The Wheat And The Tares

"The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field; but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the Wheat and went his way." (1)

In the parable of the wheat and the tares, Jesus said, "He who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world, the good seeds are the sons of the kingdom, but the tares are the sons of the wicked one. The enemy who sowed them is the devil." (2)

He that sows the good seed is the Son of God and the good seed are the children of God; but the tares are the children of the wicked one. The good seed represents those who are born of the word of God, the truth, and the tares represent those who refuse to accept the truth and who are the embodiment of error and false principles. God does not sow seeds that would produce tares. The tares are always sown by Satan, the enemy of God and man. In the parable, "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?' 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?' But he said, 'No, lest while you gather up the tares you also uproot the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of the 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.' " (3)

The parable is a description of that which pertains to the kingdom of God. His work of salvation is a work that is accomplished primarily through the church. The Holy Spirit moves on the hearts of all men and women, but it is in the church, as disciples of Christ, that we grow and ripen for the kingdom of God. In the Savior's words is a lesson of forbearance and tender love. As the tares have their roots closely intertwined with those of the good grain, so false brothers in the church are closely linked with true believers. The real character of the pretended believers is not fully manifest. Were they to be separated from the church, others would be caused to stumble, who but for this would have remained steadfast.

Jesus did not point forward to a time when all the tares became wheat. The wheat and tares grow together until the harvest, the end of the world. What Jesus did promise is that those who love and trust Him and who live according to the "Light" that they have, will be saved. "Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father." (4)

1. Matthew 13:24, 25.
2. Matthew 13:37-39.
3. Matthew 13:27-30.
4. Matthew 13:43.