Lean In

Imagine This

Jesus tells a story about a farmer who plants good seed in his field. While everyone sleeps, an enemy plants weeds among the wheat. Both grow together until harvest. The servants want to pull the weeds immediately, but the farmer says to wait. At harvest, the separation will be clear. The kingdom, Jesus says, is like this. Good and evil grow side by side.

Later, when the crowds disperse, the disciples come to Him privately and ask, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field.” They had walked with Him. They had heard Him teach often. And still, they did not understand.

Their question tells us something important. The parable was not instantly clear. The story invited thought, but it also required nearness. The disciples moved closer to get clarity.

Read Together

Read Matthew 13:24–30 and 36–43 together.

Notice the story itself, and then notice the disciples asking for an explanation.

Scripture Overview

The parable describes the present reality of the kingdom. Righteous and unrighteous grow together for a time. Judgment is real, but it is not immediate. God is patient.

But the explanation only comes after the disciples draw near. That detail matters. Parables are not just about transmitting information. They invite pursuit. They reveal something true, but they also test the listener’s response.

Some hear a story and walk away. Others hear a story and lean in.

Talk About It

Why do you think the disciples had to ask for clarification?

What does it say about them that they followed up instead of walking away?

When we do not understand something about God, what is our first instinct?

Are we content with confusion, or do we move closer?

Practice This Week

When you encounter something in Scripture or life that you do not understand, resist the urge to dismiss it. Instead, let it become an invitation. Take time to pray, reflect, or ask questions. Choose to lean in rather than pull back. Growth begins with proximity.

Prayer

God, thank You for revealing truth in ways that invite us closer. Forgive us when we walk away too quickly. Give us humility to admit when we do not understand and courage to seek You more deeply. Teach us to lean in and draw near.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.