All gardeners and ground keepers know the struggle. No matter how careful in soil preparation and decisions choosing the right seeds or seedlings, no matter how well the area is irrigated or how kindly the sun shines, weeds pop up like they paid rent. It takes vigilance of a sort to keep them away either by yanking them out by their roots or utilizing a form of chemical warfare. Allowing these unwanted plants space to grow seems counterproductive, like disrespect to all the work put in and the hope of harvest to come.

Good vs. Evil, Garden Edition

Characteristically, that’s exactly what Jesus proposes. He hits the disciples with another, “The Kingdom of Heaven is like…” story. The disciples ask for clarification. On the surface it’s a simple story. Jesus came to plant good seed in the world, and those who received his message are good seed. But here’s also the bad seed, what would destroy his message, planted by the evil one, that is, Jesus’ antithesis sometimes known as the Devil. The two seeds, good seed and bad seed, are permitted to exist side by side until end of the world, when the angels come and clean house, removing everything that tried to choke out the good.

Now most stories of good and evil build up to big battles, cinematic showdowns. In all the fighting and clashing of power, explosions, casualties, and drama, both sides suffer big losses. Apparently though, Jesus does not want to risk harm for the cause of good, even when the predicted outcome is for good to triumph. So may the heroes of Marvel lay down their superpowers. Take a realistic view and do the best you can in the meantime. That’s just how it’s going to be for a while.

The Big Question

The cosmic questions of good vs. evil are not going to be answered today. But personal messes and the greater issues of humanity must find a way to negotiate the question in our immediate time. Sometimes the only prayer that fits is:

“GOD, what is even happening out here!”

Take a deep breath and rant away. Vent. Dump it all out: the world’s nonsense and your own. Tell God all that’s wrong in the world and in your world. Take as much time as you need. Just remember the three rules of anger: no one gets hurt, nothing gets broken, and you don’t get in trouble. Stay in those boundaries and let it fly. God is God and big enough to handle the heat.

Cheatgrass Check

Done? All right, now think about this. Cheatgrass is a weed known in many parts of the world. It starts out growing like normal vegetation, but it eventually becomes invasive and is known as a noxious weed, a full blown menace. Its prolific seed production and rapid growth make it stupid hard to kill without hurting the good plants too. The best efforts to do so can also harm desirable vegetation and are not necessarily organic friendly.

See the connection?

 It's like this: sometimes what looks good is later revealed to be toxic. You choose __________. (Healthy tans, white refined flour and sugar, tobacco, prescription pain killers, “safe” herbicides, whatever) What should happen when the righteous lifestyles of “good” people based on privileges unjustly oppress and crush others? Or when centuries of anger explode and someone does get hurt, things are broken, and people are in big trouble. Not to point fingers here, but what should happen when the bad seed has mixed into the DNA of the good seed? If the workers pull out the good-bad seed-weed too fast, would much be left to harvest?

Separating Good and Evil (Carefully)

If you’ve read this parable story as one of God’s condemnation on the evil in the world, slow down. Be very careful. We aren’t perfect. That’s why Jesus had to come in the first place so we would see ourselves for who we are and what needs to change, to be reversed in ourselves in the eyes of God. Pertinent here is the human tendency to condemn that in others which we hate about ourselves. Controllers hate being controlled. The ambitious are threatened by those who self-promote. The self-righteous can’t stand honest convictions contrary to their own.

That doesn’t even cover those actions society generally agrees shouldn’t happen. The point is if you examine yourself closely enough, if you are willing to pull back the onion layers of who you think you are in this dysfunctional world, you very well may find some noxious weed seeds in your own soul too.

That’s why there’s this time delay. Jesus says wait. In the end, evil gets weeded out. Those who reject the farmer and his sacrificial giving and instead promote the worst the world can devise will be identified. Be aware as well, judgementalism is not the same as accountability. Certainly, we should hold each other to moral and civil standards today. 

Harvest of Good, Not Evil

Interestingly, cheatgrass is highly flammable, and sometimes it takes controlled burning to be rid of it. But Jesus is saying, not now. Jesus wants to save the good seed certainly. Yet, inside us all is the need for time; seeds don’t sprout overnight. Germination is necessary for growth. In that germination, the basic plant is formed, wheat or weed.

Jesus wants the weedy part of lives to be separated out. All the regrets, all the twisted stuff to be burned away. And one day the angels will harvest what’s good, what’s real, what’s been growing in us all along. And that good growth that remains will “shine like the sun”, like wheat waving in the fields, golden and alive.

“The Kingdom of Heaven is like a farmer who plants good seed in his field.”

Matthew 13: 24-30, 36-43

Kingdom Book Award 2026 Finalist!

The Trouble with Jesus: Considerations Before You Walk Away by Constance Hastings

 Ask for it wherever you buy your books, or just Click Here.

Subscribe to The Trouble with Jesus Blog Here.

Buy Me a Coffee