Parable Of The Weeds

Parable of the Wheat and the Tares

by Joe Mack Cherry

I. Introduction

A. What a Book

1. Number 1 seller of all times

2. A gift that keeps on giving

3. No matter how many times you read it you can always find something new

4. II Tim. 3:16-17 – NIV – “All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may thoroughly equipped for all good works.”

B. Study Requires more than the Bible

1. There are a plethora of study guides that are available online.

2. We do not even have to buy them in order to read them.

3. Study Light and Bible Hub are two great resources. They have lexicons, dictionaries, commentaries, concordances, and the list goes on.

4. Naturally, we must weigh the words against what we believe to be truth.

5. We should try to study with an open mind because we can be wrong ourselves on certain subjects or not be wrong but missing the real intent of the passage.

6. Scripture is just as true and prevalent today as it was when it was first written. Though we apply it to our lives today, it behooves us to look at it from a first century perspective in regard to language and history of that time.

C. Why did Jesus Speak in Parables?

1. Mat. 13:1 – Read.

2. Mat. 13:11 – “The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them.”

3. Allowed the fulfillment of the prophecy of Isa. in Isa. 6:9-10

a. Both spoke to those with callous of heart.

b. Hearers had ears but could not hear; seers had eyes but could not see.

4. These parables are for us as Children of God just as they were for the Apostles; therefore, it is imperative that we study these “stories” and glean their every intent.

5. We must study as opposed to simply reading.

a. Reading is important.

b. Reading and not understanding doesn’t do us a lot of good, does it?

II. Body

A. Text

1. Mat. 13:24-29 – Read

2. We can look to vs. Mat. 13:36-43

B. The Disciples Question Christ – vs. 36

1. We should never be afraid to ask questions about any subject when it comes to scripture.

2. The disciples could have gone their separate ways with their limited understanding and taught things that were not Christ’s intention.

3. Luckily, they had the Master to explain this to them. Psa. 25:9 – “He leads the humble in justice and He teaches the humble His way.”

4. As was mentioned earlier, we have to refer to scholars in order to get a better understanding.

C. Explanation

1. Sower – Jesus Christ

a. Usually, Jesus is sowing (teaching, preaching) the gospel.

b. What He is sowing here is a product of this gospel as we’ll see in a minute.

2. Good Seed – were good men called Sons of the Kingdom whom God planted throughout the world.

a. Is the world as we know it ever referred to as God’s “Kingdom of Heaven?” No

b. What is the Kingdom? Church Mat. 13:18ff

3. Field – the world

a. Scholars have debated through the years as to the true meaning of this analogy. Again, I think the discernment lies in the interpretation of the seed.

b. Some believe that the “world” is just that, the “world” in which we live.

i. Adam and Eve were perfect, made in God’s image.

ii. Satan crept in, tempted Eve, and sin was introduced to the world.

iii. Sin was blatantly obvious in the Garden and does not fit the narrative of this passage of scripture and at that time there were no “Sons of the Kingdom.”

c. Some believe that it is referring to the universal or world-wide church.

i. This application makes the most sense to me.

ii. Satan comes as a wolf in sheep’s clothing. False teachers, hypocrites, and divisive people must first “fit in” before they can do great damage. If they start out belligerent, they are more likely to be shut down quickly. They need to develop a following of people.

d. I believe either view is applicable and can be reconciled as truth.

i. At times we miss the forest because we are looking at only one tree.

ii. The full intent of this parable is to show who is qualified to judge.

iii. God will judge those who are in the church and those who are out.

4. Enemy – Satan

a. He is constantly sowing seeds of doubt and confusion in the church.

b. KJV- Gen. 3:1 He is very subtle; NKJV-uses the word cunning, which implies crafty or appearing unassuming. He usually doesn’t attack blatantly.