Matthew 13 The parable of the Tares

Harvest Time: Understanding the Tares Among Us

Bible Passage: Matthew 13:24-30, Matthew 13:36-43

Matthew 13:23 NKJV

But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.”

The word of the kingdom. Gods’ word produces fruit. It does not return empty. When it is sown into fertile ground it produces.

What kind of ground is the word of God landing on in our hearts?

Galatians 5:22–23 NKJV

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.

Each one of these fruits will produce and multiple. They bring life and give life.

Now there is another sower and another seed that is also looking for fertile ground in us.

This is Jesus explaining to us what the Kingdom of God is like here on this planet.

Summary:

In the Parable of the Tares, Jesus illustrates the coexistence of good and evil in the world until the final judgment, where both will be separated.

The wheat represents the righteous, while the tares symbolize those who are untrue to the faith, reminding us of the complexity of discernment in the Christian life.

Application:

What Jesus wants to teach us is how to navigate the challenges of living in a world filled with deceit, false teachings, and hypocrites.

He teaches us that we need discernment and patience, He emphasizes the importance of focusing on authentic faith and the hope of ultimate justice in God's timing.

Matthew 13:24 NKJV

Another parable He put forth to them, saying: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field;

Matthew 13:25 NKJV

but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way.

Matthew 13:26 NKJV

But when the grain had sprouted and produced a crop, then the tares also appeared.

Matthew 13:27 NKJV

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?’

Matthew 13:28 NKJV

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?’

Matthew 13:29 NKJV

But he said, ‘No, lest while you gather up the tares you also uproot the wheat with them.

Matthew 13:30 NKJV

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.” ’ ”

Good and bad seeds grow and produce a harvest. It can be hard to determine which seed is which.

Jesus explains this parable further down…

Matthew 13:36–43 NKJV

Then Jesus sent the multitude away and went into the house. And His disciples came to Him, saying, “Explain to us the parable of the tares of the field.” He answered and said to them: “He who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world, the good seeds are the sons of the kingdom, but the tares are the sons of the wicked one. The enemy who sowed them is the devil, the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are the angels. Therefore as the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of this age. The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness, and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!

Teaching:

The main lesson from this sermon is the call to recognize the presence of both true believers and false ones within the Church.

It teaches that while we may be surrounded by corruption, it is not our role to judge prematurely; rather, we must remain faithful and await God's divine judgment.

The good seed comes from Jesus James 1:17

James 1:17 NKJV

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.

The good seed are the sons of the kingdom

The bad seed comes from satan, the accuser, the father of lies.

His seed are his sons. Those who obey satan

John 8:44 NKJV

You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.

This Jesus spoke to the religious leaders of the day.

The tares, here represent those who have given their good soil to the lies and deception of the devil.

Big Idea: The kingdom of God is a place where true faith grows alongside falsehood, but hope remains in Christ's eventual justice and separation of the two.

The lies people believe work against the kingdom of God.

That is why God reminds us to take captive every thought, to examine our beliefs and repent from our wickedness.

Many want to point this out as those who claim to be unbelievers, But Jesus was speaking to His own people.

Romans 16:17–18 ESV

I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive.

Colossians 2:8 NKJV

Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.

2 Corinthians 10:5 NKJV

casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,

Waiting with Wisdom

The servant was confused and eager to remove the tares, which mirrors our own impatience for judgment.

Romans 12:12 NKJV

rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer;

Galatians 6:9 NKJV

And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.

Psalm 37:7–9 NKJV

Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, Because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass. Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; Do not fret—it only causes harm. For evildoers shall be cut off; But those who wait on the Lord, They shall inherit the earth.

The farmer/Sower of the good seed decided to allow both to grow until harvest, We understand from this that we must put our trust in God's timing and judgment.

We need patience and faithfulness in our walk, knowing that ultimate justice lies in Christ’s hands.

Discerning Divisions

Jesus explains the parable to His disciples, drawing attention to His role as the ultimate judge. The children of the kingdom with the children of the evil one are in the same field standing side by side.

Charles Spurgeon said:

“Discernment is not knowing the difference between right and wrong. It is knowing the difference between right and almost right.”

Here is where the power of the Gospel and the Light within us wins. We do not need to fear or try to uproot those around us, because we hold within us the greatest power on earth, the power of Christ to bring redemption to the world around us.

Christ knows His own and will not fail to bring about true justice and separation at the end.

The reapers are the angels

The harvest is the end of this age.

We are all in the field and are here to bare fruit. Much fruit. Good fruit that will bring life to all those around us.

Matthew 13:43 NKJV

Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!