PARABLES OF JESUS - THE WHEAT & THE TARES

THE WHEAT AND THE TARES

Today we begin week 5 of the parables of Jesus. Week 1 was the wise and foolish builders. Week 2 was the foolish rich man desiring to build bigger barns. Week 3 was comparing the faithful and unfaithful servant while the master is away.

Last week we talked about the Sower and the Seed – we are all the Sower – the Seed is the Word of God and the soil is the heart of the person hearing it. Today we continue with the agricultural references and will be looking at the Wheat and The tares.

This time God is the sower and this parable speaks of sifting, separating the Christian (wheat) from the lost/unsaved (tares). Our reward from God is eternal life for those who love Him. But we have the ability to reject God and those who reject Him will be eternally separated from Him, doomed, eternal suffering in hell. God knows the heart of man and He will judge accordingly, not us but He Himself will judge. Billy Graham said he won't be as surprised by who he sees in heaven but more surprised by who he doesn’t see. This parable of the wheat and tares states God will separate believers from non-believers but only at the Harvest so let us begin by praying!

THE WHEAT AND TARES

Matthew 13:23–30, 37–43 – He put another parable before them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field, but while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and went away. So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared also. And the servants of the master of the house came and said to him, ‘Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have weeds?’ He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ So the servants said to him, ‘Then do you want us to go and gather them?’ But he said, ‘No, lest in gathering the weeds you root up the wheat along with them. Let both grow together until the harvest, and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, “Gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.” ’ ”

He answered, “The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world, and the good seed is the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one, and the enemy who sowed them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels. Just as the weeds are gathered and burned with fire, so will it be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all law-breakers and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear.

I. The Sowing of Tares—vv. 24–27 -

A. The parable—vv. 24–25 – A man sowed good seed. While he slept, the enemy sowed tares,

vv24-25 - He put another parable before them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field, but while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and went away.

There are two planters – God and Satan

In other words – This is what it is like when God is at work –

God works in the light

The enemy comes in the dark – unseen – unexpected – tries to undo the work of God – he only one attack to do damage

B. The problem—vv. 26–27. (slide of wheat and tare) So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared also. And the servants of the master of the house came and said to him, ‘Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have weeds?’

The good seed grew among the tares, or weeds (thistles-darnel (poisonous but looks like wheat)).

Tare looks like wheat until the ears form – this was an seen as an act of revenge punishable under Roman law – this is serious

Satan – taking revenge – serious business – he will send people to tempt you away from God – make your schedule too busy for worship and fellowship – convince you to lower God on your priority schedule – other things – other people are more important.

II. The Separating of Tares—vv. 28–30

A. Sowing—v. 28. The enemy sowed the tares among the good seed.

B. Showing— v. 29. The tares are not to be removed but allowed to grow with the good seed. God will know the Christian from the sinner—

2 Corinthians 5:17-18 – Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation;

John 8:43-44 – Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word. You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

God knows – Billy Graham said he will not be surprised as much by who he sees in heaven but who he will not see –

Billy Sunday said, “Going to church doesn't make you a Christian any more than going to a garage makes you an automobile.”

God knows who are His and who have given themselves to Satan

C. Separation—v. 30 – Let both grow together until the harvest, and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, “Gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.” ’ ”

Cannot separate until the harvest – the wheat and the tare, darnel – look so much alike – wheat can be destroyed if picked instead of the darnel

The tare darnel root are stronger and can take good wheat out if its pulled before harvest

For us –

1. our way is not God’s way – if we just “go and do” without listening to God – we can harm others

2. do not judge unbelievers,

3. God’s way ultimately prevails – notice Satan did not prevent the harvest

At harvest time, both will be gathered and separated – the wheat will be brought into the God’s barn and the tares will be burned.

The Bible speaks of this separating in other areas and parables—

Matthew 25:31-32 – Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left.

the wicked will be separated from the just—the saved from the unsaved

Matthew 13:49-50 – So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

We must die, then comes the judgment—the wicked, unsaved will be cast into hell – eternal separation from God

III. The Symbols and Tares—vv. 37–39

A. Sower—v. 37 – He answered, “The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man.

B. Seed—v. 38 – He answered, “The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world, and the good seed is the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one,

The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom—

John 1:12 – But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,

the tares are the children of Satan—

John 8:44 – You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

C. Satan—v. 39. The enemy—Genesis 3:4; Matthew 4:1. The harvest will be at the end of the world (or this age)—

Revelation 20:12 – And then he will send out the angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven.

v15 – And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

The reapers are angels—

Mark 13:27 – And then he will send out the angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven.

IV. The Separation of Tares—vv. 40–43

A. Separation—v. 40 – Just as the weeds are gathered and burned with fire, so will it be at the end of the age.

Revelation 21:8 – But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”

B. Sorrow—v. 41- Just as the weeds are gathered and burned with fire, so will it be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all law-breakers,

tares will be separated from the wheat forever – from the Sower forever – from God forever

Revelation 20:10 – and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

C. Suffering—v. 42 – and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Weeping and gnashing of teeth describe feelings of extreme anguish.

D. Saints—v. 43 – Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear.

Christians will shine with God in heaven, having eternal life and joy.

Though the Bible says we will know people by their fruits

Matthew 7:16-18 – You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit.

v20 – Thus you will know them by their fruit

we are not to judge others. We make mistakes. “So what right do you have to judge or criticize?”—

James 4:12 – There is only one lawgiver and judge, he who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor?