Calendar

THE WHEAT AND THE TARES DESCRIBED
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 8
Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43

Memory verse: Matthew 13:29

 

“…Wilt thou then that we go

and gather them up?”

 

THE WHEAT AND THE TARES DESCRIBED
 
The Parable of the Wheat and Tares describes a man who sowed good seeds in his field. While it was time for men to sleep during the night, the enemy sowed tares in the field and went his way. He thought no one would know as he came at night when all the servants slept. It was when the plants began to bear fruit that the tares were discovered. The servants of the owner reported to their master that they found tares. They asked their master, “Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field?” In other words, the servants implied that they only sowed seeds given to them by their master. The fault was not theirs. They asked again, “from whence then hath it tares?” The master assured his servants that an enemy did this. No one knew except for the master who owned the field. The servants asked if the master wanted them to remove the tares from his field. The master said the servants could not remove the tares without hurting the wheat. The wheat and the tares were too entangled under the soil. They might look separate above ground, but underneath the earth, the roots of the wheat would be damaged once the tares were pulled out of the ground. The wheat would be ruined since it had not reached full growth. They needed time to mature and more nutrients for the wheat to grow to full term.
 
The master said to let both of them to grow together until harvest time. The reapers would do the separation. By then, it would not matter if the roots of the wheat beneath the earth were damaged or not, as the wheat would be fully grown and ready for harvest. The separation sequence was to remove the tares and burn them first, then gather the wheat and put it into the barn.
 
Believers and unbelievers will co-exist in the local church. Some of these unbelievers might even be pastors, elders and deacons who serve in the church diligently. Many may consider them believers because of their knowledge of the Bible and diligent service. Yet this parable warns us not to assume and, at the same time, not be cynical and suspicious of one another in the church. The lesson is to make sure of one’s own salvation, for the Lord will reveal everyone’s spiritual condition on the last day.
 
THOUGHT: Am I deceiving myself?

PRAYER: Father, help me make sure of my salvation in these last days.

Search