October 16, 2026
Today's Reading: Matthew 13:24-43
Daily Lectionary: Deuteronomy 14:1-2, 22-23, 14:28-15:15; Matthew 13:24-43
“He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ So the servants said to him, ‘Then do you want us to go and gather them?’ But he said, ‘No, lest in gathering the weeds you root up the wheat along with them. Let both grow together until the harvest, and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, “Gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.”’” (Matthew 13:28-30)
In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.
The summer we bought our house, I wanted to plant a garden. So, I got a rototiller (very fun machine by the way) and tilled up a big old patch of soil, one that got a lot of sun and lots of water when it rained. I got some good seed from the store, planted it in nice, neat little rows with little signs that declared that pumpkins grew here, and here were the carrots, potatoes, and squash. You get the picture. I knew there would be some tending, some watering, and the occasional weed-pulling.
I was not prepared for the pigweed.
At first, it seemed like little sprouts covering everything. I thought at first it was some kind of clover, but then it kept growing, taller and taller. I found out it was called redroot pigweed, and it completely took over. My garden was toast. In that moment, I understood a little more about the parable of the weeds.
My garden was completely choked out by the pigweed, but God’s garden is different than my pitiful attempt. God is first and foremost a God of mercy, and it is within his character to be merciful. This is why he lets the weeds grow. He does not want to risk a single stalk of wheat being ripped up along with the weeds.
And remember, this is a parable. This is not actually about weeds and wheat. Ordinarily, a gardener would be happy to tear that weed out by the roots, especially because the weeds steal nutrients from the crop. And if that means sacrificing a small bit of the crop, so be it. But remember, we aren’t talking about wheat. We are talking about souls. The hearers of this parable would have thought this was reckless and crazy. But God is not reckless, and God is certainly not crazy. He is so careful to keep his people that he does something that seems even wilder to the world: he sent his son, Jesus Christ. He did not send him to take over an earthly throne or to punish humanity. He sent his son to die for the sins of the world, and yes, that means your sin, too.
In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.
Of all his scattered plenteousness One-fourth waves ripe on hill and flat, And bears a harvest hundredfold: “Ah, what of that, Lord, what of that!” (LSB 586:5)
Rev. Jonathan Lackey is the pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Vine Grove, KY.
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