Understanding the Parable of the Tares
To watch the sermon The Tares Among Us | Matthew 13 :21-34
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Understanding the Parable of the Tares
In a world filled with confusion and mixed messages, Jesus taught profound truths through simple stories called parables. These weren't just nice tales - they were divine secrets entrusted to those willing to treasure them. Today, we explore one of the most important kingdom parables that reveals how to navigate life when good and evil exist side by side.
What Are the Secrets of the Kingdom?
When Jesus transitioned His ministry to teaching primarily in parables, He was fulfilling ancient prophecy. As written in Psalm 78, God promised to "utter things hidden since the foundation of the world." These weren't random stories but carefully crafted revelations about how God's kingdom operates.
The Greek word for "presented" in Matthew 13:24 literally means "entrusted." When we read these parables, heaven is entrusting us with something of great value - the secrets of how God's kingdom works. Only those who truly treasure these truths will receive their full meaning.
Why Did Jesus Teach in Parables?
Jesus used parables because they require engagement. Unlike simple statements that can be quickly dismissed, parables demand that we search out their meaning through the Spirit and Scripture. They separate those who are genuinely hungry for truth from those who are merely curious.
This method also protects divine truth from those who would misuse it while revealing profound mysteries to those with hearts prepared to receive them.
The Parable of the Tares Among the Wheat
In Matthew 13:24-30, Jesus tells the story of a farmer who sowed good seed in his field. While everyone slept, an enemy came and sowed weeds (tares) among the wheat. When both plants grew up together, the servants wanted to pull out the weeds immediately.
But the wise landowner said no. Pulling up the tares might damage the wheat. Instead, he instructed them to let both grow together until harvest time, when the reapers would separate them properly.
What Does This Parable Mean for Us Today?
Jesus later explained this parable to His disciples. The sower is Jesus Himself, the field is the world, the good seed represents the children of God's kingdom, and the tares represent the children of the evil one. The harvest is the end of the age when angels will separate the righteous from the wicked.
The Good Seed Is Actually Good
One crucial truth emerges: the sower (Jesus) sowed good seed. When we face difficulties or encounter problematic people in our lives, we must remember that the problem isn't with the sower or the seed. Jesus doesn't make mistakes in His planting.
The presence of tares among us has nothing to do with the truth within us. The seed - God's Word and His people - is inherently good and designed to grow.
How Should We Handle the Tares Among Us?
The servants in the parable asked three telling questions: Did you sow good seed? How did the tares get there? Should we pull them up? These represent our natural human responses when we encounter difficult people or situations.
Don't Blame the Sower
The first question seeks someone to blame. We often want to blame God when life gets difficult or when we encounter challenging people. But the parable teaches us that the sower is not at fault.
Understand There's an Enemy
The second question acknowledges that an enemy has been at work. We shouldn't be surprised that there are tares among us - the enemy is real and active.
Focus on Protection, Not Perfection
The third question reveals our desire to fix everything immediately. But the landowner's wisdom shows us that sometimes trying to remove all the bad can damage the good. The priority is protecting the harvest of good seed, not eliminating every problem.
What About the Mustard Seed and Leaven?
Jesus followed with two shorter parables about a mustard seed and leaven hidden in flour. Both illustrate the same principle: the kingdom starts small and hidden but grows exponentially because it's good seed.
The mustard seed, though tiny, becomes large enough for birds to nest in its branches. The leaven, though hidden, affects the entire batch of flour. These parables teach us that God's kingdom has been growing since the foundation of the world, often in ways we can't see.
Why Do Some Believers Fall Away?
When we see believers start strong but later wander away, it can shake our faith. But this parable teaches us not to let the tares among us become stronger than the truth within us. The evil one doesn't care if you start with Jesus as long as he can keep you from ending with Him.
Throughout history, even great leaders like Saul, David, and Solomon fell. But their failures don't invalidate the truth of God's Word or the power of His kingdom.
How Do We Recognize the Tares?
The tares in this parable (Zizanion) look exactly like wheat until they bear fruit. Similarly, false believers can appear genuine for a time, but eventually, their true nature is revealed. As Jesus said, "By their fruit you shall know them."
We don't need to become fruit inspectors, constantly examining others. Time and circumstances will reveal what's genuine and what's not.
What's Our Role as Good Seed?
As believers, we are called to be good seed that produces good fruit. This means:
Staying focused on truth rather than being distracted by the tares around us
Trusting that God's Word is good and will accomplish its purpose
Being more concerned with acquisition (growing in Christ) than accusation (pointing out others' faults)
Allowing our lives to manifest the kingdom rather than trying to create our own version of it
The Promise of the Harvest
The parable ends with a promise: at the end of the age, the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. There is coming a day when all will be made right, when the tares will be removed, and when those who have been faithful will be vindicated.
Until that day, we're called to be patient, faithful, and focused on being the good seed God has called us to be.
Life Application
This week, examine your own heart and life. Are you spending more energy trying to identify and criticize the "tares" around you, or are you focused on being good seed yourself? The church often spends too much time cursing the darkness instead of cultivating the light.
Choose to trust that God's Word is good seed that will grow in your life when you provide the right conditions. Stop doubting the sower and start believing in the power of the seed He has planted in you.
Ask yourself these questions:
Am I more focused on what's wrong with others or what God wants to grow in me?
Do I trust that God's Word is good seed that will produce fruit in my life?
How can I be better soil for the good seed God has planted in me?
Am I allowing the presence of difficult people to shake my faith in God's goodness?
Remember, the tares among us have nothing to do with the truth within us. Stay focused on the good seed, trust the good sower, and watch what God will grow in and through your life.