Summer Shorts 2020 - Message 1 - Wheat and Tares

English Standard Version Chapter 13

The Parable of the Weeds

24 He put another parable before them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field, 25 but while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and went away. 26 So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared also. 27 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?’ 28 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?’ 29 But he said, ‘No, lest in gathering the weeds you root up the wheat along with them. 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.” ’ ”

Jesus Explains

English Standard Version Chapter 13

The Parable of the Weeds Explained

36 Then he left the crowds and went into the house. And his disciples came to him, saying, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds of the field.” 37 He answered, “The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. 38 The field is the world, and the good seed is the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one, 39 and the enemy who sowed them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels. 40 Just as the weeds are gathered and burned with fire, so will it be at the end of the age. 41 The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all law-breakers, 42 and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 43 Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear.

Bringing Greater Clarity

I hope that this image will help to provide some clarity. Until the What is ready for harvest the two unique plants appear to be quite similar. As you can see, they have similar coloring, similar shoots, similar appearance overall and yet they are distinctly different. To the untrained eye it would be easy to confuse the two but the difference becomes more clear as the plants near harvest.

You can now see that the fruit is quite different but perhaps even more telling is the impact of the fruit on the plant. Look at the wheat…here is bows down it submits. Whereas the tares continue to stand upright with a fruit that is much less significant. When the harvest comes the field owner and the harvesters will have no issue determining the difference between the wheat (which is to say the faithful, the redeemed, the submitting and humble wheat) and the false, proud, unfaithful and unredeemed tares.

You see, we may struggle to differentiate. We may find it difficult to fully perceive the nature of the plant but God knows. And in similar fashion, the maker of the field, and plants is also the creator of each of us and he knows our heart and he can discern our fruit.

Today, may we join together in praying for clarity as we seek to follow our creator. May we be given eyes to see the truth of the fruit of those around us and may we strive to faithfully share the gospel message with all that we encounter. May we pray for the transformation of God’s redemption, which is completed in and through Christ, in the lives of those that do not yet know Him. May we rely on the power and presence of God’s gift to us, the Holy Spirit, so that we may see him (and each other) more clearly. And, may we be ever preparing for the harvest, cultivating the fruit of God’s work, and honoring Him in every facet of our lives.