The Parable of the Tares

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Lesson 11 The Parable of the Tares
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The Parable of the TaresThe Narrative
Matt. 1324-30, 36-43

• A man sowed good seed in his field
• The man was Christ (v. 37 cf. 2531)
• The good seeds are the sons of the kingdom (v.
  38)
• These are the product (good soil) of the seed,
  the Word of God (cf. Lk. 811), who are in the
  world but submit freely to the owner of the
  field
• The field is the world (v. 38)
• It is the Son of Mans field (v. 24) He has
  authority in and over heaven earth (cf. Matt.
  2818)
• The enemy is thus trespassing
• Satan, prince of the world, has invaded Lords
  field

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The Parable of the TaresThe Narrative
Matt. 1324-30, 36-43

• While men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares
  among the wheat
• Satan works during a lack of watchfulness
• The enemy of Christ sows tares out of malice
• Wants nothing more than to destroy the efforts of
  Christ to save souls and enlarge the influence of
  His Kingly reign
• These tares, the sons of the wicked one (v. 38),
  are not submitting to Lords authority
• They are those who offend and practice
  lawlessness (v. 41)

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The Parable of the TaresThe Narrative
Matt. 1324-30, 36-43

• At the time of the harvest
• The harvest is at the end of the world/age (v.
  39), when the Lord returns
• Angels will be used as reapers, accompanying
  Christ when He returns (Mt. 2531 2 Th. 17-9)
• A separation will occur at the end of time
• Tares will be removed from the wheat
• Furnace, weeping, gnashing of teeth (v. 42)
• The righteous will shine forth
• There is a coming reward for the righteous
• Their abode will be the eternal kingdom (v. 43)

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The Parable of the TaresThe Narrative
Matt. 1324-30, 36-43

• Jesus stresses His main points
• Problem of tares fully addressed in harvest (40)
• Done out of consideration for good seed (v. 29)
• Problem finally resolved at end of age (v. 41)
• Angels gather out sons of wicked one
• Those gathered out properly dealt with (v. 42)
• Cast into furnace, weeping, gnashing of teeth
• Blessedness of righteous is described (v. 43)
• Shining now, but will truly shine forth in the
  eternal kingdom

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The Parable of the TaresLessons/Truths
Matt. 1324-30, 36-43

• Christ is long-suffering, so you can grow.
• Why let wicked stay around us? Why not judge
  now?
• Give you time to grow concern for you (v. 29)
• Church discipline is not precluded.
• Would be contrary to other teachings of Jesus
  Paul
• The realm under discussion is the world
• Point is Jesus Himself will not do anything
  visible until the end of the age those in the
  church, however, have a personal responsibility
  to withdraw from impenitence
• The kingdom is both present future
• You can be in it now (v. 41-42) in eternity (v.
  43)

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The Parable of the TaresLessons/Truths
Matt. 1324-30, 36-43

• Evil and the evil one exist, are everywhere and
  create situations for the righteous.
• All evil in the world is from Satan.
• He even tries to make his tares look like wheat.
• The faithful must press on in spite of wicked.
• There will be a final separation. Count on it.
• Eternal punishment and eternal blessedness are
  real.

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The Parable of the TaresThe Narrative
Matt. 1324-30, 36-43

• Let both grow together until harvest
• Forbidden to prematurely gather out the tares
• Warning against over-zealous efforts to purify by
  violent means (cf. Luke 954)
• God temporarily tolerates the wicked for the sake
  of the righteous (cf. 10 righteous in Sodom)