Sermon Central
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Super Secrets Of The Wheat And Tares
Contributed by John Gaston on Aug 21, 2019 (message contributor)
Summary: This simple parable turns out to be a treasure trove, answering age old questions like “Where do good and evil come from?” “Why are there so many problems in churches?” “Why doesn’t God stop evil?”and “What will happen at the end of time?”
6. So God perceived it as best – in the scope of eternity – to let human history run its course to bring in the maximum number of sons and daughters into the kingdom (Heb. 2:10).
B. EXPLAINS WHY CHURCHES ARE MESSED UP
1. HOW COULD JESUS HAVE SUCH A MESSED-UP CHURCH?
“Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field?” Sometimes it looks like there’s a lot wrong with the church! Where do these conflicts, scandals, back-biting, and divisions come from? It’s sad to see the bad reputation for the Lord/church created by the weeds. An enemy has sown a deceptive look-a-like to try to ruin the work God is doing through the church.
2. Many times the ministers of Christ lay blame on themselves for the presence of problems in the church. The Lord here vindicates all faithful, diligent minsters who do their best; the Devil is the source of the hypocrites mixed in with the genuine of the church. The devil’s sowing took place at a time when they couldn’t prevent it; “It was while men slept (25).” There was no negligence since everyone must sleep sometime.
C. HUMOR: PREDICTING THE FUTURE
1. A pastor fell out with his church board over various church policies and procedures, including how the finances were handled. He felt that some of their plans were unscrupulous.
2. After bitter arguments and many nights of lost sleep, he decided to leave the congregation to take a job as a prison chaplain.
3. He preached his last sermon at the church on John 14:1; “I go to prepare a place for you.”
II. ONLY TWO CLASSES OF PEOPLE
A. ILLUSTRATION: TITANIC
1. The Titanic definitely catered to people according to their wealth. There were different decks people could stay on.
a. Some for the Rich – Executive Suites or 1st Class.
b. Some for the Middle Class – 2nd Class rooms.
c. Some for the Ordinary People – Steerage.
2. But when the Titanic went down, their offices at New York only listed two classifications: the Saved and the Lost! That’s the same way it’s going to be in eternity.
3. Some of you may be going to Hell in first class, but on the Day of Judgment the only thing that will matter is whether you are Saved or Lost!
4. There are only those who are Christ-indwelt and those who are without Christ. There is no gray area, no in-between. Which group are you in? In this parable, at the time of harvest, are only two classes: the wheat & the tares.
B. CHARACTERISTICS OF WHEAT
1. WHEAT is a valuable plant that can survive hard seasons, like winters, and still produce. The fruit of wheat is good and nutritious for eating; it’s profitable for something.
2. Wheat needs constant “weeding” or it will be overrun by weeds. Likewise, believers need to weed-out ungodly ideas & temptations or they will have the life of God choked out (Mt. 13:7) of them and spoil their fruitfulness. It takes time for the wheat (& Christians) to grow to maturity.
C. CHARACTERISTICS OF TARES/WEEDS
1. Tares or weeds, Gr. “Zizanion,” are a noxious plant of the grass family – the “darnel.” It grows among the wheat everywhere in Palestine and looks like wheat. The seeds are poisonous to humans and animals, causing sleepiness, nausea, convulsions, and even death.
