August 21, 2022
Sermon Series: Believers Are To Sow The Gospel Seed
Matthew 13:1-45
Sermon # 3
WHEAT AND TARES
(BELIEVERS AND UNBELIEVERS)
Matthew 13:24-30
This sermon deals with the issue of the wheat or tares(weeds) in our lives. It shares with us some things that Jesus wants us to understand about weeds and how to deal with them.
In this passage of Scripture, Jesus wants us to learn about living with weeds in and around your life. Jesus wants us to learn how to live with weeds all around us and perhaps even some weeds in our own lives.
Now, exactly what are weeds?
According to the leading botanists there are approximately 374,000 species of plants throughout the world. About 8,000 of those plants are considered to be a weed. According to the Weed Science Society of America (WSSA), there are about 312 common weeds that can be found all around the U.S.
The proper definition of a weed is a plant growing where it is not wanted. It can also include plants that were not intentionally sown in a specific location or plants that are more competitive or interfere with the activity of people. Another way to think of it is that the undesirable qualities of the plant are more problematic than the good qualities – based on the opinion of those who are viewing the plant.
In chapter 13, Jesus gives no less than 8 parables. In these “earthly stories with heavenly meanings” Jesus speaks about God’s plan of salvation, the work of Satan, the fickle nature of the human heart and the greatness of the kingdom of heaven. Jesus completed telling four parables, the disciples came to Him to ask Him a question. Notice verse 36. They didn’t ask about the sower, the soils or the seed; they didn’t ask about the mustard seed or leaven. When they asked Jesus to explain a parable, they asked Him to explain the Wheat and Tares. Of all the parables in this chapter, it caught the attention of the disciples.
Jesus tells this story: A farmer plants a wheat field. He uses good seed and plants the crop expecting a good harvest. However, while he and his servants slept, his enemy entered his field and planted tares among the wheat. What are “tares”? They are weeds that go by the name “Bearded darnel”. In the early stages of its development, it looks exactly like wheat. It is only when the plant has matured and the kernels have formed in the head of the genuine wheat plant that you can tell the difference between the two. The bottom line is this: The wheat has fruit in its head, while the head of the tares is filled with little black seeds. So, the field looks good, the farmer is getting excited about harvesting a bumper crop. It seems that there is more wheat growing than he expected (the word “among” verse 25).
However, as the harvest grew nearer, it became apparent that there were tares among the wheat. The servants discover the tares and come in to tell the master about the problem. You see, they were able to tell the difference because as the wheat develops, and the kernels grow inside the head of the wheat plant, the weight of the kernels causes the wheat stalk to bend, making the head appear to be bowing toward the earth. The tares, on the other hand, have light heads and they continue to stand straight and tall! The servants see the problem and offer to pull up the tares, but the master, knowing that the roots of the tares have intertwined with those of the wheat, forbids them. He knows that if the tares are pulled up, that much of the wheat will be uprooted along with them. His counsel is to let them grow together until the harvest, then he will send in the reapers to gather the tares first and bind them to be burned. Then the wheat will be gathered and placed in the barns.
If you look at the parable, Jesus gives His disciples, and us, the identities of those involved in this story. The sower is Christ. The good seed is the Gospel. The one who sowed tares is the devil. The wheat are those who are saved. The tares are those who are unsaved, but have the appearance of salvation.
This morning let’s give God careful attention to His divine Word! I believe this lesson will challenge us to be the best we can be for Christ! Let’s look at three movements today.
I. BOTH WERE PLANTED TOGETHER v. 24-25
Both the wheat and the tares shared the common experience of having been planted. The difference in the experience is revealed in 2 very important ways.
A. The owner sows good seed.
B. The enemy - sows tares.
Obviously, the wheat seed produced wheat while the tare seed produced tares. On a spiritual level, the seed” is that thing that we have placed our faith in. For the genuine believer, the “seed” is the Gospel. The truly born - again person is trusting Jesus Christ alone for their salvation. The tares, on the other hand, may be trusting in any number of emotional, spiritual or physical experiences for their salvation. It all comes down to where you have placed your faith. What are you trusting in for your salvation.
The good seed was sowed by the owner of the field, the tares were sown by his enemy. Why did the enemy do this? Obviously, it was an effort to ruin the crop and ultimately, it was an attack upon the farmer.
Satan ‘s job is to disrupt the church. He is in the business of sowing tares among the Lord’s wheat. Satan knows that if he can place enough of the artificial among the genuine, then he can cause havoc to the entire crop. If he can mix enough goats in among the sheep, then he can disrupt the harmony and the blessedness of the church.
Be sure your faith is in the right one!
II. BOTH PROGRESSED TOGETHER v. 26-30a
A. Wheat appears
B. Tares appear
Both the wheat and the tares grew. As the wheat grew, so the tares grew alongside them. They did everything the wheat did and they looked good doing it!
It is pretty obvious that saved people grow in the Lord. If you stay in church, stay in the Bible and stay in prayer, then you are going to grow and prosper in the things of the Lord. However, did you know that it is possible for the unsaved member to grow in the things of the Lord also? Oh yes, they read the Bible, memorize Scripture, know Bible stories, listen to preaching, but yet lost! The unsaved can possess all the activities of the genuine believer. Tares in the church sing in the choir, they serve as Deacons and Sunday School Teachers. They even stand in the pulpit and preach the Word of God.
Not only do the tares grow alongside the wheat, but they also look just like the wheat. Until they matured completely, they are impossible to tell one from the other. That’s the way things are in the church. We cannot tell the difference between the genuine and the artificial. The tares in the church dress right, they talk right, they walk right, they give every appearance of being saved. When the farmer was asked about the removal of the tares. His counsel was let them grow together until harvest time. Because the roots of the tares would be intertwined with those of the wheat and if the tares were pulled out, then some of the wheat would be damaged also. You and I cannot tell the difference between the genuine and the artificial. All we see is the outer appearance.
III. BOTH WERE PROCESSED TOGETHER v. 30b
A. The tares were burned.
B. The wheat was placed in the barn.
There are only two destinations for the human soul. EVERY PERSON WHO LIVES AND DIES AS A TARE WILL FIND THEMSELVES CAST INTO THE FIRES OF HELL, TO BE ETERNALLY SEPARATED FROM THE PRESENCE OF GOD. THE GENUINE BELIEVER, ON THE OTHER HAND, WILL BE IN THE LORD’S HOUSE IN HEAVEN! THE QUESTION IS, WHICH WILL IT BE FOR YOU? ARE YOU GOING TO BE THE WHEAT OR THE TARE? THE REAL THING OR THE ARTIFICIAL!
Responsive Reading: Matthew 13:24-30
Comentários