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Matthew 13:24-24, Another parable He put forth to them saying, “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field; but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way.”

Matthew 13:30, Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of the 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.”

Psalm 15 answered the question of who could stay on God’s holy mountain.  To go along with that I thought we might examine what the Lord Jesus said about the kingdom of heaven.

“In Jesus’ day after a field had been sown with wheat, a mischief-maker might sneak into the field and sow darnel (tares) over the original crop.  Darnel looks almost identical to wheat, but it has no market. Only value at harvest time, when crop was fully grown, could the farmer distinguish the true wheat from the worthless darnel.” (David Jeremiah Study Bible). The parable of the wheat and the tares emphasizes that Satan will sow his seeds in the same places as those who sow the Word of God.  The field is the world and the “good seed” represent the true children of the God’s kingdom. 

There are several interesting points in this parable.  The gospel and true believers will be planted throughout the world.  Satan will also plant his followers, “the sons of the wicked one” (verse 38) among the people of God to try to counteract the truth.  Satan is able to sow his seeds because “men slept”.  Christians must be on guard for Satan looks for any and every opportunity to take advantage of opportunities to spread corruption and misinterpretation of God’s Word.  His lies would be an attempt to get you to believe that sin is okay; the lie has not changed since the Garden of Eden!  The main direction of his agents within the visible kingdom of God is to undermine the authority of God’s Word, promote false doctrine, and to promote unrighteousness.  Consider the confusion in today’s churches over right and wrong teaching from professed Christians who are really false teachers.  Do not be confused!  Look to God’s Word as your final authority concerning the issues of today; be careful who you listen to!

Jesus told His disciples to allow the true followers and those masquerading as believers to grow together.  I think I believe as the disciples must have.  I can just hear them wanting to go in and cut down or uproot the tares.  But, read the entire parable and see that the tares could not be distinguished from the wheat.  The owner of the field (Jesus) wisely knew that wheat would be destroyed with the tares.  Wait until the harvest when the difference between the two would be obvious he said. 

You and I cannot know the true heart of another – whether another has truly given their heart to the Lord Jesus Christ.  We can, however, judge their fruit or what their lifestyle is.  Listen to what a person says and watch what he or she does.  Does it match what is professed?  Our responsibility is to live the life Jesus Christ offers, to be light to those who do not know Him as their Savior.  In order to not be fooled by the “tare” we must know God’s Word and do our best to live according to what it says.

There is a harvest coming!  Go back and read Matthew 13:30 above.  The angels are going to separate the wheat from the tares.  The wheat is going to be put into the barn (heaven); the tares are going to be bundled and burned.  Do not sleep.  Do not become complacent in your walk with the Lord.  Have a hunger and thirst for righteousness each day.  I pray for this each day for every member of my family.  It is my prayer for each of you that take the time to read this blog.

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