Die Zeit der Kirche als die Zeit göttlicher Langmut. Der Taumellolch im Weizenfeld und seine Deutung (Mt 13,24–30.36–43)

Who are the servants in the parable offering to cleanse the wheat of the weed during the growth process? When at all discussed in the commentaries, they are often taken to be people wanting to exercise church discipline. This would be in sheer contradiction to the disciplinary rules set forth in Matthew 18.15–20. Therefore, this article argues that we instead shall understand them as angels of the son of man longing to eliminate unworthy community members. Against this background the message of the parable together with its interpretation is that when nothing the like happens it is because of God’s forbearance, shown to extend the possibility to repent.