The Parable of the Wheat and the Tares
24 Another parable He put forth to them, saying: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field; 25 but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way. 26 But when the grain had sprouted and produced a crop, then the tares also appeared. 27 So the servants of the owner came and said to him, ‘Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have tares?’ 28 He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ The servants said to him, ‘Do you want us then to go and gather them up?’ 29 But he said, ‘No, lest while you gather up the tares you also uproot the wheat with them. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, “First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn.”
"Tare" is probably meant a sick kind of wheat or the darnel "false wheat" growing mostly in Palestine, which grows with resemblance to a real wheat but doesn't produce a grain. Another plant called American cheat (chess) that greatly resembles also to a real wheat. The grain of chess is smaller, the taste is bitter and has a strong soporific poison that causes dizziness if eaten.
These false wheat "Tare" plants are left to grow together with the real wheat until harvest, because there roots are intertwined that plucking the tare will kill the wheat.
Jesus explains the meaning of the parable in Mat. 13:36-43
1. The sower of the good seed is Son of Man (Jesus Christ)
2. The field is the world.
3. Good seeds are the sons of the kingdom.
4. Tares are the sons of the wicked one (devil).
5. The enemy is the devil.
6. The harvest is the judgement of God at the end of the age.
God will separate the righteous from the ungodly. God will send the ungodly to hell (Mat. 13: 42-43)
7. The reapers are the angels.
Application:
Wherever the gospel (message of salvation) is preached, some people will get saved, these people have heard and believed the gospel of Jesus Christ. They've in trusted their eternal destiny to Jesus's sacrifice on the across 2,000 years ago.
Ephesians 1:13-14
13 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who[a] is the [b]guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.
And wherever God's people and works are, the enemy (the devil) is always active in preventing and destroying God's plan and purpose.
John 10:10
10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
And this is a reminder to all God's children that we have a real enemy and we have to be vigilant in our walk with God. Being vigilant means to study the word of God consistently, pray without ceasing, never give up meeting one another (ministry works) and do the things that glorify God.
1 Peter 5:8
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.
The enemy can attack God's people at anytime, like a hungry lions seeking a prey to eat.
Lions prey on animals that are weak, sick, inexperience or simply slumbering.
When Christians are slumbering in their spiritual walk with God (verse 25), the enemy can enter to destroy God's work in many ways such as:
- Introducing false (unbiblical) doctrines that creates a false hope or assurance of eternal life.
- Hindering the ministries ability to expand or grow.
- Unconfessed sins in the lives of the believers.
- Does not promote true spiritual growth and repentance.
24 Another parable He put forth to them, saying: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field; 25 but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way. 26 But when the grain had sprouted and produced a crop, then the tares also appeared. 27 So the servants of the owner came and said to him, ‘Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have tares?’ 28 He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ The servants said to him, ‘Do you want us then to go and gather them up?’ 29 But he said, ‘No, lest while you gather up the tares you also uproot the wheat with them. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, “First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn.”
"Tare" is probably meant a sick kind of wheat or the darnel "false wheat" growing mostly in Palestine, which grows with resemblance to a real wheat but doesn't produce a grain. Another plant called American cheat (chess) that greatly resembles also to a real wheat. The grain of chess is smaller, the taste is bitter and has a strong soporific poison that causes dizziness if eaten.
These false wheat "Tare" plants are left to grow together with the real wheat until harvest, because there roots are intertwined that plucking the tare will kill the wheat.
Jesus explains the meaning of the parable in Mat. 13:36-43
1. The sower of the good seed is Son of Man (Jesus Christ)
2. The field is the world.
3. Good seeds are the sons of the kingdom.
4. Tares are the sons of the wicked one (devil).
5. The enemy is the devil.
6. The harvest is the judgement of God at the end of the age.
God will separate the righteous from the ungodly. God will send the ungodly to hell (Mat. 13: 42-43)
7. The reapers are the angels.
Application:
Wherever the gospel (message of salvation) is preached, some people will get saved, these people have heard and believed the gospel of Jesus Christ. They've in trusted their eternal destiny to Jesus's sacrifice on the across 2,000 years ago.
Ephesians 1:13-14
13 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who[a] is the [b]guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.
And wherever God's people and works are, the enemy (the devil) is always active in preventing and destroying God's plan and purpose.
John 10:10
10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
And this is a reminder to all God's children that we have a real enemy and we have to be vigilant in our walk with God. Being vigilant means to study the word of God consistently, pray without ceasing, never give up meeting one another (ministry works) and do the things that glorify God.
1 Peter 5:8
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.
The enemy can attack God's people at anytime, like a hungry lions seeking a prey to eat.
Lions prey on animals that are weak, sick, inexperience or simply slumbering.
When Christians are slumbering in their spiritual walk with God (verse 25), the enemy can enter to destroy God's work in many ways such as:
- Introducing false (unbiblical) doctrines that creates a false hope or assurance of eternal life.
- Hindering the ministries ability to expand or grow.
- Unconfessed sins in the lives of the believers.
- Does not promote true spiritual growth and repentance.
