Matthew - Lesson 19
 

(Read Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43)

Introduction: In the Thirteenth chapter of Matthew, after the parable of the sower, Jesus teaches by way of the Parable of the tares. This is another one of the parables where He is asked to explain and he does so. Here is where evil seed is sown about the good, what to do about such and the final results.

1. Get the picture. First, a man sowed good seed in his field. Yet, while he slept, his "enemy" came and sowed "tares" among the wheat. It was not recognized in the early state of growth, but as the blades developed, the difference was recognized, and the question raised as to how to deal with it. NOTE: "'tares' are better know as 'darnel,' which is a species of the same family as the wheat, resembling it very closely up to the point of the forming of its head. It is therefore a sore pest and nuisance to the wheat grower. It was a common practice in the days of Jesus for enemies to do such things." (Commentary on the book of Matthew, by H. Leo Boles, page 295) 

2. Clearly the one who sowed the tares was the enemy. Of course the enemy of man is the devil. The evil one, who wants to distort and deceive, just as he has always behaved (Rev. 12:9). Is it possible to root out all the tares without doing damage to the good seed? The answer is NO! . Both can and do grow together, yet they are clearly separate and distinct. Leave them alone until the harvest. In the same manner,we'd like to rid the world of every false idea, but in reality that can't be done without doing great damage. So both are allowed to "grow together until the harvest." At that time the reapers will gather the tares and they'll be burned. The end of them is final!
   
3. Jesus explains the parable in (vs. 36-43). Some have misunderstood this, even though the Lord makes it clear in His explanation, as to who is and what is involved here. First the field is the WORLD and not the church! Second the "god seed" are the sons of the kingdom of God, members of the family of God. Third, "the tares" are the sons of the evil one; and the enemy that sowed them is the devil. Forth, the harvest is the end of the world, with the reapers being angels.
   
4. "To suppose that Jesus meant to teach that good and bad men must be permitted to live and work together in the church with no discipline by withdrawal is a perversion of the simple meaning given by Jesus of the parable. He does not say that the 'field is the church' but that the 'field is the world.'" (Boles, page 300)
   
5. See and understand the end results. "The final separation of the wicked from the righteous, and the destruction of them in fire, seems to be the burden of the parable." (ibid).

   Questions:

   1. What is the pictures Jesus places before these people in Matt. 13:24-30?
   2. What did the disciples ask Jesus (V. 36)?
   3. What answer did Jesus give as to who the SOWER is (Vs. 37,39)?
   4. What did Jesus say the FIELD is (V. 38)
   5. Who does Jesus say the "good seed are" (v.38)
   6. What does Jesus say the "tares are"?
   7. What is the "harvest," as explained by Jesus?
   8. Who are the reapers?
   9. What shall be the end of the "tares" (v. 40-42), and what does it really represent?
   10. What's the picture pained of the "righteous" after the harvest (v. 43)?
   11. What does this say about the sneaky/deceptive way of the devil, our  opponent?
    

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