Jesus wasn't done with the kingdom parables, our Lord had more to say on this ever important subject…
Mat 13:24-30 Another parable put he forth unto them, saying,
The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field.
But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.
But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also.
So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares?
He said unto them, An enemy hath done this.
The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up?
But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them.
Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.
Again the sowing of seed in relation to the kingdom of heaven. We really need to understand this…
The kingdom of heaven is LIKENED unto a man.
Not just a man, but a man which sowed good seed in his field.
Just imagine yourself as this farmer sowing seed in a field. You sow that good seed expecting what to come up? Good plants, you expect a good crop to appear. No crop springs up fully grown but as a seedling. When the seedlings come up you can see right away if they're good seedlings. But you might need a little more time to see if that good seed will bring forth good fruit. From personal experience I've watched this process first hand. I've planted seeds and watched them spring up, then grow day after day until I spied the first sign of *fruit* a tiny tomato flower turning into a teeny tiny green ball which quickly grows bigger and bigger. At the sign of those tiny little green tomatoes I was thrilled, and even just today at my mother's house where she's has a small garden I was thrilled to see a tiny green jalapeño picture my niece took on her cell phone, it was adorable. These tiny fruit bear witness of good fruit coming forth. This farmer sowing good seed and watching it bring forth good fruit didn't know that someone had also sown tares until his servants came and told Him. Then the servants suggested pulling up the tares but the master knew better… he told them right off that he didn't want that because they might pull up the wheat with the tares. When the crop was finished growing then the tares and wheat could be separated. After separation the tares would be burned up and the wheat gathered into the barn, safe.
Before I say any more on this parable lets jump a little further and listen to Jesus explain this parable to His disciples...
Mat 13:36-43
Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house: and his disciples came unto him, saying, Declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field.
He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man.
The field is the world.
The good seed are the children of the kingdom.
But the tares are the children of the wicked one.
The enemy that sowed them is the devil.
The harvest is the end of the world.
And the reapers are the angels.
As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world.
The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity.
And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.
Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father.
Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.
Remember just yesterday we talked about those who refuse to hear? That Jesus was talking in parables because He knew that people really didn't want to hear the eternal truths He wanted and needed to share with them. These last words here to the disciples are.. WHO HATH EARS TO HEAR…LET HIM HEAR.
We are NOT forced to hear. We are NOT forced to listen. We are NOT forced to believe. We are NOT forced in any way whatsoever, but we are instructed, it's up to us to follow instructions. If we follow instructions what happens? The expected and desired result happens. If we neglect to follow instructions we cannot expect the results to turn out to be anything good. Many do though, MANY think they will know and be known of the Lord without following any instructions. Many believe they only have to follow a few of the instructions and not all. Some want to do things their own way without any instructions at all. We are given an instruction- Who hath ears to hear…let him hear. Those who want to learn, those who want to understand, those who let their hearts open to the influence of the Holy Spirit will HEAR. Let us hear, by the grace of God, let us hear!
Jesus explained- the sower is the Son of man - JESUS HIMSELF. The field is the WORLD. The good seed are the CHILDREN OF THE KINGDOM. But the tares are the CHILDREN OF THE WICKED ONE. The enemy that sowed the tares is the DEVIL. The harvest is the END OF THE WORLD. The reapers are the ANGELS.
The parable is so clear, so true. Jesus is sowing the truth! The whole world will be sown with good seed- the whole world has children of the kingdom. The devil has his own children mingling with the children of the kingdom. We live in a world where the children of the kingdom and the children of the devil LIVE together until the end of the world! People don't like this idea. People like the idea of separating the good from the evil right now. People have gone so far as to set up communes where only people believing the things they believe can live, keeping out those they consider undesirable, the ungodly. Churches are filled with people that often don't like strangers coming in- strangers that have different beliefs. People love to have others conforming to their beliefs- telling people they HAVE to believe a certain way- their way- or else. Separating wheat from tares- THIS IS NOT WHAT GOD WOULD HAVE US DO. The REAPERS - the ANGELS will do the separating at the END of the WORLD.
This is a parable of the KINGDOM. The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sows good seed. The kingdom of heaven is our Savior sowing the truth and that truth resulting in His children- children of the kingdom. We children of the kingdom have to live with the children of the devil until the end of the world and we can't forget this. We will grow up with the children of the devil and that doesn't mean we are to live among known evil, embracing evil happily living among evil. The devil is very deceptive and not all evil is the sort of murdering, hateful, spiteful, lustful kind… a child of the devil is simply one who refuses to accept salvation in Christ and you know what??? It is NOT our job to separate ourselves from the tares, it is NOT our job to be suspect of anyone and everyone trying to figure out if they love God as God would be loved. God and God ALONE knows the heart, we don't, we can't and Jesus doesn't want us to EVER believe we have that sort of power, NOT ever! We are to love God with all our heart and others as God would have us love them and that is what we are called to do, nothing more.
Jesus wants us to know that HE is in charge of us, He is our sower, we are His seed, by the grace of our God in His mercy, His love, His righteousness forever!
Amen.
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