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Explanation for:
Matthew
13
:
27
And the servants of the goodman of the house coming said to him: Sir, didst thou not sow good seed in thy field? whence then hath it cockle?
11
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{"arr":[{"author-name":"Ephraem the Syrian","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88b589fc3e99eb7bb1839_Ephraem%20the%20Syrian.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"He responded to them by stating that this is the work of the adversary, not His own. If any among us desires to align themselves with the weeds, we should inquire: If the Sustainer of His creation sowed His seed in that which belongs to Him, then let him explain why one part of that seed was sown by Him, while another part was reserved for subsequent planting? If it was sown in the domain of the evil one, then the Sustainer has sown among the weeds, or ultimately, the harvest is attributed to the adversary. \\n\\nThe reasoning presented by the holy father implies that if the benevolent God planted a single type of seed, specifically wheat, in His field, why was it sown in two different instances? That is, why did He initially share one doctrine with the world through Christ and His apostles, and later allow another doctrine propagated by heretics? Does a single type of seed require multiple instances of planting? The emergence of heretics following the original sowing indicates they do not stem from the seed that God planted through Christ and the apostles. If the heretics refuse to concede that God introduced their new teachings where the apostles had already proclaimed the truth, they must agree that He did not plant in His own legacy, but rather in the domain of the evil one, or they must affirm that the fruits of these new doctrines did not come from the seed of God, but instead from the seed of the adversary."},{"author-name":"Augustine of Hippo","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88950a5c988a4fc06c7ae_Augustine%20of%20Hippo.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":5,"exegesis-text":"The Lord clarified the teachings He had previously asserted. Observe our choices in His domain and what He expects of us at the time of reaping. For the domain represents the world where the Church has taken root. Those who are like wheat should endure until harvest, while those resembling tares should transform into wheat. Among humanity, there exist both genuine wheat and tares. The authentic ears remain as they are while the tares stay tares. However, within the Lord's domain, which is the Church, that which is grain may sometimes become tares, and that which is tares may sometimes become grain; no one can foresee what the future holds. Are these not the same servants that are later referred to as reapers? In narrating this parable, He mentions that the reapers are angels, and it is unlikely that they are unaware of who sowed the weeds, or that the weeds only became apparent to them when the grass bore fruit; thus, should we not understand the faithful, referred to here as servants, also known as the good seed? It is fitting that they are described as both good seed and servants of the Master, much like He identifies Himself as the Door and the Shepherd (John 10:7, 11). The meanings derived from these designations allow for various interpretations. Notably, when speaking to the servants, He did not indicate, \\"At harvest time I will tell you to gather the weeds first,\\" but rather He stated, \\"I will instruct the reapers.\\" This implies that other ministers are appointed to collect and remove the weeds, and no member of the Church should presume that this responsibility is their own. When an individual matures spiritually, they become aware of the heresies and are capable of discerning and separating anything that contradicts the faith. Yet, until they achieve maturity in this spiritual growth and bear the fruit associated with such development, they may find themselves shaking off the fruit. This explains the emergence of numerous false doctrines under the banner of Christianity. Hence the servants question, \\"Did You not sow good seed in Your field? Where then do the weeds come from?\\""},{"author-name":"Chromatius of Aquileia","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88a3df6d7a747a33b4f4a_Chromatius%20of%20Aquileia.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":5,"exegesis-text":"The Lord reveals that the adversary, the devil, has once again cast the seeds of his wickedness and hostility to stifle the divine word within us. He states, “But when the people were asleep, the enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and departed.” This illustrates that the devil plants tares among those who are spiritually slumbering, those who are thoughtlessly engulfed in their unbelief, as if entranced in a daze of lethargy, and who have drifted into a state of unawareness of divine truths. Regarding such individuals, the apostle admonishes: “Let us therefore not sleep as others do, but let us be awake and sober. For they that sleep sleep by night, and they that are drunken revel by night” (1 Thess. 5:6-7). This lethargy of mind and spirit ensnared the foolish virgins in the parable we find in the Gospel, who, without replenishing the oil in their lamps, could not greet the bridegroom. Thus, the devil, the foe of mankind, is perpetually eager to plant tares amidst the wheat. However, those who have awakened from the slumber of disbelief and remain vigilant in faith toward the Lord are not vulnerable to the nocturnal sowing of evil. The Lord Himself taught that the good seed represents the children of the Kingdom, while the tares symbolize the unfit."},{"author-name":"Theophylact of Bulgaria","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c8989296bafed9104677d7_Theophylact%20of%20Bulgaria.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":11,"exegesis-text":"Servants, in contrast, are celestial beings who feel a deep discontent regarding the presence of false teachings and moral decay within the spirit."},{"author-name":"Euthymios Zigabenos","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":11,"exegesis-text":"The Lord of the house is Christ Himself, the Sovereign of the universe. The servants who express this thought signify the zealous and devout orthodox believers, who frequently question, with a sense of indignation, why God allows these obstacles to arise."},{"author-name":"Tichon of Zadonsk","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c8989ff6b5b4c943e70095_Tichon%20of%20Zadonsk.