THE PARABLES OF Wheat and Tares

Series "JESUS PARABLES"
Topic: The Wheat And Tares (Mt 13:24-30,36-43 KJV)
INTRODUCTION
1. In "The Parable Of The Sower", we learned that not all people react to the Word of the
kingdom in the same way
a. Some with hard hearts and dull ears would not even allow the Word time to
germinate in their hearts
b. Others would receive the Word, but either persecution or things in this life would
render them fruitless
c. Only those with good and noble hearts, who receive the Word with patience and
keep it, will bear the intended fruit in their lives
-- Thus the "mysteries of the kingdom of heaven" will be received only by some, and not
all
2. This truth was illustrated further when Jesus taught "The Parable Of The Wheat And
Tares"...
a. Recorded only by Matthew, the parable itself is found in Mt 13:24-30 (READ)
b. Jesus' purpose is clearly to teach principles related to "the kingdom of heaven"
1. For he begins with "The kingdom of heaven is like..."
2. Therefore Jesus intends to reveal principles related to the "rule of God"
as it would soon be manifested in the Person of His Son
3. Like "The Parable Of The Sower", this parable is one of the few in which we have
Jesus' own explanation...
a. The explanation was given in response to the disciples' inquiry - Mt 13:36
b. And the explanation is found in Mt 13:37-43 (READ)
[In this study, we shall focus on Jesus' explanation of the parable, and then draw some truths
from it...]
I. THE PARABLE EXPLAINED

A. IN ANSWER TO THE DISCIPLES' REQUEST, JESUS IDENTIFIES...
1. THE SOWER - "He who sows the good seed is the Son of Man"
I.e., Christ, who in His preaching went about proclaiming the gospel of the
kingdom - cf. Mt 4:23
2. THE FIELD - "The field is the world"

a. Into which the Son of Man came to sow the seed
b. Over which the Son of Man now exercises His authority, i.e., His
kingship - cf. Mt 28:18; 1Pe 3:22; Re 1:5
3. THE GOOD SEED (WHEAT) - "The good seeds are the children of
God"
a. Those who gladly own Jesus as their Lord and King, submitting to
Him freely
b. I.e., His disciples, who observe all that He commands - cf. Mt
28:19-20
c. When we compare this with "The Parable Of The Sower", we
come up with slightly mixed metaphors...
1. The disciples are those who constitute the "good soil", in
which the seed has been sown (The Parable Of The
Sower)
2. But in The Parable Of The Wheat And Tares, the disciples
are the "good seed" themselves
d. Thus, when one receives the "seed" (the Word of God), they
become "good seed" (a children of God)
4. THE TARES - "The tares are the sons of the wicked one"
a. Those later defined as they that.
1. Offend
2. Practice lawlessness - cf. Mt 13:41
b. Though within the realm of the Lord's reign (for the Lord will later
gather them out of His kingdom), they clearly are not submitting to
the Lord's authority!
c. Their actions reveal that they are really "sons of the wicked one"!
5. THE ENEMY - "The enemy who sowed them is the devil"
a. Who tried to tempt Christ and failed - cf. Mt 4:1-11
b. Who now tries to destroy the efforts of Christ to save souls and
enlarge the influence of His kingly rule
6. THE HARVEST - "The harvest is the end of the age"
a. That "age" in which...
1. The gospel of the kingdom is being preached
2. People who receive the gospel can become the "sons of
God"
-- I.e., the present gospel dispensation - cf. Col 1:13; Re 1:9
b. An "age" that will end with a great "harvest", identified elsewhere
as the glorious coming and appearance of our Lord - cf. Mt 26:31-
32; 1Ti 6:14-15
7. THE REAPERS - "The reapers are the angels"
a. Angels will accompany Christ when He comes again - 2Th 1:7-9
b. They will separate the wicked from among the just - cf. Mt 13:49
[Having identified the various elements of the parable...]
B. JESUS STRESSES THE MAIN POINTS OF THE PARABLE...

1. In verse 40...
a. The problem of the "tares" will not be fully addressed until the
"harvest"
b. This is done out of consideration for the "good seed" (cf. Mt 13:29)
2. In verse 41...
a. It is at the end of the age that the Son of Man will finally resolve
this problem
b. With His angels He will "gather out of His kingdom all things that
offend, and those who practice lawlessness" (i.e., the sons of the
wicked one)
3. In verse 42...
a. Those so gathered out of His kingdom will properly dealt with!
b. Cast into "the furnace of fire", where there will be "wailing and
gnashing of teeth!"
4. In verse 43...
a. The blessedness of the "righteous" (the good seed, the sons of
the kingdom) is described
b. After the harvest they will "shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of
their Father"!
[Jesus ends His explanation of the parable with the same admonition that followed the
telling of The Parable Of The Sower:
"He who has ears to hear, let him hear" - Mt 13:9
CONCLUSION
1. Indeed, this very parable is a warning to all not to allow themselves to be influenced by
the wicked one!
a. As Peter wrote, our adversary is very much seeking to destroy us! - 1Pe 5:8
b. But if we can allow the word of God to abide in us, we can overcome the wicked
one - cf. 1Jn 2:14
2. We learn from this parable, then, that the kingdom of heaven...
a. Will spread as people become "sons of God" (by heeding the Son of Man)
b. Will not preclude the efforts and influence of the devil (so expect to see some
"tares")
c. Though inaugurated with the Son of Man's first coming (especially with His
ascension to the right hand of God and the outpouring of the Spirit on the day of
Pentecost - Acts 2), the kingdom of heaven will not be fully culminated until...
1. The Son of Man returns with His angels
2. He gathers all things out of His kingdom that offend and practice
lawlessness
3. And delivers the kingdom to God (cf. 1Co 15:24)
3. At that time...
a. We will have an abundant entrance "into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord
and Savior Jesus Christ" - cf. 2Pe 1:11
b. "Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their
Father" - Mt 13:43
Dear friend, is not that your desire? Then remember what Jesus said...
"Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the
kingdom of God." - Jn 3:5
"He who has ears to hear, let him hear!"

THE PARABLES OF Wheat and Tares

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THE PARABLES OF Wheat and Tares

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Series "JESUS PARABLES"

Topic: The Wheat And Tares (Mt 13:24-30,36-43 KJV)

I. THE PARABLE EXPLAINED

2. THE FIELD - "The field is the world"

[Having identified the various elements of the parable...]

B. JESUS STRESSES THE MAIN POINTS OF THE PARABLE...

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