The Parable Of The Weeds.

THE PARABLE OF THE WEEDS.

Matthew 13:24-30.

The interpretation of the parable of the wheat and the tares (MATTHEW 13:24-30) should not be a matter of contention, as Jesus Himself gives the interpretation in Matthew 13:36-43.

MATTHEW 13:24. “The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field.”

Ever careful of the commandment against blasphemy, Matthew uses the term “kingdom of heaven” rather than Luke's ‘kingdom of God.’ In both cases, what is being spoken of is God's rule upon earth.

Jesus identifies the “man” with Himself, and the seed which He sowed is “good seed” (cf. Matthew 13:37). His “field” is ‘the world,’ says Jesus; and the good seed stands for ‘the children of the kingdom’ as opposed to ‘the children of the wicked one’ (cf. Matthew 13:38).

MATTHEW 13:25. “But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.”

Jesus does not comment on the fact that men were sleeping, but it is part of the stealth of the malicious one to come at such a time. Jesus identifies the “enemy” as ‘the devil’ (cf. Matthew 13:39).

This kind of sabotage was not uncommon in the Ancient Near East. The Romans even made a law against it.

MATTHEW 13:26. “But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also.”

When wheat begins to grow, there springs up with it a weed called darnel. Both look alike until the seed heads appear, then the darnel can be identified by its grey colour. But by this time the roots are intertwined, and it is impossible to separate them until the harvest.

MATTHEW 13:27. “So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, ‘Sir, didst thou not sow good seed in thy field? From whence then hath it tares?’”

The servants of the householder are His faithful preachers. “The householder” is synonymous with “the man” (cf. MATTHEW 13:24), and therefore with ‘the Son of man’ (cf. Matthew 13:37). When our ministry is not going to (our) plan, we need indeed ask the Lord why it should be so.

MATTHEW 13:28. “He said unto them, ‘An enemy hath done this.’ The servants said unto him, ‘Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up?’”

The Lord does not judge them, but answers their question. Anxious to help, they suggest a remedy.

MATTHEW 13:29. “But he said, ‘Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up the wheat with them.’”

It is just as well that they did not do what they suggested before consulting their Master. We need to be patient in matters of discipline, and look to Him for guidance before dashing forward with our own agenda.

MATTHEW 13:30. “Let both grow until harvest, and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, ‘gather ye together first the tares, and bind them together in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.’”

So it is in the world, God's ‘field’ (cf. Matthew 13:38). He has sown the good seed – ‘the children of the kingdom.’ The devil has sowed bad seed, but there is no separating out of ‘the children of the wicked’ until the harvest.

At the end of the world the angels reap the harvest (cf. Matthew 13:41). Just as the tares were first gathered and burned (cf. Matthew 13:40), the condemnation of the wicked precedes the full establishment of God's kingdom amongst His elect.

All that offend and continue in their iniquity will be cast into a furnace of fire, consciously aware with wailing and gnashing of teeth that God's judgment is against them (cf. Matthew 13:42).

Then, and only then, will ‘the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear’ (cf. Matthew 13:43).