Morning Cup of J(esus)
Fueling the Day!
The Tares Among the Wheat
The parable of the tares among the wheat is next in our continuing lessons about Jesus’ parables as told in the New Testament. Chapter 13 of Matthew begins as Jesus is continuing His teaching to various crowds and building on the previous parable of the sower and the four types of soil. The tares parable states that the seeds that the farmer sowed were good and productive. The enemy came in at night and sowed bad seeds (weeds that resemble wheat) among the good seeds because they are hard to tell apart. His goal was to pollute the field.
The master allows the two plants to grow together until the harvest. Then the tares will be separated and burned while the wheat will be harvested and stored in the barn.
The disciples ask for an explanation, and Jesus explains very clearly the meaning of the parable piece by piece. Jesus is the sower, and those who accept Him as Savior are the good seeds that produce wheat. Satan is the enemy who sows the bad seed. These are the people who reject Christ. The parable also teaches the consequences of our sin. That’s why there will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.
He who has ears to hear, let him hear!
Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43
The Parable of the Wheat and the Tares
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?’
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.” ’ ”
The Parable of the Tares Explained
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. 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!
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