Subverting the Kingdom: The Enemy's Weed Parable

Jesus continues to teach in parables to teach that the Devil has played a part in influencing those living in the kingdom. The metaphor of weeds for these people makes for a hard truth to welcome that there are those in the kingdom who look like the wheat of the field but are like the weeds on closer inspection. They hurt the crops of the field. Such a metaphor for the kingdom reveals that the purpose of the kingdom can be diminished but never derailed. It is one of the clearest moments in the teaching of Jesus that the Devil does play an active role in undoing the work of the kingdom.