Christ’s emphatic call to care for others is at the heart of today’s Gospel passage. At first glance, Jesus’ retelling of the parable of the weeds in the field seems only to separate people into two camps: his followers and evildoers. And the focus seems to be on the gruesome punishment that awaits the evildoers at the end of the age.
Yet, a closer reading of this parable yields an interesting point about discipleship—we will ultimately be judged by how our actions affect others. The people who Jesus says will be burned with fire like weeds are those who “cause others to sin.” And the righteous who will shine like the sun, are those who “sow good seed” and follow the Father in word and deed.
It is not ours to say whether Jesus is foretelling the future when he describes the punishment of the evil ones or if he is offering a vision that may come to pass unless everyone who has ears to hear listens to his message. Jesus used parables to grab the attention of his listeners, causing them to consider where they fit into the story—and each hearer brings something unique to the parable.
What does seem clear, however, is that this parable offers a stark reminder that ours is not an individual faith and we will not be judged on our personal faith practices alone. Our sins affect others, just as our good works light up the field like the sun.

Heidi Busse

Heidi Busse is the editor of Give Us This Day.