lolium temulentum<\/em>, \u201can annoying weed that looks very much like wheat \u2026 and can carry a poisonous fungus.\u201d
\nOn interpreting \u2026 the singular problem, which is common with parables, is trying to wring more theology from the parable than it should carry. Is it about:
\nThe church as a mixed body of believers and unbelievers?
\nThe church as mixed into the Jewish world?
\nThe individual person who has good and bad characteristics?
\nThis parable has some potentially unrealistic features, but they are there to serve the parable and not to depict agrarian realities. Klyne thinks the charge of unrealism \u2014 say the sowing of weeds into the field by an enemy \u2014 is smokescreen and overrreading.
\nIs it about a mixed church? Is Matthew, in other words, speaking to his church? Matthew\u2019s Gospel is not against judgment and discernment; so the passivity of the righteous is not consistent with how Matthew\/Jesus describes his followers (or how Jesus behaves). The parable\u2019s interpretation says the field is the \u201cworld\u201d and not the \u201cchurch.\u201d That should matter. So, the point is the coexistence of sinners and the righteous.
\nFurthermore, it is inconceivable for Jesus to gather a community of good and bad and not call the bad to be transformed; it is not about an inclusive, non-judged community.
\nKlyne suggests the implied question behind this parable is this: \u201cHow can this be the kingdom if evil is still present?\u201d That\u2019s the question more ought to ask in reading this parable; it is its secret. A fundamental reality for the followers of Jesus, then, was \u201cinauguration\u201d of kingdom but not \u201cconsummation\u201d of kingdom. The now-but-not-quite-yet theology is at work in this parable and it arose during the very lifetime of Jesus, which is part of a the problem of interpreting this parable \u2014 many scholars think the interpretation of the parable, at the least, is not from Jesus. Snodgrass argues it is from Jesus.
\nThree expressions for kingdom:
\nKingdom
\nKingdom of Son of Man
\nKingdom of Father
\nAre they different? They are at least in some sense. Snodgrass suggests, tentatively, that Kingdom of Son of Man is the degree to which the kingdom has become a reality in this world. Kingdom of the Father is the consummation of the kingdom now present.
\nFinally, this parable teaches that:
\nthe kingdom is now present
\nevil is also present
\nevil will be dealt with by God at the end.
\nThese are the foci of the parable; this parable is not about how to achieve God\u2019s will; it is not passivity; it is about kingdom and final judgment, and that God is the final judge \u2014 not us.<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"We continue our series on Klyne Snodgrass, Stories with Intent, and today we look at the parable of the wheat and weeds.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":197,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1040],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4148","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-parables"],"yoast_head":"\n
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<\/em>, and today we look at the parable of the wheat and weeds.