PARABLE OF THE TARES

Matt. 13:24-30, 36-43

By David J. Riggs

Intro.
   A. Jesus was indeed the Master teacher.
      1. He was the Master in the use of illustrations. His parables 
         are nothing more than illustrations which teach in a very   
         simple way His divine truth.
      2. The parables of Jesus are some of the most beautiful to be
         found in all the literature ever written.
   B. In this lesson we want to consider one of those parables - the
      parable of the tares. It was recorded only by Matthew.

I. IN MATT. 13:24-30, JESUS GIVES HIS PARABLE OF THE TARES.
   A. We must understand the simple import of the physical, first.
      1. If we can understand the physical side, we likely can also
         understand the spiritual.
      2. Vs. 24 - "Kingdom..is like" - Thus, this parable covers
         another phase of the kingdom.
      3. Vs. 25 - "While men slept" - That which happens here is no
         fault of their own.
         a. "Tares" - Lit. "darnel"; a species in the same family of
            wheat, barley, rye, etc. It has a blade very similar to  
            the wheat and cannot be distinguished until it forms its 
            seed head.
            (1) This weed is a very sore pest to farmers.
         b. It was a very malicious act to do what was done here.
      4. Vs. 29 - The roots are so interwoven that we could not
         uproot the one without the other.
      5. Vs. 30 - This was absolutely the best wisdom to this basic
         problem.
   B. All parables have a deeper meaning than revealed on the        
      surface.
      1. There are only two parables explained in detail by Jesus -  
         this one and the parable of the sower.
      2. Most of the parables need no explanation, i.e., the parable 
         of the pearl of great price is easily understood without
         explanation. Matt. 13:45-46
      3. Thanks to the disciples, Jesus gives a detailed explanation 
         of His parable. Vs. 36-43

II. JESUS' EXPLANATION OF THE PARABLE.
   A. Vs. 37 - Jesus makes "good seeds" by the teaching of the       
      gospel.
      1. Everyone must hear and learn it to be "good seeds." John
         6:44-45
   B. Vs. 38 - "The field is the world." Some have used this passage 
      to teach that the church should not practice discipline.
      1. However, the contrast is not between the good and wicked
         in the church, but between those outside and those within.
      2. The tares are those outside the kingdom; but, as we will    
         see, there are some on the inside as well.
      3. Clearly, the Lord now exercises authority over the world and
         all must submit to His law. Matt. 28:18; Acts 17:30
   C. Vs. 38b-42
      1. The devil has his own doctrines and ministers. 1 Tim.       
         4:1-3; 2 Cor. 11:13-15
         a. Untold thousands today are influenced by the wicked
            one rather than Christ.
         b. Whatever is amiss today in our lives, homes, or the
            church, we can rest assured that it is from the wicked
            one and not Christ.
      2. The great harvest comes at the end of this age.
         a. As the farmer who left the tares and wheat to grow
            together until the harvest, so there will be a           
            co-existence of the good and bad until the end.
      3. The angels will work with the Lord at the end. They are
         coming with Him when He returns. 2 Thess. 1:7-9
      4. The punishment of the wicked is one of the main points of
         the parable.
         a. "Furnace of fire" - One of Jesus' expressions for the
            eternal hell fire. 
         b. "Wailing and gnashing of teeth - Because of the intense
            pain and suffering.
         c. Jesus' teaching should cause us to utterly fear hell. We
            should do all we can to avoid going there.
      5. Vs. 41 - The angels will gather:
         a. "Out of kingdom all things that offend." Those who
            cause offenses. Matt. 18:6-7; Rom. 16:17-18
         b. "Those who practice lawlessness." Any who practice
            lawlessness (going against law, acting without law),
            whether in or out of the kingdom, will be cast in to the
            furnace of fire. Matt. 7:22-23; Rom. 2:6-9
   D. Vs. 43 - In contrast to the punishment of the wicked is the
      glorious splender that the saints will receive. Dan. 12:3; Rev.
      21:3-5
      1. "He who has ears" - In other words, "Folks, listen up!"
         Listen closely. Listen attentively. These words are         
         important.

