Parable of the Wheat & Tares: Understanding God's Judgment

1. Parable of the Wheat & Tares Mt.13:24-30, 36-43

2. The Wheat & TaresThe Context • Jewish hard-heartedness, skepticismMany Jews were refusing Christ in spite of the miracles • Mt.11:20f, rebuked cities for lack of repentance • Mt.12:24, His power not denied but credited to demons • Mt.12:38, the crowd not satisfied with signs already presented

3. The Wheat & TaresThe Context • The purpose, effect of parables • Filtered the hard-hearted from the honestMt.13:10-12fMt.13:9,43; Mk.4:34 • God’s word accomplishes its purposeIs.55:10f; Mt.13:34-35 (Ps.78:1-2)

4. The Wheat & TaresThe Context

5. The Wheat & TaresMt.13:24-30 24 Another parable He put forth to them, saying: "The kingdom of heaven is like a man who 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 grain had sprouted and produced a crop, then the tares also appeared. 27 "So the servants of the owner came and said to him, 'Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have tares?'

6. The Wheat & TaresMt.13:24-30 (cont’d) 28 "He said to them, 'An enemy has done this.' The servants said to him, 'Do you want us then to go and gather them up?' 29 "But he said, 'No, lest while you gather up the tares you also uproot the wheat with them. 30 'Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, "First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn."'"

7. The Wheat & Tares - ExplanationMt.13:36-43 36 Then Jesus sent the multitude away and went into the house. And His disciples came to Him, saying, "Explain to us the parable of the tares of the field." 37 He answered and said to them: "He who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. 38 "The field is the world, the good seeds are the sons of the kingdom, but the tares are the sons of the wicked one. 39 "The enemy who sowed them is the devil, the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are the angels.

8. The Wheat & Tares - ExplanationMt.13:36-43 (cont’d) 40 "Therefore as the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of this age. 41 "The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness, 42 "and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth. 43 "Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!

9. The Wheat & TaresCharacters & Themes

10. The Wheat & TaresCharacters & Themes • Spiritual nature of the Kingdom • Conflict between God and Satan • Warns of the methods of Satan • Basic understanding of God’s longsuffering and delay in judgment • Eventual victory for Christ and the saints

11. The Wheat & TaresSymbolism • Wheat – important crop of Middle East • Tares (Darnels) • Imitation crop with a close resemblance to wheat • Not only un-useful but dangerous • Poisonous fruit if eaten • Other Biblical figures • Ps.1:3, righteous like a tree by rivers of water • Is.5, vineyard of wild grapes • Mt.15:13, uproots what He didn’t plan • Mt.21:18-19; Lk.13:6-9, He expects fruit, growth • Jn.15:1-8, Vine and branches • Mt.6:28-34, reliance on caretaker

12. The Wheat & TaresGod’s “Kingdom” in scripture • Biblical references can be generic or specific • God’s dominion & management over creationPs.2:6-8f; 10:16; 29:10; 47:7; 95:3Is.6:5; 66:1; Dn.4:32f; 5:23; Ro.13:1; Rev.1:4-8; 4:9 • God’s purpose and causeMt.19:12,23-24; Lk.17:21; 2Th.1:5; 2Ti.4:18 • Christ and the churchPs.110:1-2; Dn.2:44; 7:9-14; Mt.6:10; Jn.3:3; Ac.28:31; Col.1:13 • Ultimate glorified formMt.7:21; 1Co.15:24; 2Ti.4:1; 2Pt.1:11

13. ApplicationsI. Mixture of Believers & Unbelievers • Two extremes – neither are taught in this parable • Contact with the world is sinful • Toleration of sin, doctrinal error • Interaction with unbelievers is necessary, not forbidden Jn.17:14-19; 1Co.5:9-10 • Beware of worldly companionship. Remember: • Traits of ungodly people ought to disgust us. 2Pt.2:7-8 • Cannot remain sensitive to sin with callous attitude • Your decision making is influenced by others. Mk.6:26 • Focus should be to influence them for the Gospel, Mt.5:13-16 • We have responsibilities while we waitJer.29; 1Th.4:11-12; 1Pt.4:4

14. ApplicationsII. Trust God’s judgment with the wicked • Don’t envy the wicked’s success • Ps.10:4-13; Ps.73:…17; Ecc.8:11-13 • Easy to ask “How long?” • Ps.74:9,18,22; 79:1-3,5,9-10; 115:1-2 • Is.42:14; 49:14; 51:1,4,7 • Rev.6:10; Hab.1:2 • The faithful benefit from God’s longsuffering • Deferral of judgment made in consideration of the righteousGn.18:22f; Mt.18:21-35; 2Pt.3:9; Ezk.18:23

15. ApplicationsIII. Satan is to blame for evil in the world • Satan came at night • Cowardliness, not deceit • Techniques • Assault, 1Pt.5:8 • Subtlety, Mt.13:25 • God’s work is good – others have perverted it • Gn.1:31; Ecc.7:29; Jer.7:31 • Satan’s work is temporary • Gn.3:14-15; 2Co.4:3-4; • Rev.12:12; Jn.12:31; Jn.16:33; • Mt.25:41; Rev.20:10