The Wheat And The Tears Series

THE WHEAT AND THE TARES

SERIES: The Parables Of Jesus

Mathew 13:24-30,36-43

24. Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field:

25. But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.

26. But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also.

27. So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares?

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?

29. But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them.

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

36-43

36. Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house: and his disciples came unto him, saying, Declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field.

37. He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man;

38. The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one;

39. The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels.

40. As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world.

41. The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity;

42. And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.

43. Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.

A. INTRODUCTION

1. In “The Parable Of The Sower”, we learned that not all people react to the Word of the kingdom in the same way

• Some with hard hearts and dull ears would not even allow the Word time to germinate in their hearts

• Others would receive the Word, but either persecution or things in this life would render them fruitless

• Only those with good and noble hearts, who receive the Word with patience, and keep it, will bear the intended fruit in their lives

• Thus the “mysteries of the kingdom of heaven” will be received only by some, and not all

2. This truth was illustrated further when Jesus taught “The Parable Of The Wheat And Tares”...

• Recorded only by Matthew, the parable itself is found in Mt 13:24-30

• Jesus’ purpose is clearly to teach principles related to “the kingdom of heaven”

• For he begins with “The kingdom of heaven is like...”

• Therefore Jesus intends to reveal principles related to the “rule of God” as it would soon be manifested in the Person of His Son

3. Like “The Parable Of The Sower”, this parable is one of the few in which we have Jesus’ own explanation...

• The explanation was given in response to the disciples’ inquiry –

Mt 13:36. Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house: and his disciples came unto him, saying, Declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field.

• And the explanation is found in Mt 13:37-43 (LET US READ)

37. He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man;

38. The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one;

39. The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels.

40. As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world.

41. The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity;

42. And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.

43. Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.

• [In this study, we shall focus on Jesus’ explanation of the parable, and then draw some truths from it...]