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":18,"exegesis-text":"At times, weeds can be found growing amongst the wheat. In this metaphor, the wheat symbolizes the righteous, while the weeds represent the unrighteous. Just as these weeds coexist with the wheat, so too do the wicked exist alongside the godly. Initially, weeds may not be easily distinguished from the wheat, but as the wheat matures and begins to yield fruit, it becomes evident that these plants are indeed weeds. Similarly, the wicked may not be immediately apparent, but gradually, their sinful ways become clear: \\"By their fruits you will know them,\\" declares the Lord (Matthew 7:20). There exists a significant distinction between the weeds and the wheat, just as there is between the wicked and the righteous. The weeds, as we observe, serve no beneficial purpose; conversely, the wheat is valuable in all respects. Likewise, the wicked are of no use, but the righteous fulfill their purpose through godliness. The weeds, deemed unworthy, are harvested into bundles and incinerated at the time of harvest, whereas the wheat is collected into the granary. In a similar vein, the wicked, being spiritually barren, shall be gathered at the conclusion of the age, bound in bundles, and cast into eternal fire. Those who indulge in sexual immorality, commit adultery, defile themselves, or act in foolishness will contribute to this bundle. Thieves, predators, and robbers, who seize what belongs to others, will also be included in this harvest. The deceitful, shrewd, and crafty will form part of this gathering as well. Slanderers, those who gossip and curse, will also comprise this bundle. The hypocrites—who present themselves as righteous outwardly while harboring malevolence within—will join this lot. These lawless individuals, having produced no fruit for the Lord, will face eternal judgment by fire. In contrast, the godly, the just, the pure, and the good—who demonstrate the fruits of God's word through patience and yield a hundredfold, sixtyfold, or thirtyfold—will be welcomed into the heavenly kingdom, much like wheat gathered into the storehouse. \\"He who sows the good seed is the Son of Man; the field is the world; the good seed are the sons of the kingdom, but the tares are the sons of the evil one. The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels. Therefore as they gather the tares and burn them with fire, so it will be at the end of this age: the Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all the seducers and workers of iniquity, and cast them into the furnace of fire; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth; then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear\\" (Matthew 13:37-43). Sinners, let us turn back! May we escape being consumed by the eternal fire like the weeds and instead produce worthy fruits of repentance. By God's grace, may we be the wheat gathered into the heavenly storehouse. \\"O God of Power! Restore us, and shine your face upon us, and we shall be saved\\" (Psalm 79:4)."},{"author-name":"Michail (Lusin)","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c89550c567e172d15b3055_Michail%20(Lusin).png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"\\"Servants of the master\\": They are included solely to maintain the consistency and wholeness of the illustration."},{"author-name":"Abbot Panteleimon about the Trinity","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"When the servants of the house approached him, they said in disbelief, 'Lord, we have inspected your field and noticed that you did not plant good or chosen seeds there. Yet, we observed weeds growing among them; WHERE DID THEY COME FROM?'"},{"author-name":"Lopuchin A.P.","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c891400ee1341634d2276d_Lopuchin%20A.P..png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"Certainly, here’s a paraphrased version of the text while maintaining its theological essence:\\n\\nThe Redeemer emphasized that the kingdom of heaven would flourish through the power of truth inherent in its nature, and through this strength—rooted in faith and love—it would bring about the transformation of the world. Nevertheless, its expansion would face the schemes of the primordial adversary, who would employ every form of malice to hinder or obstruct the advancement of that kingdom. In this context, 'the kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field,’ yet during the night, his foe introduced tares among the wheat, intending to stifle the good grain. When the servants became aware of this, they suggested to their master that they remove the tares. However, the master replied, 'No; if you pull the tares, you might uproot the wheat along with them. Let both grow together until the harvest,' when the harvesters will be able to collect the tares without harming the wheat. Following the master's command, they will bundle the tares for burning while the wheat will be safely stored in the barn."},{"author-name":"Paul Matwejewski","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c8969f5be0d592d5a10576_Paul%20Matwejewski.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"In the parable of the sower, the Lord explained that only one-fourth of the seed fell on fertile soil, while the parable of the tares illustrates how the adversary exploits human negligence, leaving the good seed unprotected. The Kingdom of Heaven is compared to a man who planted good seed in his field. However, while he was asleep, his enemy came, sowed tares among the wheat, and departed. When the plants grew and began to yield fruit, the tares became evident as well. The servants approached their master, asking, “Lord, did you not sow good seed in your field? Where then did the tares come from?” He replied, “An enemy has done this.” The servants then inquired, “Do you want us to go and gather them up?” The master responded, “No, lest in gathering the tares you also uproot the wheat along with them. Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of the harvest, I will instruct the reapers: first gather the tares and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.”"},{"author-name":"Alexander Gorsky","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c8884037c1e1c51e1332e2_Alexander%20Gorsky.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"The Lord made it clear that another sower exists along with a different seed. Through a fresh parable, He illustrated that among the good seed, the adversary plants tares, which resemble wheat but are not truly wheat. The owner of the field permits both to grow together until the harvest, so that by removing the tares prematurely, he would not inadvertently uproot the wheat alongside them (Matthew 12:22-30 and 36-46). The Lord suggested that in His kingdom, the discernment of righteousness from wickedness - judgment - will not occur immediately."}]}
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