The Wheat and the Tares
From The HeartPublish date: 09/25/2016
Matthew 13:24-30 (KJV): Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which 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 blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also. 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? 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? 29 But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them. 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.
Matthew 13:36-39 (KJV): Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house: and his disciples came unto him, saying, Declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field. 37 He answered and said unto them…
1. He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man.
John 3:16-17 (KJV): For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
2. The field is the world.
1 Corinthians 10:26 (AMP): For the [whole] earth is the Lord’s and everything that is in it.
3. The good seed are the children of the kingdom.
The good seed are children of God. True believers are the wheat.
True believers grow and mature in the things of God.
Their love for the Lord and the things of the kingdom of God grow daily. True godly character is evident in their lives.
The fruit of the Spirit is evident in their lives.
Galatians 5:22-23 (KJV): But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
John 15:1-6 (AMP)
Jesus is the True Vine.
The Father is the Vinedresser.
Believers are the branches.
4. But the tares are the children of the wicked one.
The children of the wicked one (devil) sowed the tares.
Tares:
Tares are weeds in the grain field.
Tares resemble wheat so closely that one cannot really tell them apart until maturity. They disguise themselves or camouflage themselves as wheat or true believers.
Tares are imitators or counterfeit wheat. They have all the attributes of their father, the devil. They are liars and are full of mischief. They habitually and knowingly follow and practice sin. They do not love their brothers and sisters in Christ because they are not related. Tares are full of hate and pervert the ways of God. They plant unbelief and doubt. They are full of gossip especially towards the things of God. They are unrepentant and are wolves in sheep’s clothing because their nature is of their father, the devil.
Tares, when mature, show their true nature. Their heads are held up high and are stiff necked. They have no useable fruit. Contrary to the tares, the wheat becomes golden in color and their heads are bowed in humility and are loaded with fruit. They are ready for harvest.
Tares are not interested in advancing the kingdom of God or the preparation work for the soon return of Christ.
Matthew 7:15-20 (AMP)
5. The enemy that sowed the tares is the devil.
John 10:10 (AMP): The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows).
6. The harvest is the end of the world.
As we grow closer to the return of Christ, the tares and the wheat will be evident by the fruit.
Matthew 24:14 (KJV)
Mark 4:29 (KJV)
7. The reapers are the angels.
Matthew 13:40-43 (KJV): As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world. 41 The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; 42 And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. 43 Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.
The goal of tares is to draw true believers away from Christ.
True tares never repent.
Tares, who never come to Christ, are given the same opportunity to repent as the true believers.
2 Peter 3:9 (KJV): The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
Tares draw others into error and sin.
Tares are planted by the enemy to hinder the farmer’s crop.
Do not allow tares to influence you; you influence them.
1 John 3:9-10 (NASB)
Psalm 139:23-24 (KJV)
Romans 12:21 (NIV)
Matthew 13:37-39 (KJV): He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man; 38 The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one; 39 The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels.