The Parable of the Tares

INTRO

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Consider the Parable of the Wheat and the Tares (Mt 13:24-30)

•2nd of 7 parables in Mt 13

•Builds upon the Sower

•Emphasizes the separation between the righteous and the wicked in the last day

One of two parables interpreted by Jesus (Mt 13:36-43)

Discussion

Farmer

•Sowed good seed (Mt 13:24)

•Man = the Son of Man (Mt 13:37)

•Sower sowed the Word of the Kingdom (Mt 13:19)

•Jesus, our Spokesman, communicates the Gospel which produces the good seed (Heb 1:1-2)

Good Seed

•Farmer planted wheat

•The good seed = the children of the kingdom (24, 38)

•Children of the kingdom are those who received the Word of the Kingdom and obeyed the Gospel

Enemy

•His enemy = the devil (25, 39)

•He worked while men slept (25)

•He sowed in the middle of the wheat (25)

ID and Q & A

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Q: Why did Jesus teach in parables?

A: Several reasons—to reveal truth (Mt 13:11-12; conceal truth (Mt 13:13-15); to admit truth (Mt 21:45, parable of wicked husbandman); to fulfill truth (Mt 13:35); to remember truth (Lk 10:30-37—Good Samaritan)

Tares

•Tares = darnel, cheat

•Sowing darnel in another man’s field considered a crime by Romans

•“Drunken darnel” could cause dizziness, nausea, blindness and even death

•Called false wheat or cheat because of its similarity to wheat in appearance

Tares

•Darnel only distinguished when it grows ears

•Tares = children of the wicked one

•The wicked may appear righteous, but work iniquity (41)

Field

•The field = the world (38)

•Wheat and tares both in the same field

•The righteous and the wicked in the world (1 Cor5:9-10; 1 Pet 2:9)

Reapers

•Reapers = the angels (39, 41)

•Angels will descend with Jesus (2 Thess1:7-9)

•Angels will be involved in separating the righteous from the wicked

Harvest

•The harvest = the end of the world (30, 39)

•Harvesting crops involves judging the good from the bad.

•The end of the world will involve a judgement (Acts 17:30-31)

CONCLUSION

Sum: When the harvest comes, will you be counted among the wheat or the tares? The righteous or the unrighteous?

Next Week: Continue thinking about the Christ

Until then, We encourage you to hear His precepts and trust His promises