Parable of the Tares Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43

Parables (Matt 13) Kingdom teaching, Matt 13:10-12, –Hard hearts do not understand (13:13-15) –Open hearts do understand (13:9, 16) Parable of the Tares, Matt 13:24-30 –Sons of the kingdom are surrounded by evil in this world –A separation will occur –Explanation is given, Matt 13:

Parables of Tares Misunderstood and misused About kingdom of heaven on earth –Kingdom of heaven is the church, Matt 16:18-19 (Col 1:13) –Christians are unique in this world (cf. Jno 17:11, 15) –This parable presents the problem of evil and our victory over it in Christ 3

Explanation (36-43) The field is the world, 13:38 –“His” field (Christ’s), 13:24, 27 –He has ownership of this world, 1 Cor 10:26 (Psa 24:1) –Called “His kingdom”, 13:41 4

Explanation (36-43) Two Sowers –Son of Man (Christ), 13:37 –The Devil (enemy), 13:39, 28 (“His enemy”, 13:25) –Nature of the enemy: Cunning: “While men slept” Cowardly: Not openly, but under cover of darkness 5

Explanation (36-43) Clash of good vs. evil in this world: –Father vs. World (1 Jno 2:15-16) –Spirit vs. the Flesh (Gal 5:17) –Son vs. Satan (Gen 3:15) 6

Explanation (36-43) Two Products –Wheat (29): Sons of Kingdom (38) “Good seed” growing in the world –Tares (25): Sons of Satan (38) Jno 8:44; Eph 2:2-3; 5:6 Darnel: Weed grass that looks very much like wheat until it is mature, when a great difference is revealed Used for chicken feed or burned 7

Explanation (36-43) Two Questions –“Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have tares?” 13:27 Problem of evil in the world (its origin and its continuance) Enemy introduced the evil; not God Be concerned about victory over evil rather than full explanation of it (Matt 5:13-16) 8

Explanation (36-43) Two Questions –“Do you want us then to go and gather them up?” 13:28 Such would be beyond the wisdom and ability of His servants (29) Separation will happen at the time of harvest (30) 9

Explanation (36-43) The Harvest, 13:30, 39 –End of the age, Matt 13:49 (25:31-32) –Reapers: Angels (Matt 25:31) All that offend and those who practice lawlessness, 13:41 –Two results: Wheat (sons of the kingdom): Gathered to heaven, 13:30, 43 Tares (sons of the wicked one): Punished in hell, 13:30,

Lessons God did not introduce evil into the world, Gen 1:26-27; Eccl 7:29 Christians live in a world of sin (evil is not going away), Jno 17:15-17; 1 Cor 5:10 God expects us to be different from the world, 1 Pet 2:9-12; Phil 2:15-16; Titus 2:

Lessons Parable does not forbid withdrawing from unrepentant brethren, cf. 1 Cor 5:10-13 (4-5, 6-7); 2 Ths 3:6, Satan is subtle; Always trying to deceive, 2 Cor 11:13-15 The Lord will execute righteous judgment, 2 Ths 1:4-10; Rom 2:1-2, 6 12

Lessons Sons of the kingdom keep growing and patiently wait for the Lord’s harvest, Jas 5:7-9; Heb 12:1-2 We live in the age of grace (Tit 2:11) –Sons of the wicked one still have time to become sons of the kingdom! 13:43 (13:23) 13

Sons of Wicked One Living, yet dead in sin Counterfeit Parable of the Tares Sons of Kingdom Alive and growing Genuine 14 Matthew 28:19 (Rev 1:5-6) Colossians 1:13