III. LESSONS LEARNED FROM THE PARABLE.
   A. The premillennial theory cannot be true. Vs. 38-41
      1. People who receive and obey the gospel are the sons of the
         kingdom in this age now.
      2. Thus, there will be no outside interference with the present
         situation on earth until the end of this age. At the end of 
         this age, the great harvest comes. Actually, Jesus said,    
         "The harvest IS the end of the age." Vs. 39
         a. The Lord did not teach that the rapture, battle of
            Armageddon, or thousand year reign will come at the
            end. These ideas come from man, not God.
   B. The kingdom is spoken of in both the present and future. Vs.   
      38, 41-43
      1. There are sons of the kingdom now. Vs. 38; Col. 1:13; Heb.
         12:28
      2. After the judgment, there will be the eternal kingdom. Vs.
         43; 2 Pet. 1:11
   C. "Once saved always saved" cannot possibly be true. Vs. 41
      1. The Son of Man will gather out of His kingdom all things
         that offend.
      2. The wicked in the kingdom are sons of the kingdom, but
         accursed sons. 2 Pet. 2:14
   D. God is longsuffering. Vs. 39, 28-29
      1. The wicked are not immediately punished. God could easily
         strike the wicked dead if He so desired.
         a. He did so in a few cases to teach us lessons. Examples:
            Nadab and Abihu, Ananias and Sapphira.
         b. Also, all of us are given time and opportunity to repent.
            2 Pet. 3:9
      2. God's longsuffering is in consideration of the righteous as
         well. Matt. 13:28-29
   E. Though the good and bad remain together in this world, yet     

      there is coming a great day when they shall be parted.
      1. All who practice lawlessness will be cast into the lake of  
         fire.
         a. Let us, knowing the terrors of the Lord, not practice
            iniquity.
         b. Let us avoid hell at all cost.
      2. In that great day, the righteous will shine forth as the sun
         in the kingdom of their father.
         a. They shall shine by reflection of light radiated from the
            great Fountain of Light. Rev. 21:23; 22:4-5
         b. Let us seek to be found of that happy number. 

Concl.
   A. As we said, the parables of Jesus teach eternal truths in a way
      that all can understand.
      1. Even a small child can understand this parable.
   B. The parable of the tares gives an overall view of now and the
      hereafter. In this simple parable lies all of God's dealings   
      with the human race.
      1. Through the teaching of His Son, people become sons of the
         kingdom.
      2. Through the influence of the devil, people are sons of the
         wicked one.
      3. There will be this co-existence of good and bad until the   
         end.
      4. In the end, the great harvest will come.
         a. The righteous will shine in glorious splender, but the
            wicked will be thrown into the furnace of fire.
   C. In view of all these things, in the great words of the apostle 
      Peter, "What manner of persons ought we to be?" 2 Pet. 3:11
   D. Remember, Jesus said, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one
      is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of
      God." John 3:5
      1. Are you a son of the kingdom? If not, why not become one
         now?

Chart #1
The angels will gather:

I.  "Out of kingdom all things that offend."
    A.   Those who cause offenses. Matt. 18:6-7;
         Rom. 16:17-18

II. "Those who practice lawlessness." 
    A.   Any who practice lawlessness (going
         against law, acting without law), whether
         in or out of the kingdom, will be cast into
         the furnace of fire. Matt. 7:22-23; Rom. 2:6-9

Chart #2
Lessons learned from the parable:

I.   The premillennial theory cannot be true. Vs.
     38-41

II.  The kingdom is spoken of in both the
     present and future. Vs. 38, 41-43

III. "Once saved always saved" cannot possibly
     be true. Vs. 41

IV.  God is longsuffering. Vs. 39, 28-29

V.   There will be two final abodes after the great
     harvest. Vs. 41-43
     A.  All who practice lawlessness will be cast
         into the lake of fire.
     B.  The righteous will shine forth as the sun
         in the kingdom of their father.