THE PARABLE OF THE TARES

Matt. 13:24-30, 36-43

Introduction:                 Follows closely (in time) the “Parable of the Sower.” Same circumstances, same audience: Capernaum, by the seashore.

Three divisions of this lesson:  I. The parable, with explanation of the Lord’s terms; II. The Lord’s explanation of the parable; and III. The Application.

I.               The Parable (24-30)

A.        Resemblances to “The Sower.”

1.         Sower

2.         Good seed

3.         Field, every part covered.

B.         Differences from “The Sower”

1.         The enemy, who sows “bad seed.”

2.         The seed itself is given a different explanation.

3.         “Servants” are included here, but are not in “The Sower.”

4.         “The field” this time is explained as “the world” rather than the hearts of men.

5.         “Bad seed” is found in this parable, whereas in the “Sower” only good seed is sown.

C.         Some have objected that such a deed as described here, the “sowing - over” with the seed of a noxious weed, is just not done.

1.         For that reason, it is thought by some that this parable differs from the rest, in that Jesus uses an imaginary circumstance.

2.         But, in fact, Roman law made provisions for just such an occurrence; a writer who sojourned in India reported that such was being practiced; and Dean Henry Alford, in his Commentary, mentions that just such a thing happened in a field belonging to him (in England, 19th Century).

3.         “Our Lord did not imagine here a form of malice without example, but adduced one which may have been familiar enough to his hearers, one so easy of execution, involving so little risk, and yet effecting so great and lasting a mischief, that it is not strange, if where cowardice and malice met, they should have often displayed themselves in this shape.” (Trench, pp. 86, 87).

D.        The tares.

1.         The word represents a plant that in its earliest stages, and in fact up until the time for it to “head out,” exactly looks like wheat. In these stages, “Even the farmers…do not attempt to separate the one from the other.”

2.         This accounts for the warning, “lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up the wheat also.”

3.         When the time for harvest comes, the wheat and tares are easily distinguished, for the tares produce a black grain.

4.         Does this not illustrate our Lord’s timeless principle, “By their fruits ye shall know them...”? (Mt. 7:20)

5.         The tares are the product of the bad seed; the wheat is the product of the good seed.

II.             The Lord’s Explanation (36-43)

                  A.         Definition of Terms

                              1.            “He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man...” (v. 37)

                                 a.            He it is who “owns” the field.

                                 b.            He it is who is the object of the enemy’ s mischief.

                              2.            “The field is the world...” (v. 38)

                                             a.            The world, as a whole, is his by right of creation (John 1:1-4; Heb. 1:3).
               b.            The world is his by right of dominion.
               c.            This does not mean that all willingly submit to him, but it does mean that

                                                            all will one day confess him! (Phil. 2:11)

                              3.            “... the good seed are the children of the kingdom...” (v.38)

                                             a.            I.E., they are Christians.
               b.            They are those who submit to the rule of King Jesus.

                              4.            “...but the tares are the children of the wicked one.” (v. 38)

                                 a.            These are the ones who own another King!

                                 b.            They refuse and rebel against the right of Jesus to be their King!

                              5.            “The enemy that sowed them is the devil...” (v. 39)

                                 a.            Notice, in verse 25, this one is personalized as “his enemy,” the enemy of the

                                                “Son of Man.”

                                 b.            Comp. Gen 3:15 - “I will put enmity between thy seed and her seed...”

                                c.             Since he is the enemy of the Son of Man, he also is the enemy of those who serve the Son (see 1 Pet. 5:8) adversary.

                              6.            “...the harvest is the end of the world, and the reapers are the angels.” (v. 39)

                                             a.            Comp. Rev. 14:15

                                             b.            See Matt. 25:3l ff.

                                             c.            2 Thess. 1:7

             B.              Further explanations. (40—43)

                  1.            V. 41 - “...they shall gather out of his Kingdom all things that offend, and them which do

                   a.              This passage is sometimes referred to in order to support the position that church discipline must not be practiced. The word “Kingdom” is interpreted as the “church,” and the conclusion is reached that the “wheat” and “tares” in the church are to be left alone; “let them grow together.”

       b.             However, this fails to take into account Jesus’ words “The field” (being that place wherein the good seed was sown by the Son of man and wherein the bad seed was sown by the devil) “is the world.”

       c.              In Luke 19:ll ff. (“The Parable of the Pounds”), the word “Kingdom” is used to include those who are willing subjects as well as those who say, “We will not have this man to rule over us.”

       d.             We must remember that Jesus said, “All power (authority) hath been given me in heaven and on earth.”

 e.        The word “Kingdom” is used in the following ways:

(1)       To denote the Kingship or rule or, recognized sovereignty of the Lord. (Lk. 17:21: “The Kingdom of God is within you.”)

(2)       To denote salvation, or that sphere where salvation is enjoyed. (Mk. l0:25, 26: “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the Kingdom of God.”)

(3)       To denote the church as a body of believers. (Mt. 16:18,19 - “And upon this rock I will build my church...And I will give unto thee the keys of the Kingdom of heaven...”)

(4)       To denote the redeemed of the ages as they are gathered in heaven. (2 Tim. 4:1 - “I charge thee, therefore, before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, at his appearing and his kingdom...”; 1 Cor. 15:24 - “Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God...”; Mt. 25:34 - “Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.”)

(5)       Here, by the simple comparison of our Lord’s own words, the word “Kingdom” in v. 41 is equivalent to the field in which the two kinds of seed were sown, i.e. the world!

2.         The tares are gathered into one bundle, and burned with fire.

a.         At the time of harvest, no longer is there any doubt as to the identity of the tares they are manifest.

b.         Note the comparison of this statement with so many others of Jesus:

(1)       Mt. 7:19 - “Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.”

(2)       Mt. 13:50 - “And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.”

(3)       Mt. 25:41 - “Depart from me, ye cursed into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels.”

(4)       John 15:6 - “If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. “

c.         The Jesus of compassion is also the one who spoke more concerning hell!

III. Application

A.        This parable teaches the active agency of the devil in withstanding the Kingdom of Jesus Christ.

B.         This parable teaches that there is evil in the world, and that Satan, not the Son of Man, is the author of it.

C.         This parable teaches that, just as men harvest their crops when the time is ready, so also will the end of the world come “at the time appointed,” which day we do not know, but is determined by the Father (Mt. 24:36).

D.        This parable teaches that the wicked will indeed be punished!