THE PARABLE OF THE TARES
TEXT.MAT.13:24-30 AND 36-43.
INTRODUCTION:
In last weeks lesson, the Parable of the Sower, we saw Satan's opposition to the Word as it was sown. This week, in the Parable of the Tares, we see the continued opposition to the Kingdom of Heaven by an enemy after the seed has been sown. In reality, there are two sowers in this field. One is the Lord from heaven and the other is the Devil. While some parables may seem similar to others, each is unique to itself. This parable may seem similar but there are differences in the meaning.
This parable begins with the affirmation that the seed that was sown was good seed. Ver.24. We made the application last week that there was nothing wrong with the seed, but in each case there was an influence other than those common to the seed. Now the story goes on to show that the seed that fell on good ground has sprouted, but the problems are not over, where is the seed growing? In the field! The field is defined as the world in Ver.38. of our text. The comparison between the Kingdom of Heaven and the world is unmistakable. "The Kingdom of heaven is like."
There is something in the world that will adversely affect the good seed that was planted. This enemy is identified early on, first as, "the enemy", in Ver.25. And finally, so there can be no mistake, Jesus defines the enemy very clearly. Ver.39. This is hinted at in Ver.25. in that, there is an allusion to this enemy not being a man.
In Ver.26. the problem is discovered, and in the only way possible. These "tares" are actually "Bearded Darnel", a rye grass very common in the east. It is said to look exactly like wheat, and cannot be distinguished from the wheat until the ear or head appears. Remember, Jesus is using an earthly illustration to teach a spiritual truth. The spiritual truth is that the Kingdom of Heaven will be comprised of both saved and unsaved, the children of God and the children of the Devil. We may be able to see the difference, but we are not to root them out, that is God's job.
Ver.26. says that when the blade had sprung up and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also. In Ver.27-28. The servants ask if they should go and remove the tares. The answer is surprising in that, when we have weeds in our gardens we naturally remove them. In Ver.29. the master explains why they are not to remove them. That the tares look exactly like wheat until this time is not the only problem, there is a hidden problem also. It is said that the roots of the Bearded Darnel creep underground and become entwined with the roots of the wheat, making it impossible to be uprooted without uprooting the wheat also. The instruction is to let both grow together until the harvest, this does not mean that it is all right, it simply means that the tares are being tolerated until the proper time. However, the man in our parable will not accept the tares along with the wheat. He has very specific plans for the wheat as well as the tares. Ver.30.
In Ver.36-43. Jesus shows his disciples the meaning of this parable. The division of those who followed him is clearly seen in Ver.36. And the reason is the same that was given in Ch.13:11. This teaching was for the ears of his disciples only. The rest of the people did not just drift away, Jesus deliberately sent them away. His disciples were not yet tuned in to this type of teaching and they went to the right place to get the answers. In his explanation, he makes it clear that what he was teaching about was spiritual in nature. And even more than that, it is a direct revelation showing the relationship of God to man in both his saved as well as his unregenerate state. There are many things that are revealed as Jesus speaks these words: First of all, the man in his parable is revealed to be the Son of Man, the Lord Jesus Christ. Ver.37.
The field is defined as the world in Ver.38. While the good seed are the children of the Kingdom, or the saved. The tares are seen for what they really are; the children of the wicked one, or the Devil. We can see the whole plan that God has prepared for this world, even the reason for our very being and the consequences of rejecting the provision he has made for us in the plan of salvation.
We are told in Ver.39. that the enemy that sowed the tares is the Devil. There is also one thing we learn that is not even spoken, and that is: That the opposition to God and his work that started in the Garden of Eden is not only present with us today, but will be a powerful source of opposition until the end of the world. Jesus shows that harvest time is also judgment time, a time of reckoning. A note of no small import is found in this verse also, for it teaches that there will be an end to the world. "The harvest is the end of the world." Also man's idea of death and the end of the world is a character called the grim reaper, but our text shows that the reapers are the angels.
It is a common misconception among men that all things have to be fair, according to their definition of fairness. But God has set some standards for righteousness that are not obtainable outside of Christ. In the end the only thing that will make the difference will be did you accept Christ or did you reject him, if the answer is the latter, then he will also reject you. Ver.41. The end of those who reject is terrible to consider, but it is shown very vividly in Ver.42. We can also gather from these verses that there is a very real Hell and right along with it a fire that is never quenched. Only a fool would not heed the warning of a danger of this magnitude. Tares, or those who seem to be Christians but are not, may be acceptable in some churches today. The world may not be able to tell the difference, but God can. In that day those outside of Christ will be considered unacceptable. Remember that even we will not accept bad fruit only the good fruit is carefully harvested because it can be used. Ver.43.