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The earliest teaching of Jesus about his second coming was a parable. Matthew 13:24-30 reads:

“The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared. The owner’s servants came to him and said, ‘Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?’
‘An enemy did this,’ he replied.
The servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’
‘No,’ he answered, ‘because while you are pulling the weeds, you may root up the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.’ ” (NIV)

Jesus explained the parable in verses 37-39. He is the sower. The seed are his followers. The enemy is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age and the harvesters are angels.

Why did Jesus tell this parable? He reminded us that he is coming again and people will be judged. Those who follow him will “shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father.” In other words, those who follow Jesus will live forever in heaven.

Please provide feedback and suggestions at: https://www.sparkingfaith.com/feedback/

Bumper music “Landing Place” performed by Mark July, used under license from Shutterstock.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 2:00 — 3.7MB)

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS | More

Have you ever wondered about the future? I think we all have. We see all kinds of threats and problems around us. They make us wonder whether the future will be better or worse.

Sometimes our concern about the future is about near-term events. You know, thinks like will inflation be bad in the next couple of years or what will happen in the next election? Sometimes our concern is for our health or our loved ones. At other times, we are fascinated by the end of time and the return of Christ. Numerous books have been written about the end times. Some have even been made into films. There are also numerous ideas about exactly what the Bible says about the return of Christ. Some are quite complex.

This brings me to my favorite parable. The parable of the tares is a simple story that Jesus told to teach about the end of time. He told it in Matthew 13:24-30. Then – my favorite part – he explains it in verses 36-43. Here’s the bottom line: evil and good will exist in this world until the end of the age. Then judgement will occur, separating the evil from the good. And our hope is in verse 43, “Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father.” (NIV) I don’t know about you, but I really like that part!

Please provide feedback and suggestions at: https://www.sparkingfaith.com/feedback/

Bumper music “Landing Place” performed by Mark July, used under license from Shutterstock.