THE PARABLE OF THE TARES OF THE FIELD!

MATTHEW THIRTEEN

THE PARABLE OF THE TARES* OF THE FIELD

[24-30] Another parable put He forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field:  but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.  But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also.   So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, did not you sow good seed in your field?  From whence then has it tares?  He said unto them, An enemy has done this.  The servants said unto him, Will you then that we go and gather them up?  But he said, Nay; lest while you gather up the tares, you root up also the wheat with them.  Let both grow together until the harvest:  and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them:  but gather the wheat into my barn.

THE PARABLE OF THE TARES OF THE FIELD EXPLAINED

[36-42] Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house:  and His disciples came unto Him, saying, Declare (explain) unto us the parable of the tares of the field.  He answered and said unto them, He that sows the good seed is the Son of man (I am the Sower); the field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one; the enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels.  As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world.   The Son of man (I) shall send forth His (My) angels, and they shall gather out of His (My) kingdom all things that offend, and them which do** iniquity; and shall cast them into a furnace of fire:  there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.

* "Tares" - A type of Eurasian rye grass resembling wheat but its grains are black.  While their appearance (fruit) reveals who they are, to remove them could damage the genuine plants.  Perhaps removing one family member would cause some or all of the rest of the family to be grieved so badly that they no longer produce good grain (fruit).

** "Them which do" - Greek poieo - here, a verb used as a participle, a present, active participle meaning "a doer who continues doing."

SOME THOUGHTS ON THE MEANING OF THIS PARABLE

There are several clues to the timing of this parable.  It appears to refer to Christ's Millennial Kingdom which is described in Revelation Twenty.  Notice that the "good seed" are the children of His kingdom.  Also notice that the gathering of the tares takes place at the end of this world.  Chapter Twenty-one of Revelation describes the destruction of this present world and the manifestation of "a new heaven and a new earth."  It appears then that the separation of the wheat from the tares would have to have been accomplished at the Great White Throne Judgment (Revelation 20:11-15).  The "furnace of fire" would then have to be the Lake of Fire.

WARNING!

WHILE THIS PARABLE DOES NOT SEEM TO BE REFERRING TO THE CHURCH,

AS THE CHURCH WILL HAVE BEEN REMOVED APPROXIMATELY 1007 YEARS EARLIER, WE MIGHT STILL ASK OURSELVES, "AM I WHEAT, OR AM I A TARE?"

TIME IS SHORT; TRUE BELIEVERS WILL SOON BE REMOVED BY JESUS;

THIS MAY BE THE LAST MESSAGE YOU EVER GET OFFERING FORGIVENESS THROUGH FAITH IN THE DEATH, BURIAL, AND RESURRECTION OF JESUS!

TRUST HIM AS YOUR SAVIOR, AND SERVE HIM AS YOUR LORD TODAY!