Parable of the tares
Parables of Jesus (Deer Creek) 2023 • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
0 ratings
· 1 viewAim: to look at Parable of Tares/Weeds what we can learn and apply from it
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
What is a parable?
Previously
Why parables, parable of sower
Parable of growing seed
Today parable of tares (Mt13:24-30, 36:44)
Application, this series is about learning to live the parables. I used as a starting point after the scripture a book by that title.
Parable of the tares (Mt13:24-30, 36-44) 11/8/2023
Background
Some versions may say parable of “weeds.”
Many will lay this parable along with the parable of the Dragnet (Mt13:47-52)
Both use “seed” as a main item
They both deal with the existence of good and evil
They both look at the separation of good and evil too
Lightfoot quote: “Both of them deal with the coexistence of good and evil, and both teach that although good and evil may stand side by side for awhile, eventually a great and permanent separation will be made between them.”
A.B. Bruce quote: “The Parable of the sower describes past experiences; the Tares is prophetic of a future state of things.”
Similarities but focus is different so will look at them separately.
Setting: has not changed from what we have seen already (Mt13:1-3)
This parable is only found in Matthew
Potential problems
Why does God allow evil to grow in the midst of good?
If God is good and loving why not just protect His people from the presence of evil?
Does Satan have free reign over the world to go and sow anywhere he wants to?
Some see this parable as opposing any kind of church discipline
All of these are good questions, statements and not all of them will be answered but will address some as the text answers.
The Text
Matthew 13:24–25 “24 Jesus presented another parable to them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field. 25 “But while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went away.”
Matthew 13:26–28 “26 “But when the wheat sprouted and bore grain, then the tares became evident also. 27 “The slaves of the landowner came and said to him, ‘Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have tares?’ 28 “And he said to them, ‘An enemy has done this!’ The slaves said to him, ‘Do you want us, then, to go and gather them up?’”
Matthew 13:29–30 “29 “But he said, ‘No; for while you are gathering up the tares, you may uproot the wheat with them. 30 ‘Allow both to grow together until the harvest; and in the time of the harvest I will say to the reapers, “First gather up the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them up; but gather the wheat into my barn.” ’ ””
Then jump to the explanation
Matthew 13:36–38 “36 Then He left the crowds and went into the house. And His disciples came to Him and said, “Explain to us the parable of the tares of the field.” 37 And He said, “The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man, 38 and the field is the world; and as for the good seed, these are the sons of the kingdom; and the tares are the sons of the evil one;”
Matthew 13:39–41 “39 and the enemy who sowed them is the devil, and the harvest is the end of the age; and the reapers are angels. 40 “So just as the tares are gathered up and burned with fire, so shall it be at the end of the age. 41 “The Son of Man will send forth His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all stumbling blocks, and those who commit lawlessness,”
Matthew 13:42–43 “42 and will throw them into the furnace of fire; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 43 “Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear.”
Q: what do you notice in this parable, anything stick out to you?
Due to time constraints will move on from here without peppering you with questions right now.
Explaining the text
Two peculiarities
Jesus explains this one to his disciples
It is presented like an analogy, but Jesus says it is a parable
Tares = Weeds (Greek word zizanion) refers to a weed commonly called ‘Cheat’ or ‘Darnel’ we get the english translation from it “weed.” - - - - remember Jesus spoke in language, terms that would mean something to them. Here they would be very familiar with a “cheat or darnel weed”
We can know by the text that the two grew together and looked similar when they were young, but one is a very troublesome weed (and still is in Israel today).
Purpose and application:
Does this parable speak of removing any form of church discipline?
NO! too many other scriptures deal with the subject (1Cor5:5; Mt18:17). - - - - purpose of Church discipline is not to remove, but to rebuke so they repent and are restored.
1 Corinthians 5:5 “5 I have decided to deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of his flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.”
and
Matthew 18:17 “17 “If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.”
Application point: first, the kingdom, or the church must exist in the presence of evil.
Consider Ps23:5 - table in presence of enemy
Psalm 23:5 “5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You have anointed my head with oil; My cup overflows.”
We cannot avoid the presence of evil, but we do not need to become involved in evil
Womack quote: “When we are born again, we separate ourselves from the life of sin and become slaves to Christ. The wheat often has to remain with the tares until the time of the harvest.” - - - in other words, sin is still out there and will remain until the day of the harvest (execution of judgment).
Second, God permits humanity to live wickedly until the harvest.
We wish there were no evil, but there is and there is no avoiding it. God has given us what we need to resist evil and to overcome evil. This is by our obedience to God and God’s word. We willingly chose to abstain from evil
We must chose obey or deny, God will allow people to live as wickedly as they want until death.
Third, both the wicked and the righteous will live together until the harvest.
Wicked has been from almost the beginning (Gen3)
Jesus prayer was not the removal of the disciples from the wicked but protection (Jn17:15-16)
John 17:15–16 “15 “I do not ask You to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the evil one. 16 “They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.”
We need to learn how to cope with living in the presence of evil without being contaminated by its evils
Fourth, There will be a day of reckoning
Tares and wheat will be separated, one to the fire, other to glory!
Don’t discount the day of reckoning, it is coming, contrary to what one may say (Mt25:31-46; 1The5:1-11; 1The4:13-18; Rev20:15)
Learning to live the parable
Major theme in this parable is how do we deal with the evil in this world that we cannot avoid.
Jesus instructs don’t root up the tares (13:29)
We do need to be mindful of sin and how sin is dealt with (Gal6:1)
Galatians 6:1 “1 Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted.
Womack quote: “Thus, some of the ways we can give this parable meaning in our lives involve learning how to deal with wrong without damaging the one who is involved in sin.”
We should season our criticism of others with love and with caution
Again remember (Gal6:1) - with gentleness and respect
Be careful how we judge, are we right needs to be examined first (Mt7:1-6)
Judgment needs to be righteous judgment (Jn7:24) and the word will judge (Jn12:48)
Remember the wheat and the tares look similar so we need to allow to grow together. When we treat others fairly, honestly, it may lead them from evil to Him who can make them righteous.
we must learn to cope with a world filled with evil
The world and all its charms is wicked, sin is rampant.
We cannot deny the work of the ruler of this world (Jn12:31, 16:11) and know that the fight is a spiritual one (Eph6:12) and is played out in the fleshly desires, evil desires of man today.
Jesus did not want disciples removed from the world, but protected from it (Jn17:15, Mt6:13)
Unless you live on an isolate island with only other believers there is evil and we cannot deny it or outrun it. God has given us what we need to deal with evil (1Cor10:13) for we have been promised about the temptations of this world.
Jesus did not condone (accept and allow (behavior that is considered morally wrong or offensive) to continue. the presence of evil, nor should we.
Jesus said let them both grow (13:29-30).
Jesus is not saying to forget it is there, He says it will be dealt with at harvest (13:30)
Jesus hates sin, but His desire is that the sinner would repent and be saved (2Pt3:9). I read God does not forgive sin, he forgives the sinner!
Womack: “We should not condone the presence of evil. But we should involve ourselves in the eradication of sin. We must let the non-Christian realize that we do not approve of sin.” - - - again our hope is that the sinner will repent and have sins forgiven and be saved.
Often, good plants can be damaged if we deal incorrectly with the bad ones.
We are a fragile people, feelings can get hurt easily. Whereas wickedness needs to be addressed, dealt with firmly, yet must be done in love for the person and the hate of the sin.
If a weak Christian sees things done outside of the spirit of love this can hurt the heart of the weaker believer, irreparably.