Posted: Feb 15, 08 12:25am
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46. Wheat And Tares
M't:13:24: Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field: M't:13:25: But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way. M't:13:26: But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also. M't:13:27: So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares? M't:13:28: He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up? M't:13:29: But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them. M't:13:30: Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.
The meaning of this parable is to present to us the present and future state of the Kingdom of heaven in the Gospel church. He that sows the good seed is Jesus, the Lord of the harvest. Ministers are also instruments in His hand to sow good seed. The field is the world and the good seed is the children that belong to His Kingdom. The wheat is scattered, dispersed throughout the world. The tares are the children of the wicked one. They are weeds in the field, but have the same sun, soil, and rain fall upon them. The enemy that sowed the tares is the devil. They were sown as men slept. The devil keeps watch for all opportunities.
After he sowed his seeds he went his way, that it might not be revealed who did it. Now the tares can spring up on its own and do harm to the good seed. The tares did not appear until the blade sprung up and brought forth fruit. The servants when they became aware of it complained to their master. “Didn’t you plant good seed; where did the tares come from in the same field?” The master was aware of how they got there; “An enemy has done this.” He knew that the servants hadn’t done this. He does not judge them, but judges the situation at hand instead.
The servants desire to tear up the tares, but the master wisely states, “No, so that the wheat is not rooted up along with the tare.” The difference between the two seeds may not be infallibly distinguished so readily and the harvest is not yet ready until the end of the world. At harvest time every man shall reap what he has sowed.
The reapers are the angels, servants of the Master. The tares shall be pitched into the fire and bounded into bundles. There shall be comfortless sorrow. Heaven is the barn where the wheat will be gathered up and placed. Herein what has been hidden shall now shine forth as the sun. Those that shine as lights in this world, shall shine as the sun in the next world. Jesus concludes, “You who have ears, let Him hear.” His Word is infallible and He has promised a harvest to come.
Have you ever complained to the Master about the tares that grow right next to the wheat in the world or in your church?
What did you hear as you heard this parable?
What other Scriptures speak about the good and evil dwelling together until judgment day?
