This morning I was outside doing a little yard work and began to see green plants popping up in the middle of the yard. I decided to take a closer look at the plants and found out they were weeds! They seem to be the most prolific plants in the yard and no matter how hard we try we can’t get rid of them all. So what are we to do about the weeds? Some of them are near the base of shrubs that I want to keep healthy. Therefore, I cannot use poison on them. I have pulled them up before and they have always come back. This reminds me of the parable of the weeds in Matthew 13.
The parable starts with a farmer who is sowing seeds in his field. The farmer has made sure he has good seeds that will produce a product that he can use. I am sure he took great pains to ensure he had good seeds. Good seeds will produce the desired product and making sure they are good will eliminate the weeds.
Matthew 13:24 “Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto
The farmer had done his job and had done it well. However, he couldn’t control what would happen in the field when he was not there. In Matthew 13:25 we see what happened when he was asleep. The enemy came and sowed “tares.” This is a weed that strongly resembles wheat. It either produces no grain or one that is inferior to the true grain of a wheat plant. Because it looks so much like the wheat plant no one would mistake it for a fake or weed until it was fully grown. In the region where Jesus was teaching it was common and a nuisance to the farmer. In doing a little research on this weed I found some interesting facts. The commentator Matthew Henry says that its taste is bitter and when eaten it can cause dizziness and can cause nausea. In the Middle East where this is prevalent, it is left to grow with the wheat until it matures. It is only then that you can tell the real from the imposter. If they try to pull all of the tares up there is a good chance they will pull up the good with the bad. So they are left to grow together until the final harvest.
Matthew 13:25-29 “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.”
Jesus was telling this earthly story to point out a heavenly meaning about those who profess to know Him. The tares represent hypocrites in the church. Those who profess but do not possess the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. It can also represent those who think they are saved because they followed some man-made plan of securing eternal life. They have been deceived. They never understand the point of complete submission to Jesus Christ. They do not understand why you cannot participate in the world’s philosophy of “having it all.” They want Jesus and the world and are not willing to acknowledge the sinful ways of the world as sin. Many have the attitude that they are forgiven so what does it matter? They have just enough knowledge of the Bible to make them a dangerous tool in the church. While they appear to be the genuine article they are not. It is easy for them to deceive a baby Christian. Jesus says to let them alone and at the time of His return they will be divided.
Matthew 13:30 “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.”
Only God knows the heart of man. While our actions usually give a good indication of what is within the heart, deception can easily occur if a person is not filled with the wisdom of God. Even then, we can be deceived. We are to study and know the truth. We are to teach and nourish those who are weak or babies in the faith. We are to challenge ourselves to make sure we are the real deal. If weeds are discovered within our hearts or the church, we are to pray and ask God to convict them or remove them. We should not be consumed with the weeds in the church, but with seeking to win others and discipling those that are already in the church.
