3 Applications of the Parable of the Weeds

The point [of the parable of the weeds] is simply that the devil is going to bring forward people (whether in the church or out of it) so much like true Christians, yet not Christians, that even the servants of God will not be able to tell them apart. Consequently, although we want a pure church and will certainly exercise church discipline to the best of our ability in clear cases, we must not think that we will achieve our full desire in this age. Even in our exercise of valid church discipline we must be extremely careful not to discourage or damage some for whom Christ died. I find the following applications of this parable.

1. If the devil is mixing his people in among true Christians, then we should be alert to that fact.

We should be on our guard not to be taken in, and we should not be surprised if the devil’s people show up in strange places or eventually show their true colors by abandoning Christianity entirely. In 2 Corinthians, Paul gives just such a warning, pointing out that “Satan disguises himself as an angel of light” and that “it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise them-selves as servants of righteousness” (2 Cor. 11:14–15). “Servants of righteousness” means “ministers.” Thus the old proverb, “When you look for the devil don’t forget to look in the pulpit.” Again, we are not to be surprised if some like this eventually repudiate the faith and leave Christian fellowship. John also wrote of such, saying, “They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us” (1 John 2:19).

2. The mixed nature of the Christian assembly should not be an excuse for unbelievers to refuse to come to Christ.

Jesus did not pretend (nor should we) that the Christian church is perfect. Sometimes unbelievers say, “I’m not a Christian because the church is filled with hypocrites.” But that is itself a hypocritical statement. It implies that the one making it is better than those whom he rejects. At best it is not the whole truth—there are deeper reasons why people will not become Christians. But the real problem is that if the objection were to be met (that is, if hypocrisy and other sins were to be eliminated entirely among the people of God), then there would be no place for the objector! He or she would not fit in. There is a place for him or her only because Jesus came “not to call the righteous, but sinners” to repentance (Matt. 9:13).

Jesus did not pretend (nor should we) that the Christian church is perfect.

3. No one should take comfort in sin.

The church is impure; we cannot always distinguish between the wheat and tares in this age. But a day is coming when that distinction will be made. The harvest will come. The wheat will be gathered into God’s barn, and the tares will be burned. As a result, we should examine ourselves as to whether we are true children of God or not. And we should be careful to “confirm [our] calling and election,” as Peter indicates (2 Pet. 1:10).