The readings for Pentecost 8 are taken from Isaiah 44:6-8; Romans 8:18-27; and Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43.
The parable in the Gospel lesson reveals the intersection of the three lessons and answers a question that bothers a lot of people a lot of the time: Why doesn’t God do something about evil people? The short answer is, “He has and still is.” The longer answer begins with the parable of the sower from last week: Why doesn’t God do something about the three kinds of bad soil that I am made of? Answer? He has. Jesus endured God’s judgment against the bad soil of our corrupt human nature. AND, the Word of God regenerates our soul so it is good soil, the perfect host for His Seed, and productive.
The answer continues today. God leaves the weeds and wheat to grow together, lest by uprooting the weeds He destroy the wheat also. Each of us is full of weeds and wheat. At just the right time God will harvest our souls that His Word/Seed has regenerated and will relieve us of the bad soil of our human nature by letting it return to dust. Just as I need God to be patient with me, since my life is full of weeds and wheat, so we are grateful for God’s patience and wisdom for the sake of everyone else. (Second Peter says a lot about God patiently waiting for people to come to repentance and life.)
Isaiah warned the people about the bad ground/seed of being devoted to false gods. Paul explained to the Romans that the pain and futility of the present time could not be compared to the promises of God that are being fulfilled right now in our regenerate soul/communion of saints and the ultimate fulfillment when God raises us from the dead in the new heaven and earth.
Matthew records Jesus, the wisdom and love of God, providing the answers to every question that matters and the key to every problem that would confine our lives.