THE TARES

Matthew 13:24-25 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. (Also see Matthew 13:26-30 & 36-43).

When asked by His disciples why He spoke to them in parables, Jesus answered, because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven (Matt. 13:11b). This parable is one of many given by Jesus to describe doctrines established by God through His teaching that apply to the kingdom of heaven on earth. These are New Covenant commandments under which all followers of Christ (Christians) are to believe and obey in their conduct of life. In this parable, Jesus says that the kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field. As He did with the parable of the sower, Jesus, not only relates this parable but also explains it. He seemingly did so at their request: declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field (Vs. 36).

A summary of the parable is this. A man sowed good seed in his field, but was unaware that his enemy crept in and sowed tares among the wheat seed he had planted. Both the wheat seed and the tares germinated, sprang up, and grew together. Servants noticed this fact and ask if the sower wanted them to be dug up. The sower's advice was to leave them alone, let them both grow up together, and when mature, first gather the tares, bind them in bundles and burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn.

When requested by his disciples (Vs. 36), Jesus gave this explanation of this parable, which is recorded in Matthew 13:37-43. The sower of the good seed is the Son of man - the sower, then, was Jesus Christ, Himself. The seed sown by Jesus are the children of the kingdom. With the kingdom representing the body of Christ, His kingdom on earth, and the children were Christians, members of His body, the church. The enemy that sowed the tares among the good seed is the devil. As it istruethroughout the bible, wherever good works of God are found, Satan will also be there to oppose, and attempt to, destroy them. Those that follow the devil's will are the enemies of God, and are noted here as the children of the wicked one.

These seeds, both the children of Christ, and the children of the devil, are all sown together in the field, which Jesus says represents the world. From the beginning of time until its end, the world has, and will forever, be made up of these two opposing forces, both Christian followers of Christ,and Anti-Christian followers of Satan. The forces of good and the forces of evil always have, and always will, abide together in the world. The children of Christ must always contend with the children of the devil; to continually try to teach the word of God in order to persuade them to give up their evil ways, accept Jesus Christ as their Savior, and become an obedient Christian. Children of Christ should always be aware that the children of the devil will use all kinds of devious and deceitful ways to lure them away from serving God and the cause of Christ.

Jesus further explains the parable by telling His disciples the harvest is the end of the world, and the reapers are the angels. This great harvest day is the Day of Judgment. On this day, all the people of the world will be judged - all will be gathered into that great judgment hall of God. These two forces, the children of Christ, and the children of Satan, that together have inhabited the world from the beginning of time, will finally be separated. The tares, the children of the devil, the wicked, will be gathered together and cast into a furnace of fire, where there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. The good seed, the children of Christ, those obedient to the will of God, will be gathered together and shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father - will spend an eternity of bliss with God, and with their Savior, Jesus Christ who led them to their heavenly home.

Get busy Christians. You are the only means Jesus has of sowing his good seed on earth today. Be assured, the children of the devil are busily sowing the tares of evil throughout the world. God tells us these evil influences need to be opposed. Are you sowing the seeds of His kingdom? Today, you can save a soul from eternal punishment. Today, you can sow the seed that will win a soul to Jesus Christ.