jesus’ explanation of the parable: The sower is the Son of Man, the field is the world, the good seed are sons of the Kingdom, and the weeds are sons of the evil one.
• Matthew 13:31–33: Brief mentions of the Parable of the Mustard Seed and the Leaven [11–12].
• 1 John 2:15–17: The command not to love the Cosmos or the things in the world.
• 1 John 5:19: “The world around us is under the control of the evil one” [20–21].
• 2 Corinthians 11:13–15: Warning regarding false apostles and Satan disguising himself as an angel of light [21–22].
• Ecclesiastes 8:11: “Because the sentence against an evil deed is not executed quickly, therefore the hearts of the sons of men… are given fully to do evil”.

Message Speaker:

Pastor Chuck Swindoll