Setting: Contemporary worship
Length: 33:29
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Title: Parabe of the Wheat and Tares, part 1 of 2
Commentary: This sermon is part of a series on the parables of the kingdom in Matthew 13.
Main Scripture: Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43, part 1 is vs.24-30
Main Topics: parables, wheat, tares, judgment, disciples, farming
As you listen, select, copy, and paste the following outline:
Introduction
2. Understand its double function: To reveal and to conceal
3. Find the main point
4. Look for a theme that holds all the parables together
-and…interestingly enough….we just finished the parable of the sower….a parable about a farmer sowing seeds…a major 23 verse parable
-it took us 3 sermons to finish it
-and here we go again…another parable of another sower
-here, in this second major parable, Jesus tells a familiar story of a farmer who went out to sow his seed
Jesus emphasizes that this farmer sowed…..good seed
Vs.24 The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed
-all good farmers meticulously select good seed
-and after a long hard day’s work of sowing seeds….vs.25 says
-an enemy comes…v.25
…and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away.
-I thought to myself, did this really happen back then?
-why would someone do this?
-so, this enemy that comes to the farmer’s field is an ancient hacker…
-now, to understand how evil this act is, you need to consider the kinds of weeds they used
-just like the farmer who carefully selects the good seeds to plant, the ancient hacker carefully selects the bad seed for his work of destruction
-to understand this evil mindset, you have to step OUT your general concept of weeds
-I remember several years ago, my wife gave me a pot of daisies
-the weeds here in Matthew 13 are…special weeds
…carefully selected to look like the wheat as it comes up
-this weed: translated from the original Greek [Zizanion] as…tares, darnel, or weed
-their mission is to grow within the good seeds
-cast these bad seeds and let the farmer himself water them and cause them to grow….cultivating the soil….nurturing the young evil plants
-rookie farmers or rookie assistant would never notice the difference
-so, in the middle of the night, he comes to do his dastardly deed while the farmer and his works sleep
-and when they awake and don’t sense anything wrong
vs.26 When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared.
This farmer….is a veteran
-the farmer immediately says….NO
'because while you are pulling the weeds, you may root up the wheat with them.
-from his experience he speaks…
Let both grow together until the harvest.
-there is a time for everything
-the rookie servants in their haste and anger…want to take care of it NOW
-but the farmer knows better
-he is more patient
-sure it bothers him…but he is patient
-he has a plan
Let both grow together until the harvest.
-the farmer has a plan
-the listeners of Jesus understand this
-they also know what the plan
-you’re supposed to wait until the harvest
-at that time, you tell the harvesters….
First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be
burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.' "
*the servants initially panic, but the farmer has a plan
-the plan may take time…but it’s still a plan
-every experienced farmer understands that
Vs.30…Let both grow together…until the harvest
-the story makes sense
-story makes sense…but something DOESN’T makes sense to the disciples
-and so, when they arrive at Peter’s house, they say in v.36
"Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field."
-NOW….if it makes perfect farming sense, then why do they ask for an explanation?
-for the disciples….something does not make sense
-in fact, out of 8 parables in chapter 13
-this is the ONLY parable for which they ask for an explanation
-now, you might be confused as to why the disciples are confused
-especially if you grew up in the church
-especially if you’ve been listening to sermons for years….attending Sunday school as a child and as an adult
-if you did, Jesus’ explanation in vss.36-43 is….pretty basic
-think about it…for us church goers and Sunday schoolers, we have always been taught 5 basic things that appear in Jesus’ explanation
1. that this world has both believers and unbelievers
2. that Satan is alive and active in this world
3. But that Jesus is coming again
4. that there will be a final judgment
5. that the good guys win in the end
-all 5 of these things are pictured here in Jesus’ explanation of the parable of the Wheat and Tares
-and for Sunday Schoolers, it’s old hat…it’s basic stuff
-but for the disciples, this is mind blowing
-all their lives, they waited for the messiah to come and set things right…in their lifetime
-now that the Messiah is here, let’s get it started!
-after all, that’s what John the Baptist taught
-John taught in Matt.3:10
The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.
No wonder John the Baptist himself was confused
-in the same way, the disciples are confused
-and we find ourselves reading about their confusion and realizing once again how fortunate we are to live on this side of the cross
-that Jesus Christ has already died and risen and that His Word is now complete
-and the unfolding of judgment is more clear to us
And so, with sympathy, we read about the disciples’ confusion
-this is their spiritual journey
-their journey and their questions…we benefit from…in fact, their journey is our spiritual heritage as we now know more
In part 2, we will consider more deeply the explanation that Jesus gives of this parable
-and consider the ramifications of this teaching for the world we live in today…a world that definitely has both good and bad
-we will compare ourselves to the disciples
-and we will see that in some ways we are still like them even though we know supposed to know more
-and we will confirm our calling to this present generation
-a generation that, no doubt, has both good and bad seeds growing together
-but for now, we end part 1 with the faith that He is God who reigns on high
-He is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords
-He is truly Holy…though this world is not…and IN HIS time, He will work all things out on earth as it is in heaven
Click here for part 2:
The following parable also speaks about kingdom growth and should be seen as a set with the Wheat and Tares
Compare the Wheat and Tares to the Parable of the Net.
They have the same message, but have some important differences.
The series of parables in Matthew 13 ends with a tragic event. Click to find out:
The following sermon also mentions John the Baptist
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