God’s Standard for Growth 1 - The Wheat and the Tares

· Kingdom of Heaven – THE most popular topic with Jesus – what about you?

· Parables through the Gospels - seem to tell a overall (continuing) story of seed, growth and harvest (judgment)

Previous parable = Sower

Now the reaping!

Part 1 – The Wheat and the Tares

Preparation – sowing

Cultivation – growing

Separation – mowing (reaping)

Matthew 13:24–30 (NLT)

wheat

A cereal widely cultivated for use as food. One of the main agricultural crops in biblical times, it is referred to throughout the Scriptures and features several times in Jesus Christ’s teaching.

The cultivation of wheat

· Sowing wheat – Isa 28:24-25 See also Jer 12:13; 1Co 15:37-38

· Growing wheat – Ex 9:31-32 See also Jn 12:24

· Harvesting wheat – 1Sa 6:13 See also Ge 30:14; Jdg 15:1; Ru 2:23; 1Sa 12:16-18; Joel 1:8-11

· Threshing wheat Jdg 6:11 See also 1Ch 21:18-28

Wheat is – Fruitful, Thankful, Useful

· Fruitful

o Food – Agricultural –

o wheat gives, tares take

o selfless vs selfish

· Thankful

o Offerings – Spiritual

o Tares are unthankful – end times

· Useful, Beneficial

o Trade – Financial

o Worth vs worthless – no redeeming value or quality

food

Ps 81:13-16 See also Dt 8:7-8; 32:13-14; 2Sa 17:27-29; Ps 147:12-14; Jer41:4-8; Eze 4:9-13

Offerings – thankful to God

Ex 34:22 See also Ex 29:2-3; Ezr 6:9; 7:21-23; Eze45:13

Trade in wheat

Eze 27:17 See also Am 8:4-6; Rev 18:11-13

Wheat as payment or tribute

2Ch 2:8-10 pp 1Ki 5:11 See also 2Ch 2:15-16; 27:5; Lk 16:1-7; Rev 6:6

Metaphorical references to wheat

Mt 3:11-12 pp Lk 3:16-17 See also SS 7:2; Lk 22:31-32[1]

Wheat dies to self

John 12:24–25

John 12:24–25 NLT

24 I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat is planted in the soil and dies, it remains alone. But its death will produce many new kernels—a plentiful harvest of new lives. 25 Those who love their life in this world will lose it. Those who care nothing for their life in this world will keep it for eternity.

Weeds explained

Matthew 13:36–39 NLT

36 Then, leaving the crowds outside, Jesus went into the house. His disciples said, “Please explain to us the story of the weeds in the field.” 37 Jesus replied, “The Son of Man is the farmer who plants the good seed. 38 The field is the world, and the good seed represents the people of the Kingdom. The weeds are the people who belong to the evil one. 39 The enemy who planted the weeds among the wheat is the devil. The harvest is the end of the world, and the harvesters are the angels.

Law of sowing and reaping – it comes back to you

· Sow discord = abomination

· Sow wind – reap whirlwind

· Sow to Spirit = life, sow to flesh = corruption and destruction

Matthew 13:40–43 NLT

40 “Just as the weeds are sorted out and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the world. 41 The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will remove from his Kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. 42 And the angels will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 43 Then the righteous will shine like the sun in their Father’s Kingdom. Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand!

Weeds = unbelievers intermixed with believers

o in the church

o in the world

weeds (kjv: ‘tares’), probably darnel (Lolium tremulentum), a somewhat poisonous weed looking very much like wheat during its earliest stages. As a result of the resemblance, early separation from wheat is nearly impossible. This is further complicated by the fact that the roots of the two intertwine (Matt. 13:29).

· unbelievers intermixed with believers

o in the church (cf. ‘kingdom’ in v. 41)

o in the world (cf. v. 38). (Nations)

· ultimate judgment belongs to God alone.

· The parable of the net makes the same point (Matt. 13:47–50; cf. also Luke 9:51–56; 1 Cor. 4:5; Rom. 12:19). R.H.S.[2]

End Time Separation

· Judgment is inevitable – for all

ready or not

Wheat from Chaff

Prophesied by John the Baptist

Matthew 3:12 NLT

12 He is ready to separate the chaff from the wheat with his winnowing fork. Then he will clean up the threshing area, gathering the wheat into his barn but burning the chaff with never-ending fire.”

Luke 3:17 exactly as Matt 3:12

Sifted by Trials

Luke 22:31–34 NLT

31 “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift each of you like wheat. 32 But I have pleaded in prayer for you, Simon, that your faith should not fail. So when you have repented and turned to me again, strengthen your brothers.” 33 Peter said, “Lord, I am ready to go to prison with you, and even to die with you.” 34 But Jesus said, “Peter, let me tell you something. Before the rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will deny three times that you even know me.”

Represents the End Time falling away

God’s Standard for Growth 1 - The Wheat and the Tares