Good evening. As we continue tonight, we continue in our series “The Parables Of Jesus.” Last week in the parable of the Sower, we learned that not all people react to the Word of God in the same way. Some people have hard hearts, and then some people allow material concerns and other problems crowd out God’s truths. But then there are those that let the Word of God take root and grow in them, and they will bear fruit for Him.
How many of you have gardens or flower beds? Have you ever noticed any weeds growing in the garden or the flower bed? How do you identify them and then get rid of them?
Well, the same truth that we looked at last week is going to be further illustrated in the parable that we will look at tonight. If you want to go ahead and turn with me to Matthew 13:24-30 and hold that spot for a moment. In this parable we will read about The Wheat And The Tares. It has been said that situations are 10% of what happens to you and 90% of how you perceive it. In a way that is what this parable touches on.
Before we read the text, let’s have a word of prayer
Matthew 13:24-30 says, “1”
Now, there are seeds and fields in both of the parables that we have looked at. Both this week and last week focused on the seeds. But, this parable is not a continuation of the parable of the sower, but it is instead a totally new illustration with a new point to it.
Before we go on, How does this parable relate to Matthew 7:15-20? Here it says, “2”
So, how do they both relate to one another?
Okay, what was the enemy trying to accomplish by sowing bad seed in with the farmer’s good seed?
Why didn’t the farmer have his servants go and pull up the weed right away?
Okay, and when the harvest time comes, what is going to happen to the weeds?
Well, we are fortunate enough to have Jesus’ explanation of this parable to His disciples recorded here in Matthew as well, but before we read that, what do you think He is trying to teach with this parable?
Okay, let’s see Jesus’ explanation of the parable of the wheat and the tares. In Matthew 13:36-43 it says, “1”
You see, Jesus got away from the crowd, and then He explained the parable to His disciples. We have already looked at the fact that He used parables to be able to reveal the truth to some, and conceal it from others. Those who believed would be revealed the truth. Others were there just for the show. What would be the next miracle? What would happen next? The truth was concealed from these non-believers.
If you are honest with God, He will see that you are a true seeker and He will giver you the answers. Just be honest with Him and be a true seeker of His message and not just an admirer.
Well, let’s look at this explanation that Jesus gave to His disciples. First, let’s look at the
sower. He who sows the good seed is The Son Of Man. Christ in His preaching proclaimed the gospel of the kingdom. In fact in Matthew 4:23 it says, “Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom.”
This gospel or this good news that Jesus was talking about was His own death, burial, and resurrection. And He would spend time proclaiming that message about the kingdom. Now in today’s world, proclaiming the gospel is the church’s number 1 function. It is every Christians responsibility to proclaim Christ and the death, burial, and resurrection.
Next, is the field. The field is this world that we live in. Our world is where the Son of Man came to sow the seed. This field is the place in which Jesus exercises His authority. In Matthew 28:18 it tells us, “Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has be given to me.”
Well, just because some people don’t follow Christ, that doesn’t mean that He doesn’t have authority over them. Because He does. After looking at what the field is, we move on to take a look at The Good Seed that is sown. The good seeds are the Sons of the Kingdom. These are the people who acknowledge Jesus as their Lord and King, and gladly follow His commands. It is all Christians in this world that truly follow Christ.
The rest of Matthew 28:19-20 goes on to say, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Let’s look at a quick difference between this week and last week’s parables. Last week the seed was the Word of God. This week the seeds are the Sons of the Kingdom, which are us. So what do we produce? Are we being wheat, or are we being weeds? The choice remains ours.
Next, Jesus goes on to explain the Tares. The tares are the Sons of the Wicked one. These are the people that offend and practice lawlessness. Although they are in the world, over which Christ ultimately rules, they will not submit to the Lord’s authority.
Now these tares appearances are the same as ours. In fact, they many times are among us in our daily lives. It may be a neighbor or a coworker. Tares simply means the weeds, the bad seeds that are planted along with the good ones.
It was false grain that was sown in. It looked like wheat, but it wasn’t. In fact there were some weeds that looked like wheat all the way up until the harvest time. They appear that they really have it made, but the harvest time has not come yet. They are about to be thrown into the fire.
Jesus even goes on to explain who the enemy is, as if it isn’t obvious. The enemy who sowed the bad seed is the devil. Satan tried to tempt Christ into sinning, and failed, and now he seeks to destroy those whom Christ loves. In I Peter 5:8 it says, “Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”
On Satan’s best day, he can’t lay a finger on God, so the next best thing is to get those who follow Christ. So the enemy is the devil.
Next is the Harvest Time. As Christ explains, the harvest is the end of the age. What does Jesus say about the end of the age?
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