Tares Among The Wheat

INTRODUCTION

Outline.

1. The Seed of the Son's Kingdom

2. The Seed of Satan's Kingdom

3. The Sentence of the Son’s Kingdom

Remarks.

1. In our lesson today we are going to be discussing a theme of most importance to all who would seek the kingdom of God. Our Lord taught much in parables that "seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand." In our lesson "tares among the wheat" it is clear that there are similar institutions resembling the church or the kingdom of God. It was only after some time that the servant of the householder identified some tares in the field (children of the evil one) among the children of the kingdom.

2. In our Lord's parable he says the Son of man sowed in the field the good seed. The good seed brought forth children of the kingdom. Jesus the Son of man was responsible for its sowing. Contained within every seed is the power for it to bud and grow, bringing forth fruit after its kind. The good seed brings forth children of the kingdom; it has been, so ordained.

3. In like fashion Jesus says, "while men slept" the evil one went forth and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way. Jesus said: “when the blades were sprung up the tares where able to be detected” by the householder’s servant. Here we see the failure of the watchmen to be on guard against the evil one’s teachings in infiltration into the kingdom of Christ. Those who obey the teaching of the evil one, becomes children of the evil one, and members of the evil one’s kingdom (denominationalism).

4. Lastly, Jesus, the Son pronounces his sentence on these two kingdoms. He says: "let them alone, and let them grow up together." And, "I will send forth my reapers into the harvest (the world) and gather out of it and the kingdom of the Son all that offend and do iniquity." Our job as Christians is not to root up these denominations, but to call honest and sincere men and women out of them by proclaiming the gospel of peace, the seed of the Son of Man. This message when obeyed makes children of the kingdom. “Let God be true, but every man a liar, that thou mayest…in thy sayings,” Romans 3:4.

BODY OF LESSON

I THE SEED OF THE SON'S KINGDOM

A. Parables of the tares. Parables are spiritual truths that are laid alongside a natural event, which we know to be true. The word is "Parabola," or parable. Here Jesus uses again the parable of sowing to illustrate a spiritual truth. Remember the four soils; the wayside, rocky, thorny, and good soil, Luke 8:4-15. Seed is the word of God, Luke 8:11. "Being born again not of corruptible seed, but...by the word of God…And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you," 1 Peter 1:23, 25. See also Galatians 4:18-19; James 1:18.

B. The Son of Man. Jesus is the one which sowed the good seed into the field, or the world. Whatever good seed is sown into the world, it is because of the hand of Christ. Jesus began this preaching; left now it in the hands of his ministers and church.

C. The good seed. The good seed are the children of the kingdom, the true saints. If truth is preached; grace planted, sins washed away; souls sanctified; lives justified; and Christianity ordained; it will be because of the good seed. The good seed – children of the kingdom were scattered into the field – world. As the church was scattered abroad it took the seed of the kingdom and sowed it in the world, Acts 1:1-8.

1. Persecution of Stephens. “Therefore they that were scattered (Gr: diaspeiro, means to be driven, disperse) abroad went everywhere preaching the word,” Acts 8:4.

2. “Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen travelled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only. And when men from Cypress and Cyrene came…,” Acts 11-19-21. Illustrate: Barnabas Visit to Antioch, Acts 11:22-26.

3. “James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting,” James 1:1. Jews were being planted everywhere.

4. “Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,” 1 Peter 1:1. Gentiles were being planted, Romans 10:18; and Colossians 1:23.

D. Children of the kingdom. Jesus' great Commission, he sent them into the entire world, to preach the seed of the kingdom. Illustrate: Make disciples, Matthew 28:19-20. The seed of the kingdom preached; makes disciples; and “disciples were called Christian first in Antioch,” Acts 11:26. King Agrippa, "Almost thou has persuadest me to be a Christian," Acts 26:26-28; 2 Timothy 2:2. Suffer as a “Christian,” 1 Peter 4:16.