Jesus shares the parable of the wheat and weeds to illustrate spiritual truths about the end times. Wheat represents the children of God’s kingdom, while weeds depict evildoers. There will be a separation at the harvest between righteous and unrighteous.
To be gathered as wheat into God’s barn, we must be born again of imperishable seed, which is the living and enduring word of God (1 Peter 1:23). The parable explains that the seed equals the word of God (Luke 8:11). So we must be born of His word to become His children. Wheat and weeds have distinct physical characteristics. Wheat grows tall, develops heavy seed heads, and is humble. Weeds do not bear good fruit, tend to take over, and are resilient. This shows how false believers may be difficult to fully separate from true believers. The key is nurturing good wheat to grow strong.
Jesus cautioned against prematurely uprooting weeds since their roots intertwine with wheat. This illustrates allowing good and evil to coexist until final judgment rather than attempting to root out evil prematurely.
To avoid becoming weeds, we must ensure we are born of good seed (God’s word) and mature into spiritual fruitfulness (James 1:18). As first fruits, we are set apart for God’s glory through transformation by His true Word dwelling within us.
Alert
Shincheonji holds distinct theological views that differ from mainstream Christian denominations, yet it also shares some common teachings. This overlap can sometimes blur the lines between their beliefs and those of traditional Christianity. Therefore, it is essential to exercise critical thinking and discernment to differentiate between these shared elements and the unique doctrines they present. While their interpretations warrant careful examination through a critical and biblical lens, it is equally important to approach these matters with an open yet discerning mindset. The following notes were documented in person during Shincheonji’s 9-month Bible Study Seminar. They provide insight into the organization’s approach to introducing and explaining its beliefs to potential new members, often referred to as the ‘harvesting and sealing.’ This process is described as being ‘born again’ or ‘born of God’s seed,’ which involves uprooting the old beliefs and replanting new ones. This uprooting and replanting must occur continuously. By examining this process, we can gain a better understanding of the mindset and beliefs held by Shincheonji members.